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

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2010/07/apple-iphone-4-antenna-issue-iphone4-problems-dropped-calls-lab-test-confirmed-problem-issues-signal-strength-att-network-gsm.html

by bensummers • 16 years ago

73 74 16 years ago

blogs.consumerreports.org

adolph• 16 years ago

The iPhone 4 antenna attenuation issue will be remembered as one of the biggest avoidable but unforeseen design errors of all time, I think.

powrtoch• 16 years ago

Maybe by HNers. I think a solid percentage of the general public at least vaguely knows about it, but most of my non-techie friends probably don't, or if they do they heard once and then forgot about it. It's certainly a screw up on Apple's part, but when you keep in mind that the rest of the world is seeing much less targeted news streams, I hardly think it's historical.

jasonlotito• 16 years ago

Most of the non-techie people aren't also that interested in Apple. They just care about the product. In this case, I know several non-techies (hair dresser, cake decorator, etc) who really don't care about Apple, the company. However, they have asked about the Apple phone screw up they heard about.

Most non-techies, I find, will see a tech-oriented friend to guide purchases, and they will learn about it through those means.

Encosia• 16 years ago

Almost everyone that has noticed my iPhone 4 and wanted to talk about it (strange how much attention it gets, compared to what the 3G and 3GS did) has asked about the antenna. The issue has been talked up enough in non-tech news that it's hard not to know about it.

recampbell• 16 years ago

So much for that idea. I just heard this story reported on NPR.

hyperbovine• 16 years ago

most of my non-techie friends probably don't

You mean the ones who treat Consumer Reports' recommendations as holy writ?

cschep2• 16 years ago

iPhone 4 owner as of day 1 and I haven't had an issue. I can't imagine that this is true.

EDIT: Wow, Ok I get it. It's a real problem. But I guess I meant to say that it certainly seems like the iPhone will be remembered in a much more positive light.

ghurlman• 16 years ago

iPhone 4 owner as of day 1 and I have had this issue. I can't imagine that this is false.

leviathant8• 16 years ago

I wonder who's done more research into the issue, cschep and his iPhone 4, or Consumer Reports, with decades of history of impartial product testing, three iPhones, and an RF isolation chamber?

Well, since cschep hasn't had the issue, it can't possibly be true.

geuis• 16 years ago

If you live near SF, come to my neighborhood for a beer and I'll show you the problem on your phone.

theBobMcCormick• 16 years ago

I gotta agree. Particularly because if the ceramic of the rest of the case had extended to cover the antenna (or if it'd been covered by plastic, or really by anything) this wouldn't have happened.

IMHO, Apple got burned by two things here: 1) The got carried about by how cool using the Antenna as part of the case would look. 2) Their infamous obsession with secrecy meant that all the test phones were hidden in cases that masked the problem, thereby inadvertently tainting their test results and preventing them from discovering the problem.

I wonder if they could apply a thin laquer or clear plastic coating to the antenna on future iPhone4's to fix the problem?

CamperBob• 16 years ago

Their infamous obsession with secrecy meant that all the test phones were hidden in cases that masked the problem, thereby inadvertently tainting their test results and preventing them from discovering the problem.

It should've shown up in an EM simulator before the hardware design was even finalized. The fact that it didn't explains why Apple is just now getting around to hiring some RF engineers.

panacea• 16 years ago

I remember seeing the leaked Gizmodo photos and thinking "Yep. that's the new iPhone for sure" even though the gaps in the frame seemed so... unApple like?

It's certainly been entertaining following the drama from finding out that it was left in a bar ("Why would Apple let one off campus? Are they mad?") to Steve Jobs explaining the 'revolutionary' new frame as antennae design, to the eventual kerfuffle about bridging the gap and Apple's admission that they display arbitrary bars 'incorrectly'.

They probably should have installed some Faraday cages of varying effectiveness in Infinite Loop methinks.

edkennedy• 16 years ago

I kept wondering throughout the entire escapade: "I wonder if Apple is going to rush the iPhone out to the public now that it has been leaked?" It certainly seems like more testing was required.

tomkarlo• 16 years ago

If you think this rates high on the list of avoidable but unforeseen design errors, you need to study more engineering history. (And generally, all design errors are avoidable - otherwise they wouldn't be a design decision.) As far as I know, this hasn't killed, maimed or irradiated anyone quite yet.

It's a slightly unfortunate design decision on an otherwise elegantly designed device. It's notable because our expectations are so high - if this was from any company other than Apple it wouldn't get so much press.

But let's put things in perspective, it's not a Ford Pinto, Three Mile Island control panel, Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Hyatt Skywalk, or DC-10. If you don't like it, you return the phone and get your money back. You don't end up six feet under.

SamAtt• 16 years ago

I'm sorry but this is just over reaction. The big deal about the antenna issue is that Apple tried to cover it up NOT the issue itself. The issue itself can be fixed easily and cheaply by either using masking tape (as they suggest) or by simply buying the $29 "bumper" accessory from Apple.

To suggest someone buy a 3GS over an iPhone 4 because of this issue (as they do at the end of the article) is just a little silly.

leviathant8• 16 years ago

Sure, because Consumer Reports is so prone to over-reaction.

Do you think they have some kind of anti-Apple agenda? I can understand why people were skeptical when Gizmodo started posting reports they culled from the Macrumors forums, but this is Consumer Reports. Just because your phone works fine doesn't mean that the issue does not exist.

tvon5• 16 years ago

So you're saying that Consumer Reports is incapable of over-reacting and accusing them of such is to imply that they have an anti-Apple agenda?

dualboot• 16 years ago

A small flaw in your logic. I don't think Consumer Reports has an anti-Apple agenda.

I do think they have a Pro-"Get everyone talking about Consumer Reports again" agenda though.

How do you make that happen? Make a splash with a polarizing article making the case for why the object everyone is in love with sucks.

It's sensational journalism 101.

They show their hand by recommending people buy the now mostly inferior 3GS instead of the 4. It's like their way of saying "We still love the iPhone!" Because duh.. it's obviously already a huge success.

gmac• 16 years ago

I have an iPhone 4 and don't regret getting it, but neither of these easy and cheap fixes is really satisfactory.

Two of my favourite things about the iPhone are that it's slim and looks nice. The suggested fixes (in my view) compromise those things.

Plus, in the bumper case, 'cheap' isn't really good enough -- you're still paying extra money to make the thing work as it should.

GiraffeNecktie• 16 years ago

So the options are to apply duct tape/masking tape to a new $600 designer phone or pay the manufacturer another $30 for an off the shelf kludge? Call me silly, but I'd say that's reason enough not to buy it.

keltex2• 16 years ago

Apple still has a choice of doing 1 of 2 things:

1) Dither around like they're doing now. Blame AT & T, the software, etc.

2) Acknowledge the issue. Offer a free piece of plastic to all users who want one. Their cost no more than $5 per phone. Most people won't bother because they'll get their own case.

Which do you think in the long term will be more beneficial to the company? To their user's loyalty?

adam_albrecht• 16 years ago

I bought a protective skin for mine (which I was going to buy anyway) and, as a side effect, it prevents the antenna issue. It's also barely noticeable. I got mine from BodyGuardz, but I think there are a few companies who make them. Just make sure it covers the sides.

SHOwnsYou• 16 years ago

I think to suggest that they are over reacting is peculiar when their history is so well known. They have been surviving for over 75 years based on their objective approach to rating consumer goods. In their attempts to be unbiased, they don't accept product sample or event print outside advertising. That means they have been surviving for 75+ years simply on their reliability.

I'd think suggesting they over reacted is quite a stretch, yes.

bobbyi• 16 years ago

The point of Consumer Reports is to tell if the product actually works under unbiased testing and provides a good value.

If a product doesn't perform its core function (making phone calls) without spending $29 more than the base price and the manufacture doesn't tell you that when you buy it, then it is a defective product and doesn't meet their standard for recommendation.

elblanco2• 16 years ago

Exactly, which is why they put a condition at the end.

> But Apple needs to come up with a permanent—and free—fix for the antenna problem before we can recommend the iPhone 4.

If this was a piece of software wouldn't we all demand a patch?

squidsoup2• 16 years ago

From my perspective, making phone calls isn't the core function of a smart phone. Things like internet connectivity, and applications are much more important to me.

This is why I am still considering the iPhone 4 despite being aware of this flaw, as for everything other than making calls, it is arguably the best device in its class.

handler• 16 years ago

i don't think apple has to worry, apparently people can't be swayed by facts (see: "How telling people the facts may not cause them to change what they believe" (http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/11/... )).

also, every iphone has had serious signal issues, it's a known problem, yet people still continue to buy them–why would this change anything... most people buy the iphone because of marketing not functionality.

technomancy2• 16 years ago

It's a shame they don't mention the app store jail. I guess it's not high-priority because things like VoIP and tethering aren't really on the consumer radar yet, but hopefully that changes in the future.

brk3• 16 years ago

I wouldn't call it a "shame" by any means. Owning both an iPhone and an Android phone, I can say that the app store "jail" also makes it 100x more usable, with better quality apps overall and more consistency among the apps.

I hear a lot of developers bitch about the app store, but from an end-users perspective it has been one of Apple's best moves to-date.

drivebyacct22• 16 years ago

Yes, Apple restricting tethering apps make the other apps better.

I don't doubt that some Apple special sauce makes it easier to ignore the crappy apps, or that they are removed, but to imply that Apple's fart machine apps are better because you can't freely tether your device with 3rd party apps is just silly.

unclebob• 16 years ago

Yes, I too am tired of all of this whining about the so-called App Store "jail." I, and most average owners, I suspect, just want applications that work. We don't care if we can only get them at iTunes. In fact, that makes it easier for us. Only techie-dweebs care about this.

squidsoup2• 16 years ago

One thing I noticed today, was that with the announcement of the Google/MIT visual Android development initiative Google App Inventor (http://appinventor.googlelabs.com/about/), along came a flood of comments along the lines of "there's enough shovelware on Android already!" and "this will saturate the marketplace with crap!" etc.

Perhaps there's something to be said for the "app store jail".

technomancy2• 16 years ago

News flash: 85% of everything is crap.

The solution is to make the good stuff rise to the top, not to suppress the crap. Luckily since Android apps can be distributed on the web, we can fall back to tried-and-true search techniques when the built-in Market app isn't cutting it.

mcantor2• 16 years ago

How is this hacker news?

leviathant8• 16 years ago

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mcantor2• 16 years ago

Drat... foiled at my own game!

elblanco2• 16 years ago

This is probably another advantage to the Android "lots of phones" strategy vs. putting all your eggs in one basket strategy. Even if you really like Apple's products, it's not like there's a good alternative phone you can turn to that's still an Apple product. While with Android, if a severe problem with a particular phone comes out, you can always just pick another phone.

In the future, it might make more sense for Apple to release several flavors of phones, diversify what they are selling, rather than lumping their entire strategy with one product that might have unforeseen problems.

jordanroher• 16 years ago

Technically they are: the iPhone 3GS runs the iOS 4 very well and doesn't have the lovely antenna bridging issue.

That said, I'm having trouble imagining Apple going the iPod/iPod Nano/iPod Shuffle route with the iPhone. Whereas an iPod is used to play music 99% of the time, an iPhone makes calls, sends e-mail, surfs the web, and runs hundreds of thousands of apps, all of which expect a certain screen size and hardware components. An MP3 file doesn't require much.

So, as neat as it would be to see Apple make many flavors of iPhones, I doubt it'll happen. This is the company that doesn't make a sub-$2,500 workstation with a replaceable graphics card, and whose netbook competitor costs $500.

(Still, I would love to see an iPhone Shuffle. No screen. Press the button and it calls someone at random.)

danieldon• 16 years ago

Don't hold your breath. Apple has forever only released one model of each product at a time, with usually no more than 3 different options of slightly different specs. And it's not like this is the first time that a model has problems; long-time Apple users know to avoid the first revision of any redesign because of issues like this.

jeff18• 16 years ago

That's interesting that a piece of tape does indeed fix the problem. On last week's TWiT, one of the antenna engineers they had on kept saying how tape doesn't solve it.

KirinDave• 16 years ago

I'm skeptical of Consumer Reports methodology when it is in conflict with experts' predictions and tests. That it also is in conflict with AnandTech's review suggests to me that CR didn't have the expertise to adequaty test this.

Which is not to say the problem doesn't exist. I just don't think they understand it.

nickpp2• 16 years ago

Knew perfectly well about the issue, still got iPhone 4 last week.

Crappy antenna is something I can live with. Crappy display, battery, software and user experience are not.

jessriedel• 16 years ago

I feel exactly the opposite about my phone. It just needs to make calls.

bingaman• 16 years ago

If it just needs to make calls, don't get a smart phone.

spot• 16 years ago

so get an N1 and have it all.

JoeAltmaier2• 16 years ago

Those other things weren't crappy last week. Funny how fast expectations change.

MartinCron• 16 years ago

Crappy display, battery, software and user experience have been been the rule, not the exception, in mobile phones from the very beginning.

smokey_the_bear• 16 years ago

I actually really like this bug in the phone. I'm an app developer and it's great for testing going in and out of coverage. I only get one bar in my house, not enough to make calls, but enough to affect the connected flags. I can consistently drop that bar.

mbrubeck• 16 years ago

We used a foil-lined box to do this at my last job.

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

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