Lab tests: Why Consumer Reports can't recommend the iPhone 4

Lab test: Apple iPhone 4 design defect confirmed

[UPDATE July 16, 2010: Apple held a press conference today addressing the issue of the iPhone 4’s antenna and signal loss. Read our latest blog: Apple to provide free cases to iPhone 4 owners —Ed.]

[UPDATE July 14, 2010: We've also tested another remedy to the iPhone's antenna issue. See: Apple's Bumper case alleviates the iPhone 4 signal-loss problem. —Ed.]

[UPDATE JULY 13, 2010: We’ve received many comments and questions regarding this blog post. See our latest post: Why Apple—and not its customers—should fix the iPhone 4. —Ed.]

It's official. Consumer Reports' engineers have just completed testing the iPhone 4, and have confirmed that there is a problem with its reception. When your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone's lower left side—an easy thing, especially for lefties—the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you're in an area with a weak signal. Due to this problem, we can't recommend the iPhone 4.

We reached this conclusion after testing all three of our iPhone 4s (purchased at three separate retailers in the New York area) in the controlled environment of CU's radio frequency (RF) isolation chamber. In this room, which is impervious to outside radio signals, our test engineers connected the phones to our base-station emulator, a device that simulates carrier cell towers (see video: IPhone 4 Design Defect Confirmed). We also tested several other AT&T phones the same way, including the iPhone 3G S and the Palm Pre. None of those phones had the signal-loss problems of the iPhone 4.

Our findings call into question the recent claim by Apple that the iPhone 4's signal-strength issues were largely an optical illusion caused by faulty software that "mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength."

The tests also indicate that AT&T's network might not be the primary suspect in the iPhone 4's much-reported signal woes.

One solution to the Apple iPhone 4's antenna
problem is to cover the lower left corner with tape.

We did, however, find an affordable solution for suffering iPhone 4 users: Cover the antenna gap with a piece of duct tape or another thick, non-conductive material. It may not be pretty, but it works. We also expect that using a case would remedy the problem. We'll test a few cases this week and report back.

The signal problem is the reason that we did not cite the iPhone 4 as a "recommended" model, even though its score in our other tests placed it atop the latest Ratings of smart phones that were released today.

The iPhone scored high, in part because it sports the sharpest display and best video camera we've seen on any phone, and even outshines its high-scoring predecessors with improved battery life and such new features as a front-facing camera for video chats and a built-in gyroscope that turns the phone into a super-responsive game controller. But Apple needs to come up with a permanent—and free—fix for the antenna problem before we can recommend the iPhone 4.

[UPDATE: Some commentary suggests we've retracted an earlier recommendation of the iPhone 4. In fact, our first blog on the iPhone 4's performance, and a followup comparing it to the Motorola Droid X, were based on preliminary testing, as we stated. Those earlier tests did not address antenna performance. We recommend products only after all tests are complete, and as part of our full smart phone Ratings. —Paul Reynolds]

If you want an iPhone that works well without a masking-tape fix, we continue to recommend an older model, the 3G S. (The full list of recommended smart phones models appears as part of our latest Ratings, available to subscribers.)

—Mike Gikas

Comments

[600lbgorilla]

OK, I'm a little tired of Office 2010 64-bit not talking to iPhone/iTunes... I haven't been able to sync my phone for almost 2 months since the great crash of 2010! This so sucks... When will Microsoft & Apple pull their heads out and get the 64-bit technology working right?

[linder]

I just waited several weeks to receive my new iphone.

It's beautiful, but I can't make a single phone call. I have no reception AT ALL. And I live in NYC...and have checked both in Manhattan and Brooklyn. I left my phone on the seat of a cab so there was no chance of handerference. And yet... still no reception. I suppose, as with so many customers, it's my fault.

I've been an apostle of Apple for almost 2 decades, well before the current rush of popularity. But now I may be jumping off the fanwagon.

[Bodhi]

Wanted to add to this list of Apple "iPhone" woes....

I don't consider myself to be an "early adopter", but after repeated problems with my Sony Ericcson phone from AT&T in early

2009, I decided to take the plunge for the iPhone, what was then the smartphone of choice for the Uber-cool.

I got myself a iPhone 3G from AT&T......I adapted pretty quickly to the keyless ( touchscreen ) entry and found myself
installing quite a few Apps - e.g. NYTimes, WebMD, Skype just to name a few. The choice of Apps was really
mind-boggling.....I was converted....

However, my woes with Apple started this past week....In my area(DC Metro), the AT&T service is somewhat patchy...
and I had called Customer service to see if things could be improved....AT&T sent me a patch to my SIM that would connect me

to the nearest tower....I was told to reboot after the call ( Home + Power Button )....
After I rebooted, it took me a while to get back to the Home screen, it was taking too long to get past the Apple logo.

However, I was finally able to get past the Apple Logo....Now, the very next day (Sat 14th), I was planning a trip to
Upstate NY and on my way out I noticed that the AT&T signal bars were missing and I decided do a reboot ( remembering
the AT&T Service Rep's advice ).....However, I didn't know then what I was getting into....how events would unfold that would

completely destroy the foundations of my faith in Apple.

When I pressed the re-boot button, the iPhone started up but never got past the Apple Logo....I waited 5 mins...10 mins...15

mins. Then I decided to start on my NY trip hoping to see the Home screen when I got into NJ.....Nothing happened....When I

was in Marlton, NJ, I was still staring at the "white Apple in bitten-off by Darkness"... Fortunately ( or I thought so ), there was a

Apple Store at Marlton where I stopped by...
but the "Geniuses" behind the Genius Bar only had one solution - you'll need to restore the Phone and you'll lose all
data....And this particular "Genius", gave me the ridiculous reason that pressing the reset button( Home + Power Button )
had corrupted the iPhone filesystem, just as a computer filesystem might crash, if you flipped the power switch, without
using a proper shutdown sequence...(Then Apple should provide a proper "shutdown menu" ....and AT&T customer service

should be instructed not to tell customers to use the reset ( Home + Power ) button combination !!!)

At this point, I started to panic....I was being self-critical for not having synced up with iTunes regularly - my last backup was 3

months back - but then I remembered that I had found the sync-up process to be quite "buggy", as the phone would often freeze

half-way and I would feel the panic attacks ... I had decided to discontinue the sync-ups - for personal health-reasons.

But then I thought through - the iPhone was basically a Mac computer...and all computers should have a Boot sequence...there
should be a way to boot-up the iPhone in "safe mode".... Then I checked online and there was whole cornucopia of
tools - iRecovery, RecBoot, SSH - that supposedly helps you get out of the dreaded "Recovery Mode" loop that I was in....It is a
flourishing trade online....hackers taking advantage of Apple's cruel indifference to it's Customer base....In desperation,
I started to download from a couple of links but these took me to gaming websites and other possibly compromised
links.... But then I found a somewhat legitimate link - Recboot....I was instructed to turn of the iPhone ( Home +
Power Button ) and pressing the Home key, to connect the iPhone to iTunes...then use RecBoot to kick the iPhone
out of the Recovery Mode.....However, this never happened .....So, I am now stuck with a iPhone that keeps cycling
perpetually at the Apple Logo......in common parlance the iPhone is "bricked" ! And on top of that, my laptop could be infected

with viruses.....Thank you Apple !!!

I am never ever going to buy an iPhone again !

[Michael Krugman]

I just received my iPhone 4 and have used it for one week. I added a very thin silicone-skin case ("MiniSuit") to protect the phone from bumps and scrapes, and I have had no reception problems whatsoever. In fact, reception is far superior to that of the Samsung non-smart phone that I previously used on the same ATT network. I used to get dropped calls quite a bit, but I haven't had a single with iPhone 4, and I've talked for over 3 hours already.

After reading this article, I removed my case and tried to attenuate the signal by touching the spot on the antenna, and all around the edge of the phone. I couldn't reproduce the problem at all. Apple hasn't announced a fix for this yet, but it sure isn't showing up on my unit. I am thrilled with my iPhone 4. I highly recommend this phone.

If you get an iPhone, I do suggest getting a case. It's much easier to hold that way, and the raised bezel of the case gives you the ability to set the phone down on a table with the screen down to protect it. That will also distinguish your iPhone from those of your friends and family. Without cases, they all look alike!

[Brian Raymond Callahan]

I am very interested in purchasing the I Phone. Is it accurate to say they have not worked out the bugs on the dropped calls situation? Are there any other issues one should be concerned about with the new I Phone?

Brian R. Callahan
Pheonix, AZ

[A.I.]

I have 2 iPhone 4's on my AT&T account. I was never a big apple fan until this phone came out.... I thought I needed one and bought one at the begining of July. Not only do my calls drop but the camera on the front of the phone is horrible, it disconnects service all together and displays a message stating that the sim is not installed (causing me not to recieve or make calls, send or recieve text or anything else)and it drops internet connection frequently. I have contacted Apple and they claim that they have hear of no such thing, yet when I go into AT&T and best buy they have both told me they have heard of these issues. I understand Apple stands to take a loss on these phones but they are smearing their good name over it. And their product falls short on multiple levels.........They should replace them or at least offer the 3G to their unhappy consumers. A free bumper has not corrected their issues......

[jcbeyer]

In addition to the reported problems with the iPhone 4 beware of the upgrade operating system for the 3G and 3Gs phones. The "upgraded" operating system, OS 4.0.2, for the 3G and 3Gs has left those of us who chose to upgrade with a phone that was previously functioning perfectly well with a now marginally useful cell phone. I'm trying to figure out how a device that was so attractive to all of us has now been nearly disabled to the point where the most viable option in iPhones is to upgrade to the iPhone 4 even with all the known shortcomings! The lesser of the two evils I guess. I haven't owned another type of phone for 4 years but am looking for an alternative device.

[Maggie]

I bought my iPhone 4 on June 24th, 2010 and was thinking I would be happy with it. Well, what has happened is that the new design of the phone has actually been causing damage to my small finger because it is digging into the area next to my bone due to the sharp edge design. I am not happy about this at all and just wish AT&T would actually care enough to do something about it. Apple is working on it but the first suggestion was to just hold the phone in my left hand (unfortunately a righty can't become a lefty with a flip of the switch). Has anyone else been having a similar problem? I feel strange saying the phone is causing me finger pain but I have pretty much ruled anything else from causing it.

[Luke]

the iphone4 dropps on average 1 more call a year then the iphone 3gs it is not that bad reception

[Eugene]

you guys that criticise CR are just fools that are ignorant. CR is just reporting what is true and people from gizmodo also reported the same issue. You people need to grow up.

[Donovan Kirelief]

My wife and I both have had iphone4's since they came out and we could not be happier. Being a long time iphone customer (since the first release) I see the iphone4 as setting the bar over all other phones and makers. Every phone I have owned (20+) dropped calls, every single one. I see no more dropped calls with the iphone 4 then any other phone I have owned. Any issue I have with the iphone 4 is nothing compared to the benefits and joy this phones gives me on a daily basis. Would I change anything on this phone if I could? Yes. Would I change things on others phones I have owned? Yes. By far this is the coolest, best looking, nicest phone I have ever owned. I am over 40 and I can tell you without a doubt that in 2 years we will be buying the iphone6! Happy with the 4 until then. FYI I don't own a mac, I own a pc.

[davidkc]

I bought an iPhone4 two weeks ago and returned it today. The phone reception was the worst I had ever seen on a cellphone. I traveled for work to downtown Chicago - downtown Chicago! - and I could barely use the phone because the reception was so bad. Fortunately I had not yet cancelled the service on my 3-year old "unsmart" Sanyo cellphone from Sprint and I had strong reception all the time. My partner has the iPhone 3 and we laid them next to each other in several different locations, and his phone always had 4 or 5 bars while my iPhone4 would have 1 or 2 bars, if that. The Internet connection also barely worked, and my browser got stuck on a page for a week! Yuk! Do not buy the iPhone 4!

[can you here me n........]

I received an Apple Iphone 4 for work. I currently have a Samsung SGH-A887 for personal use which uses the same ATT network. When laying them side by side on a table, the Samsung will have all bars and the Iphone will have 1 or 2. Dropped calls in my weak signal hometown is a regular occurance with the Iphone but NEVER happens with the Samsung. Now I have to carry both...just in case I need to make a call. What a pain.

[Kurt]

A phone is not a phone when you can not receive and make call. When you do connect you are faced with a failed call notice more often then not. Then the so called phone turned out to be just a toy with no use to me. AT&T and Apple two top high tech companies and yet they can't get the phone thing right. I am taking my phones back & taking my reimbursement to Sprint. Sprint had never lost a call as I switched only for the I-phone and that was just a blatant mistake. Two companies who are losing customers for something that should never had happen but in actuality it is and in droves. The excitement and anticipation lost within few hours as the I-Phone 4 proved to be just another rushed to market gadget with a death knell problem.

[Marty Rosenbluth]

The real problem with the new iPhone is not dropped calls, it is dropped cell phones. Despite claims that it is ”the same type of glass used in the windshields of helicopters and high-speed trains. Chemically strengthened to be 20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic, the glass is ultradurable and more scratch resistant than ever” mine is already cracked after falling out of my pocket at home. So is that false advertising? Wishful thinking? Or is my piece of glass just defective? I tried both at the Apple Store and with tech support. The tech support guy I talked to first was very sympathetic. The first tech guy said, "We wouldn't want a window on a high speed train breaking if it got hit by a pebble, would we." He got it right. But once I got his manager it was very different. Basically the manager said it was my negligence. But if the new phone is as durable as they claim, why would it break after falling out of my pocket? Is Apple saying, "People who have glass cell phones shouldn't live in houses?"

Buyer beware! Google "broken glass" and "iPhone." The problem is quite common apparently. Is Apple just trying to make a profit by selling replacement phones when they know their product is not as advertised?

[Erik Lindgren]

I have an iPhone 4 and a 3G in the household. With the case off, I have no problems with reception, period. I bought a case and invisashield just like I did for my 3G in February 2009. Not because I want to prevent signal loss but to protect the investment. Could this be a hit and miss affair? Frankly I am blown away at how amazing this iPhone 4 is... its amazing! I looked into a Droid X, I was so disappointed, the first Droid was very cool; a little heavy and I do not like the keyboard..so when I heard the keyboard was dropped for the X I was sold! But the new one is HUGE, a brick, so I can watch movies?? It's a phone.. Never mind... I decided to buy the iPhone 4 and stay with AT&T. I'm nothing but pleased I have bought the iPhone 4. Do I have dropped calls? No, Do have signal loss? Not anymore than my old Razr or Samsung Upstage or 3G iPhone. Do I have problems at all in over a month, No, it's frankly a far better product than my older 3G.

[Ian]

Well, before getting the Iphone 4, I read all the Internet had to say, and I had some doubts about buying it as a signal problem is kinda big. But I wanted a Iphone 4 so bad , so I went for it.

Guess what, 5 minutes after buying it, the signal dropped about 2 bars. I particularly remembered CR article on this and I scrolled down to look at the comments. About a even number of people were arguing about how CR is unfair and others saw CR is right.

Well, I still love my Iphone and I figure I'll use it at least for 4 years. If you are a person who makes a lot of calls, don't buy this. To me it is perfect, but to others (and maybe you) it may be less then your expectations.

P.S And GetThere, be quiet as you are nothing but a fail and want to see other people and other stuff as fail just cause you're one.

[Jim LaMar]

Lab testing may indicate theoretical problems, but the REAL test of equipment and devices is actual use in the field! During the first 2 weeks of heavy daily use of my iPhone 4, I had ONE dropped call (while iPhone was squeezed between ear and shoulder), and this was without a case or cover. Conscious of all the uproar and being a "lefty", just to play it safe I ordered a made-in-China "iPhone 4G skin" (thin, soft cover, $7 online, including shipping), which I've had about a week.

Overall, my iPhone 4 has excellent performance with great features, (unbelievable—video calls on cell phone?—eat your heart out, Dick Tracy!), useful new utilities (Compass, Voice Memos, Folders), superior battery life to any cellular phone I've owned (and truthfully, a large portion of dropped calls I've experience in the past decade are due to someone's run-down battery). The only lingering issue I have with the iPhone is that ringtones can only be assigned to individual numbers, not to "Groups", which prevents aural organization of my contacts.

I also like AT&T's new "cafeteria plan" for usage—since I am not a heavy internet user away from the desktop, my monthly bill has actually gone down with the 4G, compared to my 3-year-old original iPhone (which still works perfectly—my wife loves its user-friendliness, compared to her former Samsung flip phone with its confusing nested menus).

I have a suggestion to free both the anxieties and the hands of any who are having reception problems with their iPhone 4: use Bluetooth and leave the phone in your pocket, purse, or on your belt...

[wowthatsharsh]

Where'd consumer Reports go? Just reporting on the antenna issue? The proximity sensor problem is much worse, and no one outside of various forums seem to be picking up on this.

I need a reliable phone and returned my iphone4 after 6 days.

It does indeed make a great iPod touch, but if you need it to actually work like a phone, keep your old iphone and wait for Apple to fix (workaround) the design flaws.

Apple changed the hardware that properly detects when the phone is up to your face, and the hardware and new OS appears to have a difficult time in real world situations detecting when to shut the screen off. When it works properly, you never give a 2nd thought that you're using a device with a touch screen. But if you have one of the phones that are experiencing this you will find yourself accidentally muting, hanging up, pressing the keypad, or initiating face time. Unless using a headset, this can make the phone infuriating to use. Apple is attempting to fix through software, but if you're close to the end of the 30 day return window and have this problem, return the phone and wait for a fix, or the iphone 5 whichever comes 1st.

My phone also had reception problems that AT&T could not resolve. At times, it would completely lose the network. AT&T thought it might have bad SIM.

[James Moon]

I also had the iphone 3G and had very few dropped calls, now with the G4 I get crappy reception, worse than crappy if I so much as hold it with my left hand and is guaranteed to drop the call if I cradle it between my ear and left shoulder. So you sweeds can go eat your meatballs cause it's not our network. And to you Apple haters, why are you reading articles about things you don't want to know about in the first place. I for one don't want to return my phone, I like Apple and I still hold out hope that they will do right by their customers.

[OconoRick]

CR's report on the iPhone 4 is unfair and not representative of the majority of actual owner/consumer experience. CR should reserve it's low rating for AT&T. That would be more accurate, more easily substantiated and more consistent with what most of us actually experience with the product.

[Julie Simon]

I was an early adopter of the iPhone, and one of its biggest fans. I ordered the iPhone 4 from Apple online, even after reading all the negative reviews. I'm here to tell you that they're all true. Where I had perfect reception with my iPhone 3G, I get nothing but no bars and dropped calls. After being unable to connect with my 95 year old mother in crisis yesterday, I'd had enough. I figured I could just bring the iPhone to the Apple store and exchange it for a 3GS. But noooo -- so not only has Apple released a sub-standard product, they refuse to facilitate a return or exchange. The only way I can downgrade to a 3GS is to send my phone back to Apple and wait 3-4 weeks without a phone while they process it through AT&T. I went to ATT today, and the answer is no better.

Oh -- and I've tried all the workarounds i.e. using a case. Even letting it sit flat on a table doesn't help. The phone just doesn't get reception. And don't blame it on AT&T -- again, I've owned all the other iPhones, and haven't had the least problem in that area. Is Apple trying to become the next Microsoft? I for one will be the first one to sign up for the "I Hate Apple" club.

[gleora]

I own and use the Apple IPhone 4. I have been very happy with it and believe it to be a wonderful product. I always use a case and so there is no problem with any dropped signal although I first used the phone without a case and experienced no problems. I have always found Apple products on the leading edge of technology and very well built. I am willing to pay more for their expertise and quality. You get what you pay for in this case.

[S]

I think apple is not doing the right thing but at the same time, i believe they had no choice but to release the phone before time because of the two lost phones. Otherwise, whatever they were working on, would have been lost to the competition.

[Egaski]

Now released in the Nordic countries like Norway and Sweden we (the swedish owners) conclude that the antenna issue is limited to the very poor AT&T network in the US. Nor the "death grip" or the "finger-point-short-cuircut" trick will drop calls to the rate that Americans report.