# Consumer Reports gives iPhone 4 a thumbs down "Not Recommended" due to significant antenna problems **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 12, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437 "2010-07-12T19:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437/21 "2010-07-15T04:33:37Z")
I haven’t got a clue whether the antenna issue actually results in problems, but I’m having a hard time fathoming the concept that a device whose primary function is to send and receive data via RF transmissions wouldn’t have its antenna engineered and tested seven ways from Sunday. And since antennae function differently depending on their environment, testing ought to include an assortment of the most likely environments - such as being held against one’s ear, or cupped in the hand to facilitate typing. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437/22 "2010-07-15T04:56:21Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > Job’s major complaint regarding IBM was that it wasn’t innovative. That complaint has never been applicable to Apple. Heh, heh, heh…I meant “Jobs’” major complaint… ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437/23 "2010-07-15T07:20:48Z")
Meh. Better reception in general, with the trade-off being the risk of de-tuning the antenna (which happens to all phones). If this were any other phone, nobody would say anything. But because it’s the iPhone… Guys, tell you what. Y’all stop buying the iPhone and wait for a fix, or buy some other phone, so I can get my hands on one. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437/24 "2010-07-15T07:33:51Z")
My brother recently upgraded to an iPhone 4 from a 3G and he absolutely loves it. Fantastic image quality and video. He’s had no dropped calls or antenna problems at all. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437/25 "2010-07-15T10:50:18Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > If this were any other phone, nobody would say anything. But because it’s the iPhone… Guys, tell you what. Y’all stop buying the iPhone and wait for a fix, or buy some other phone, so I can get my hands on one. My husband ordered me one last week Monday and I got it this past Monday, so the waiting time really isn’t that bad. My office is a phone reception black hole, and it does a better job than my last (all regular, non-smart) phones at picking up signal in there. Obviously some phones/some users/both are having issues. I think Jobs is acting rather “can do no wrong” but I’m used to that from computer company execs at this point, so I’m not really surprised. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437/26 "2010-07-15T13:12:51Z")
> [@Cell\_Guy](#): > > Lab testing is not going to discover an issue like that since the phone was either set on a table or put on a stand. Field testing would have discovered it depending on the scope of the testing. I’m willing to bet Apple didn’t let AT&T do a lick of field testing. Some Apple engineer went out into the wild and did a bunch of tests weighted heavily on data connectivity rather than call quality. Apple didn’t test it as a phone, they tested it as an internet device that could make phone calls. That mistake has given both Apple and AT&T a black eye. > > I’m interested in Apple’s response to all of this. They’ve scheduled a press conference for Friday to discuss the issue. I’m in IT and I know 5 co-workers who have iPhone 4s. We all have discussed the antenna issue (and I also snarked about Job’s shitty response. You don’t sneer and say UR DOIN IT RONG, dumbass) but _none of them_ have been able to replicate the issue. Everyone has tried, doing exactly what was shown to be the problem and there was no drop in signal strength at all. My bet is just that it was one bad batch from the factory and the rest are fine. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437/27 "2010-07-15T19:36:36Z")
I’ve not purchased my iPhone 4 yet, simply due to availability. I’ve had the first iPhone, and currently have a 3GS (skipped the 3G). I do have 5-6 friends and co-workers with iPhone 4s and not a single one of them has had a problem with reception on their iPhone 4. Of those in the NYC metro area which has a notoriously overloaded network and poor reception - they’ve reported having signal and holding onto calls that with their 3G and 3GS would drop before. To me this is a media inspirted “pile-on” of Apple. Speak to most “common man” on this issue and they are woefully ignorant of what the issue even involves and rely purely on the inaccurate reporting / bad press that is going around and not actual hard-information. In my opinion, did Apple expose themselves to this criticism? Yes. They are drastically failing in countering it in an effective way and that is hurting their brand in the public domain. This “issue” is much adu about nothing but they’re dropping the ball big time and letting public opinion sour. MeanJoe ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437/28 "2010-07-15T19:52:42Z")
I can make the bars drop if I hold it a certain way. I also wouldn’t give mine up for anything. It makes my 3G look like a toy. I will take a free bumper if Steve gives me one though. Tomorrow’s press conference will be really interesting. iOS4.01 was released earlier today which only has the signal strength correction. Rumor has it that there is an internal hardware fix that has just gone into production. If that’s true, maybe the early adopters will get a new one. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437/29 "2010-07-15T20:06:36Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I can make the bars drop if I hold it a certain way. I also wouldn’t give mine up for anything. It makes my 3G look like a toy. Sorry, in case it was not clear I was not trying to state the number of bars dropping does not occur. It in fact does and can be replicated. What my friends report, and I’ve seen in person, is that the iPhone 4 still gets better reception even when showing lower bars than any previous iPhone version. This last point is what is failing to be reported evenly. ---
**Author:** ![633squadron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/ee59a6/32.png) [@633squadron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/633squadron)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437/30 "2010-07-15T20:50:02Z")
I have always thought that CR was useless for just about _anything_. But then again, so are most reviews. In order to get any use out of them, you have to read all of them in detail, to understand the possible prejudices of the reviewer. I always love the ones along the lines of "I bought this portable electric screwdriver to chop down the 200-year-old oak tree in my front yard, and it died after only 8 hours. What a piece of crap… " and so forth. Sigh. I feel sorry for Apple. All the news you read, no matter what it’s about, is incorrect. What separates good reporting from bad reporting is the _level_ of incorrectness. Work for any computer company long enough, and you’ll read something in the news that is technically incorrect and distorted. Nonetheless, all your friends will start bugging you about it. The other thing that happens in the computer biz is that companies go through popularity cycles. When they’re first starting out, they can do no wrong. Next, they seem to be ready to take over the world. Then they’re the evil empire, then they make a mistake and people laugh at the them, then people forget them. Ya just can’t win. Nothing fails so much as success. If you’re on top, then everyone waits impatiently for a mis-step, and jumps down your throat when you make it. It’s inevitable that you will make it. The only thing you can do is admit your mistakes. Unfortunately, with the iPhone 4 problem, even admitting the mistake won’t satisfy some people. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437/31 "2010-07-15T21:01:04Z")
> [@MeanJoe](#): > > Sorry, in case it was not clear I was not trying to state the number of bars dropping does not occur. It in fact does and can be replicated. What my friends report, and I’ve seen in person, is that the iPhone 4 still gets better reception even when showing lower bars than any previous iPhone version. This last point is what is failing to be reported evenly. I totally agree with this. I’m still not too proud to take a free bumper if offered though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consumer-reports-gives-iphone-4-a-thumbs-down-not-recommended-due-to-significant-antenna-problems/546437.md?page=1)