Downplays reception problems

The iPhone 4 is still, "overall, the best device in its class," according to Walt Mossberg. The All Things Digital writer was one of the first people to review the iPhone 4, being one of the few people allowed early access. It was through Mossberg that Apple told the public a software fix was enroute for reception problems, though at the time this referred to improving how iOS displays signal, not solving signal drops caused by a wraparound grip. The latter issue was documented over the course of following days and weeks.

After more than six weeks of using Apple's loaner iPhone, and a purchased unit with the signal accuracy fix installed, Mossberg says that he his holding to earlier statements. "I have found that in areas with average or strong AT&T coverage and capacity, the iPhone performs better than its predecessor and about as well as other AT&T smartphones I've recently tested," he says. "It still drops too many calls for my taste on AT&T's heavily stressed network, which has experienced a stunning 5,000% rise in data traffic since the iPhone's introduction in 2007. That data traffic reduces the network’s ability to handle voice calls."

Mossberg adds that while has had "terrible" calls with multiple drops, particularly in his car, he has had fewer of these than with the 3GS, and "marginally fewer" occasions when the call dropped once. "This experience may not be acceptable to some users, but it is, overall, an improvement," he writes.

In areas with good or moderate reception, the iPhone 4 is claimed to have fewer drops in general than the 3GS. The problem is with weaker areas, where Mossberg differs with Apple and suggests that the 4 is substantially worse than the 3GS. "I still find that calls drop more frequently in these areas, and that, occasionally, it either shows no service or is searching for service, though it tends to recover quickly," he says, with an addendum. "One caveat: on several occasions, I have found that even when the iPhone 4 showed only one bar (with the new bar-displaying software) I was still able to make and hold clear calls."

Mossberg argues that the sensitive antenna seam on the new model may not wreck a call, and in fact claims it can cause apparent signal to fluctuate in either direction. He nevertheless notes that Apple's bumper case can "greatly" reduce reception problems, even if some calls still drop. Moving the antenna to an outside band is also said to have allowed for a much larger battery, which Mossberg observes should last an entire workday under heavy use.

"Despite the hot-spot issue and the exposed antenna, the iPhone 4 does better than the 3GS for me in decent coverage. But I still wouldn’t advise adopting it as your primary phone if you live, work or travel in areas with poor AT&T reception, or if you prefer a network under less stress," he concludes.

by MacNN Staff