The iPhone 4 Redux: Analyzing Apple's iOS 4.0.1 Signal Fix & Antenna Issue
by Brian Klug & Anand Lal Shimpi on July 15, 2010 12:28 PM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Apple
- iOS 4
- iPhone 4
- Mobile
Final Words
The new signal strength visualization in iOS 4.0.1 is simply going to be more honest with iPhone users. Whether that's going to result in customers confused about why their phone performs "worse" after the update or simply get really mad at AT&T remains to be seen. In the area of Raleigh, NC that I live in, it's tough to get better than -90 dBm on AT&T without driving a few miles away. Even then you're only at -80 dBm at best. I literally have to drive for about 10 minutes to see a fifth bar on the iPhone 4 now in my area.
Not everyone will like the new bars but you can't fault Apple for being more honest with its users. We'd still prefer if Apple allowed all users to see a numeric readout of their signal strength if they desired, but this is a step in the right direction for transparency at least. Unfortunately, that's only part of the problem.
Yesterday Microsoft’s COO referred to the iPhone 4 as Apple’s Vista. I’d actually take that one step further and call this whole situation Apple’s first Microsoft moment. And I don’t mean that in a bad way towards Microsoft, but rather that as a result of Apple’s own great success, it is now susceptible to the sort of fire that Microsoft has been for years.
When Apple had issues with battery life in Snow Leopard, CPU utilization while playing MP3s in Mac Pros, or even SSDs in 2nd gen unibody MacBook Pros the backlash just wasn’t there. While Mac users care about having problem-free hardware, there simply aren’t enough users to really create the angry mob that has happened in iOS land. Well there are a ton of iPhone users out there. This isn’t going to be the last time that Apple feels the heat.
A large part of it is Apple’s fault. At any company that regularly introduces new products there’s this concept of regression testing. It’s particularly prevalent in technology companies that have to deal with things like driver updates. The idea behind regression testing is to make sure that anything new you introduce doesn’t break anything that previously worked fine. While the iPhone 4’s antenna tradeoff is largely acceptable if you live in an area with good reception, if you don’t then it quickly becomes a problem. This combined with some of the other Apple follies I mentioned above leads me to believe that Apple simply needs to test more. This is something I’ve asked for in previous Mac articles.
And Apple honestly should have been more willing to discuss the issue publicly than it has been. There's no reason Apple couldn't have come public with its own testing showing the same results we showed in our iPhone 4 review.
The phone itself delivers better battery life than anything else in its class, has good performance and a wonderful screen. Whether or not the antenna design manifests itself as an issue really depends on AT&T’s coverage where you’re using the phone. As a result, AT&T can also share in the blame here. As I mentioned in our EVO 4G review, Sprint and Verizon appear to have slower data rates but more consistent coverage wherever I use them. In comparison, AT&T generally offers higher peak transfer rates but reception that varies more wildly.
Criticism that isn't constructive is rarely useful, and as we’ve just shown there are things that Apple can do to address the issue today. Using a bumper the iPhone 4 behaves no differently than the 3GS. Hold the phone as tightly as you want with a bumper and it’ll lose as much signal as a 3GS or Nexus One. Put some sort of insulating coating on the stainless steel band and you’ll significantly reduce, but not eliminate the issue.
Apple iPhone 4 with Bumper Case. Image Courtesy of Sarah Trainor.
The third option would be a redesign of the phone’s internals, potentially even taking a step back to something more reminiscent of the 3GS’ antenna design. I’m not sure this is necessary because of the options on the table today.
Our original assessment still stands: Apple should provide free bumpers to iPhone 4 customers. Nickel and diming is never the way to maintain a loyal customer base. Introducing a non-conductive antenna band and replacing existing phones in the market also makes a lot of sense, assuming Apple has found a way to do that. Apple planned a press conference for tomorrow to talk about the iPhone 4 and presumably these issues. In a little over 24 hours we'll find out how Apple views the situation and what it plans to do about it.
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canontk - Thursday, July 15, 2010 - link
I'm not trying to defend Anand and his love for Apple, but you must understand this site started from his love for computers and things technical. I've been coming to this site for over 12 years now and I dislike seeing the constant Apple articles just as much as the next guy, but I respect Anand and most of his staff.You'll just have to learn to deal with it or find another site. The problem is that most sites are big on Apple news and reviews just to get the traffic. I don't think this is why Anandtech posts Apple news and reviews, I think it's because they really like their devices.
We get good information from their interests, we just have to hope some of those are the same as ours.
jonup - Thursday, July 15, 2010 - link
I think what you said is worrisome(?). Fact is that Apple has a marginal presence in the cell phne market (though growing at very fast pace) but they products receive dispropotional presence on review site, even on sites like AT where cell phones are not the core content.Apple is getting PR (intential or not) that sometimes even I want to get an iPhone. I almost installed a Hachintosh a few months ago. I meen I will never (!?) get an iPhone cause they do not make them in the form factor I prefer (small, light, and durable).
SunSamurai - Thursday, July 15, 2010 - link
Marginal presence? Apple has a 15-20% share in the smart phone industry. How is that marginal?They dont make ANY smartphone in a small light form factor. What in the h3ll are you talking about and how does that have anything to do with the iphone vs any other smart phone?
jonup - Friday, July 16, 2010 - link
15-20% of the US smartphone market and that is namely because pin-point marketing like the one in question. (At one point even I was convinced to by an iPhone, silly me!)A year old Nokia E52 - 3.4Oz. 54cc. You didn't hear about this one, did you? Sorry they were to busy reviewing iPhone 3GS.
SunSamurai - Friday, July 16, 2010 - link
15-20% is not negligible. Your excuses are pathetic.Nokia E52:
Dimensions: 116 x 49 x 9.9 mm
Weight: 98 g
iPhone4:
Dimentions: 115 mm x 58.6 mm x 9.3 mm
Weight: 137g
OMG THE iPHONE IS SO HUGE.
Have fun with your small-ass screen. I have no connection issues on my iphone. No one cares about the E52.
jonup - Saturday, July 17, 2010 - link
That is 40% more weight and 12% more volume. The E52 is a year old phone. Compared to the year old 3Gs that is 40% and 55% more weight and volume.And then comes the building quality. Check out a review of the phone to see what I mean. As a testimony, my old 6301 had only a small dent on the forged aluminum battery cover after 2.5+ years of abuse of falling on concrete.
3.5" is definately better than 2.4" but it does not provide for significantly better usability. if 2.4" is a limitation for performing a particular task, chances are 3.5" would still not be enough. Besides you give up the single handed imput capability.
Tegeril - Monday, July 19, 2010 - link
Sorry, SunSamurai is right. No one cares about the E52.canontk - Friday, July 16, 2010 - link
How is what I said worrisome? Worrisome because the people that write for this site like Apple products? A lot of people do. I don't. I have an ipod nano (first gen) and I'm sorry I wasted the money on it.I won't get an iphone and I don't like seeing constant Apple news. But like I said, Anand likes his Macs and Apple devices, good for him. He's going to do articles on what he likes.
He also seems to be very fond of SSD's and their market share is extremely low. I don't see people complaining about his 15 page super detailed articles and constant updates on firmware.
SunSamurai - Friday, July 16, 2010 - link
Yeah exactly. Anand is doing articals on what is changing the industry. SSDs or Apple or the Droid review.Love them or hate them, Apple is an industry lead, and things they produce are copied and often improved upon. We owe them a dept of gratitude. Do not think for a moment we'd have something like Driod if not for them. We'd have the MS Kin phones and Google would not have had to make anything close to the current droids.
This is business.
jonup - Saturday, July 17, 2010 - link
Except that Anand is reviewing all kinds of SSDs not just one brand. If Anand was reviewing Intel of OCZ SSds 75%+ of the time then your analogy would have been correct. How many Symbian phones has this or most computer-centric site have reviewed since July 2007? The platform is used by Nokia and SonyEricsson. The two combined maintain more than 50% of the cell phone market. You would think they need a little more representation.@ SunSamurai bellow:
I've grown up to like Apple products lately (not the brand) but Apple is the one that copies and improves upon others. Neither iPod was the first portable player, nor the iPhone the first touchscreen phone, nor iPad the first tablet, nor iPhone 4 the first videophone. I do not question Apples influence on the IT market, but simply asking how much of the hype is result of dispropotionate review coverage.