[dabigkahuna]

I've read all the stuff about antenna issues, proximity detector issues, and other, far more minor issues which are more likely very rare. I happen to be able to go 11 to 17 miles in the same direction from where I live and hit 3 Apple stores so, since the new phone came out, I've made trips to two of them and focused on the antenna stuff.

First thing I found is that there is a LOT of difference. For example, my last trip before today, I tried 11 phones. All started with 5 bars. In my testing, four would only drop one bar and one of those would quickly come back. I think three dropped two bars and four dropped four bars (just one left). None completely lost the signal though I didn't actually test how phone calls sounded - just watched the signal. These phones were pretty close to each other - divided between two tables in the store maybe 5 feet or so from each other.

My phone came in today so, after getting it all set up, I did some testing. My first test was pretty darn good. In a restaurant, I could only get it to drop 1 bar (from 5). Later, in a bus going home, I tested twice more. Both times it went from 5 to 1 bar. More testing at home. Not sure what the normal number of bars is here - I just know it always works so never paid much attention - but I do know it isn't always 5 and I'm pretty sure sometimes it has been 3 and maybe even 2. During my test today, it sometimes started at 5 and other times at 4. Once it was 2! But it never lost signal - just dropped to 1 bar. So, I'd say there probably is an issue with their formula (too many bar levels squeezed into a narrow power range), though that certainly isn't the only problem as more serious experts have tested and confirmed (like consumer reports). They report a 20 decibel drop and another expert reported 24. That guy tested other phones and I think the next worse only lost 17 and I believe he had my old 3G version only losing around 3!

Anyway, I considered all these issues and have always expected to get a case anyway, for some protection. I don't have one yet because I wanted to see if I just liked it as is. Well, I find the phone a little slick when pulling it out of my shirt pocket. Probably wouldn't drop it, but I'll feel more secure with a case to grip - thus solving the antenna issue anyway.

Haven't been able to do much in the way of phone calls yet to see if the proximity sensor is okay or if there are other issues, but I like it so far - sure is fast compared to the 3G!

Probably my slowest launching app on the 3G is "IHeartRadio". Timing the launch to the point where the default station begins playing took 23 seconds on my old phone today. On the new one it took 9 seconds. And relaunching, thanks to the multi-tasking putting it in suspension, took just 6 seconds. Of course, everything else I have is even faster.

I'm sure I'll find little things here and there as I use it - I like being able to show the battery percentage! As soon as I found that, I looked on my old phone to see in iOS 4 allowed it to do it as well, but nope.

[RichardWilson]

Thanks for share this experience.It will helpful to new buyers.

[dabigkahuna]

RichardWilson, on 18 August 2010 - 07:19 AM, said:

Thanks for share this experience.It will helpful to new buyers.

Update. I've gone through 3 of the phones which all had problems and finally returned the phone before my 30 days were up to wait to see if they actually fix it. If so, I'll try again. Here is my experience, plus a summary of the major issues other report for those who haven't seen them:

While the antenna issue never bothered me (never a problem on calls, but I could pretty much freeze any loading progress on the web using 3G if I held it "wrong" unless the signal was really strong), the proximity sensor was a constant problem. All three of my phones plus two display models I tested would come on while against my ear. I would SLOWLY slide it across my ear and there was always a spot where the screen would come on. Might take some experimenting to find the spot, but once found, I could easily repeat it and it was a place many people may normally hold it.

Lots of people report the screen coming on and then their cheek activates the buttons - mute, speaker, face-time, end call, etc! But I found it can be even worse, at least with the last of my phones which I tested the most while looking at my reflection. I even used the isight camera to catch it once. I had calls ended, or activated the mute button 7 times in one hour and at no time did the screen come on. So it seems that the OS was activating the screen locations at a point before the screen actually came on. Making it even weirder, I never touched the screen with my cheek - I put the phone on my ear, but angle it away from the rest of my face a little. I'm guessing just being "close enough" to the screen can cause a reaction - sort of like how you can get close to an old fashioned rabbit ear TV antenna and it will affect the signal without touching.

The other really big problem was with blue tooth. I and many others report that people have a hard time understanding what we are saying, like talking underwater. But I could always hear the other person just fine. In my case, there were times it worked, but usually not. And most of the time it did work on a call, it would get worse during the same call.

I did run into a couple other problem, which were much smaller and rarer. One two of the phones, the sound from the other person became almost inaudible. It was so soft, my first reaction was that I got cut off. The only way I got it to work again on the same call was to press the speaker button. After I confirmed that worked fine, I turned the speaker off and I could still hear them fine using the phone normally. Also had some reports talking normally (no blue tooth) that my voice was distorted, but almost all of that was talking to one specific person, but it was on both his cell phone and his home phone. Could be a local service problem instead of the phone.

Sure hope they fix the phone with software update. It's been a long wait already and I miss that phone!

[smax013]

dabigkahuna, on 18 August 2010 - 11:49 AM, said:

RichardWilson, on 18 August 2010 - 07:19 AM, said:

Thanks for share this experience.It will helpful to new buyers.

Update. I've gone through 3 of the phones which all had problems and finally returned the phone before my 30 days were up to wait to see if they actually fix it. If so, I'll try again. Here is my experience, plus a summary of the major issues other report for those who haven't seen them:

While the antenna issue never bothered me (never a problem on calls, but I could pretty much freeze any loading progress on the web using 3G if I held it "wrong" unless the signal was really strong), the proximity sensor was a constant problem. All three of my phones plus two display models I tested would come on while against my ear. I would SLOWLY slide it across my ear and there was always a spot where the screen would come on. Might take some experimenting to find the spot, but once found, I could easily repeat it and it was a place many people may normally hold it.

Lots of people report the screen coming on and then their cheek activates the buttons - mute, speaker, face-time, end call, etc! But I found it can be even worse, at least with the last of my phones which I tested the most while looking at my reflection. I even used the isight camera to catch it once. I had calls ended, or activated the mute button 7 times in one hour and at no time did the screen come on. So it seems that the OS was activating the screen locations at a point before the screen actually came on. Making it even weirder, I never touched the screen with my cheek - I put the phone on my ear, but angle it away from the rest of my face a little. I'm guessing just being "close enough" to the screen can cause a reaction - sort of like how you can get close to an old fashioned rabbit ear TV antenna and it will affect the signal without touching.

The other really big problem was with blue tooth. I and many others report that people have a hard time understanding what we are saying, like talking underwater. But I could always hear the other person just fine. In my case, there were times it worked, but usually not. And most of the time it did work on a call, it would get worse during the same call.

I did run into a couple other problem, which were much smaller and rarer. One two of the phones, the sound from the other person became almost inaudible. It was so soft, my first reaction was that I got cut off. The only way I got it to work again on the same call was to press the speaker button. After I confirmed that worked fine, I turned the speaker off and I could still hear them fine using the phone normally. Also had some reports talking normally (no blue tooth) that my voice was distorted, but almost all of that was talking to one specific person, but it was on both his cell phone and his home phone. Could be a local service problem instead of the phone.

Sure hope they fix the phone with software update. It's been a long wait already and I miss that phone!

There is some "scuttlebutt" that a forthcoming iOS 4.1 update might address the proximity sensor issue:

http://www.pcworld.c...ix_iphone4.html

[dabigkahuna]

Yeah, some testers of 4.1 say it fixes it. Others say it doesn't. One person who went into more detail said it is fixed, but not like we would be used to on an earlier model (longer delays in coming back on, I think).

Hopefully we'll find out soon. Trouble is, some people who upgraded to 4.0.1 and 4.0.2 also reported the problem solved - but I think in almost every case it just came back. That matches the reports of people who simply restored as "new" and said it fixed it. But many of those said it came back. We've even had similar reports by just resetting network settings. It's all very weird. Some things make it look like hardware problems. Other things look like software.

It is annoying to wait this long. I like to buy fairly early (I waited about 19 days for the iphone 4) so I get maximum "up to date" use out of it before the newer/better models come out. We are already two months into the normal 12 month period. So, for me, it's kinda at what point do I think I might as well wait for the next model.

Especially since I think the next one will not be the massive change of this one, but more like the GS following the G. Probably a bit more speed, iOS polishing (fewer issues, I hope), and maybe some small changes in the antenna - still outside, but the bridge point between the two at a spot that is less likely to cause problems. In short, mostly a phone that improves on any issues this one has - like Snow Leopard upgrading from Leopard.

OTOH, if this one is fixed well enough, I can buy it and be qualified for the AT&T discount price for the phone in 2012 - which may be a bigger improvement! It can get complicated to decide.

[rjrex8]

I'm totally amaze the Iphone 4 from the sleek look to the quality of the screen. I think this is the best Iphone yet. I'm not experienced any signal problem or camera problem. The best smartphone that I used.

[PCBroKing]

The iphone4 is a pretty sweet phone, no doubt about it. But I just can't see myself paying like $150 a month for a portable computer. I'll stick with my almost-as-sweet LG Optimus V for $25 a month.

[reagood]

i like iphone5,when it come out?

[samboycott]

My experience of iphone 4s
It is the most expensive phone In India and around the world, prompting to have no issues and all smartphone features, ready to use all the way.
Let me explain... When ever i touch the iphone i check whether it is charged or not, while the time i focus my interest in doing something in the iphone i loose my battery and the phone sleeps.
Although i never had problem in anything else but the main thing is if the battery last longer than only i could enjoy my device.
If the battery is running out and i have to go outdoor, then it makes no sense for me to time pass on my phone.
Its a waste of money expecting an iphone.