Follow Us:
Consumer Reports says “we can’t recommend the iPhone 4″
With Apple selling over 1.7 million iPhone 4 devices – there has been much talk about the reception issues and screen discolourations. Many people have done video reviews, drop tests and some people have even gone to the length of taking a .50 caliber sniper rifle to it.
Consumer Reports has just released their review of the new iPhone 4 and they state that their engineers “have confirmed that there is a problem with its reception. When your finger or hand touches a spot on the phone’s lower left side – an easy thing, especially for lefties—the signal can significantly degrade enough to cause you to lose your connection altogether if you’re in an area with a weak signal. Due to this problem, we can’t recommend the iPhone 4.”
Ouch… Consumer Reports does say they found an easy and affordable solution for the issue. Cover the antenna gap with a piece of duct tape or another thick, non-conductive material. It may not be pretty, but it works”. On a plus side they did give the new iPhone high marks for improved battery life, front facing camera, sharp display and the “best video camera we’ve seen on any phone”.
The kicker comes at the end when they write that “If you want an iPhone that works well without a masking-tape fix, we continue to recommend an older model, the 3G S”. The good news is that the older models have all be lowered in price.
Check out the full review here at Consumer Reports
Discussion
36 comments for “Consumer Reports says “we can’t recommend the iPhone 4″”
Post a comment
- CES 2012
- Mobile News
- Airtel Wireless
- Bell Mobility News
- Chatr
- Clearnet
- Eastlink
- Fido News
- Globalive News
- Koodo Mobile News
- Mobilicity
- MTS
- NorthernTel
- PC Mobile News
- Petro-Canada Mobility
- Primus Wireless News
- Public Mobile
- Rogers Wireless News
- SaskTel News
- Shaw
- Solo Mobile News
- Speak Out Wireless News
- tbaytel
- Telus Mobility News
- Vidéotron News
- Virgin Mobile News
- WIND Mobile
- Reviews – Carrier
- Reviews – Manufacturer
- Various News
I will for sure still be picking one up,I will just use the obvious solution, us a BUMPER case. Everyone is really looking at the faults on this phone, which in my opinion is just the reception issue. The good things one this phone still very much outway the comparable parts on other phones like the X10 which is god awful. Viva la Iphone!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Lol. I thought Steve Jobs said there was nothing wrong with the hardware, that it was a software issue? iPhone 4 has problems. Wish the iSheep would admit it. The phone has serious issues. The product was rushed. Apple isn’t as perfect as some people think…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Consumer Reports did not find an easy and affordable fix – Consumer Reports found an easy and affordable work-around – there’s a big difference.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Looking for faults? The iPhone 4 is a phone, hell, it says that in its name. If holding it makes it cease to be a phone, well, what have you got, exactly?
If any other phone had this same problem, do you think it’d see almost 2 million sales?
The bottom line is that people aren’t looking for faults on the iPhone 4, but rather, people are ignoring faults on the iPhone 4.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@RJay
Its not that everyone is looking for a way to pick on Apple’s latest magical gadget. Its just that Apples gone out of its way to state how revolutionary their products are. So, obviously when theres a glaring flaw like this that was promoted as a “great engineering feat” and a “design feature” then obviously Apple deserves all the flak that its getting.
Or even simpler, if a person was bragging about how smart and talented they were couldn’t tie their own shoelaces, you’d be calling them out, regardless of how pretty they were.
As for the solution… yea, $30 for a rubber band with holes in it. ArsTechnica did a review on the bumper case, they concluded while solidly built, definitely not worth the asking price. But you know, freedom of choice, go ahead, no ones actually going to stop you from making your purchase. We all just think you’re incredibly stupid for doing so, and thats our freedom of opinion.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
if you don’t care about a reception issue, then get the iPad instead.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
For those of you still wanting the iPhone4 before they fix their glitches you should really checkout the following video on YouTube, might make you reflect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg
I believe the iPhone4 has a lot of potential with OS4 (which isn’t really exploited on 3Gs) but still, I find unacceptable the comments from Steve Jobs stating the coverage issue is normal and that no phone is perfect, he is sounding like Microsoft 10 years ago…. We are talking about the most expensive phone on the market, aren’t we?
Simply admit their are issues to be fixed and that you are looking into it, the market will respect that. This is leaving a nice opportunity for Android and RIM’s new OS6….
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@R.Jay – You’re a typical Apple fan boy – “Everyone is really looking at the faults on this phone, which in my opinion is just the reception issue” are you serious…you do understand its called an i”PHONE” the principal use of which is the PHONE, which is directly related to reception.
Man up, Read up and get with Team Android..
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Guess I’ll wait for the iphone 4.5!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’ve been a Blackberry user for some years now. While I love it’s email capabilities, I have to say, I am becoming increasingly fed up with how cumbersome it is to accomplish other tasks on it. Even, what should be, a relatively straight forward OS upgrade seems to take half a day!
I’ll admit, when I saw the keynote on iPhone 4, I thought this is it, I’m going to finally make the switch. I’m a Mac and iPod user, but I don’t consider myself a fanboy. I buy things that “work” for me.
After seeing all the problems with iPhone 4, I started doing some big time research on alternatives and that’s when I really discovered what Android can do. Wow!! I’m so impressed. It is so customizable and seems to be really keeping up with the latest trends in social networking apps/widgets etc.
After reading quite a lot on Android, and watching countless videos on its capabiities, I can honestly say now, even if the iPhone 4 worked perfectly, with no issues, my next phone is still going to be Android based. Now, the only decision is which one?!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
My X10 works just fine Rjay, i love it. I can tell your a typical Apple fanboy though so you wont understand.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Bong Sniffer@ first of all, ive tried andrioid, in fact I had an X10 and its a piece of crap, sure the stats are nice but it runs like hell and the battery life is dreadful, i get what droid is doing but there failing. The touchscreens are no where close to what apple has. Im not an apple fanboy, the only apple product i have is my Iphone and I have had it for two years and it is still better the android. I like the concept of android but with so many different versions out there and all the crappy apps its just a waste of money. Even the 8.1 mp camera on the x10 is nothing compaired to the quality that the 5mp on the IP4. I sell phones, its what I do and Iphone has the market by the balls and has the product to back it up. Everything on the Iphone runs smooth, the UI is incredible. Even things like scrolling on the iphone work where as android once you put your finger to the screen to scroll, its opens s**t up. So do tell me to jump on the android bandwagon when android is terrible, when a phone comes out that is actually better then the Iphone, Ill get that but until then iphone is king!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
wow my grammar and spelling is terrible haha, my bad.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The iPhone 4 hasn’t shown up yet in Canada so last month I decided to renew my contract with Telus and got an iPhone 3GS. I love the phone and its running IOS4. Personally as an “Apple Fanboy” that I am, I wouldn’t suggest the iPhone 4 to anyone until Apple fixes the antenna issue. When it comes to ‘phone wars’, to me its a silly pissing contest. I respect that some people like blackberry, or android. Myself, I never get the latest in technology until all the bugs are ironed out. For example my Macbook Pro is 3 years old. Its works for me and I love it just as much as last years iPhone 3GS. Same goes with the iPad; I’ll wait til next year til a new model comes out and buy the 1st model when its cheaper.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
If you are a programmer who wants to customize everything about your phone, you should get an Android device. Simply put, you can really open up the hood and tinker around with it to your heart’s content. On the other hand, if you want a device that just feels great to use, then get the iPhone. The UI on the iPhone tops every Android device I’ve ever used, including the X10. I’m no Apple fanboy. I build computers from scratch and would never consider buying a Mac computer because of their inherant limitations when it comes to cheap and easy hardware upgrades. However, I don’t need that level of customization on my phone. I don’t care that I COULD make my own interface for my phone, I’m not going to bother. I want something fun and easy to use, something that’s giving me the best games to kill time. If any Android phone could offer the same smooth UI as the iPhone, I would jump on it in a second. As a big cherry on top, the Apple App store still has about 5x the number of apps as the Google Marketplace. Is the antenna defect a bit of a bummer? Yes, but considering how easy it is to fix, I think it’s still worth it.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@RJay
Congrats, you’ve tried exactly ONE android phone that Rogers has been promoting. Hate to break it to you, but in the android community, many believe that Sony Ericsson fouled up their first attempt by hampering the device with Android 1.6 and their relatively novel, but ultimately useless UI customizations. Go try yourself a Motorola Milestone, Google Nexus One, Samsung Galaxy S, etc. Although I still expect you to have the same opinion because obviously you’ve made up your narrow mind about Android.
Its no surprise that you come off as sounding perfectly unreasonable and biased. Much like the stereotypical Apple consumer. However, again, its a free country, do what you want with your hard earned cash. Just don’t expect anybody to withhold their right to berate you endlessly for buying a device even Apple will have to eventually admit has a major design flaw. Have fun having paying $200 and getting locked down by one of the big 3 for 3, and paying $30 for a rubber band. Idiot.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@RJ
except… just don’t expect to use it like a phone??!!??
Whaaatttt? dude, get off the fanboi wagon.
Name one thing iphone can do that windows mobile hasn’t already done or that android can currently do better?
Oh… that’s right. It can make a smartphone user out of a simpleton. Way to go Jobs you need to be congratulated for bringing technology to the stupid.
Point and press… or was it press and point. Damn this iphone is hard to work out.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@James Lui I have use the more then one android device, Ive used the x10,eve,galaxy,milestone and the Nexus one,htc dream/magic they all suck. I used the x10 as an example. But lets talk numbers. 1.7 million in three days, hey what did the evo sell, oh right 60,000. Theres a reason why apple is so popular, because there products work and the consumers keep comeing back. The problem with android is that its looks good on paper but fails in real life. your nothing but an android fan boy, oh and for your information, its way worse then being an apple fan boy because at least apple products work. People dont upgrade apple products because they break down, they upgrade because they want something new, even though there old products work perfect. you cant really say that about buying any other product off the shelf. PC’s are made to last maximum 3 years. I still know people who are useing macs that are 8 years old, and they still work! AMAZING! SO drop the ego and face reality. android=fail.@KV i will tell you one thing that the iphone does that winmo doesnt. IT WORKS!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Apple has 3 options 1 Recall all iPhone4s 2 Offer a free case 3 Redezine the phone.I take Consumer Reports very seriously and might weight til Apple responds,This is similar to the Lexus issue a few months ago.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@RJ 1:19pm
That is not an answer. You not being able to work out how to use Windows Mobile is not an example of how the iphone offers features that other mobile OSs haven’t previously in the past.
In fact, iOS is now emulating windows mobile. Copy/paste, multitasking, touch interfaces, media playback, camera integration, actual push email, internet calling, etc… the list goes on.
LMAO… Anyway I am just joking around with you matey. Apple fanbois just make me laugh. You overpay for everything and claim its worth it because it is apple.
Tell you what you keep your iphone. I just like to make phone calls on mine and download some free apps which I can install on my SD card and watch flash based video in my mobile browser and not have to install itunes on my computer.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
is watching flash videos suposed to impress me? ooooo flash… im just fine with my html5.anyway, have fun with your sd card. ill keep my internal memory. oh and for the record, there is more free apps in the itunes app store then all of the apps in the android store. 250,000 compaired to the crappy 80,000. and both stores have been out for about 2 years. the numbers prove my point. hey did you know the RAZR could play media! maybe winmo copyed them! every phone can do pretty much the same things, im not trying to disprove that, everything just works a hell of a lot better on the iphone. Oh and you hate itunes. Well have fun whith your ZUNE hahaha
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@RJay
Sorry, I wasn’t aware I was expressing an ego, my apologies. I merely thought I was expressing common sense. Yea, that sounds a little sharp, but I’m not making any apologies for speaking my mind.
Apple products work. Okay, I don’t deny that (with the exception of the new iPhone 4), but the implication you made is that other products for some reason, either do NOT work, or do NOT work on the SAME LEVEL as Apple’s own. I find that line of reasoning to be extremely fallacious. I won’t go into why, your brain would probably explode from someone proving to you why Apple isn’t worth the cash.
I’m not saying Android doesn’t have its flaws. It does, the scrolling isn’t nearly as smooth as the iPhone’s… Thats about it actually… Other than that, the extraordinary amount of freedom I have to do what I want with a product that I bought? Priceless. I have used an iPhone and have concluded the UI is pretty awesome. However for the money I would supposedly fork over to Apple, a shiny UI does very little to entice me.
Maybe you’re just more easily convinced by the smoke and mirrors.
You mention that you’ve tried a number of Android powered handsets. Good for you, you didn’t like them based on grounds that you can’t even describe. You sound as if you merely picked one up, tried it for a few seconds and wrote it off without even learning how to properly use it.
Quite frankly I don’t think you should be working at a phone shop. You should sign up to be an Apple “Genius” and save anyone who walks into your store from being heavily misinformed.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Even with the antenna problems I’m probably still going to get the iPhone 4. I’d actually like to take a look at the droid X but unfortunately there is no information on when / if it is even coming to Canada. Also from reading forums getting updated Android software is up to the carriers unless you want to root your phone and possibly brick it.
With apple at least they said sometime July which will probably be one month after it was released in the states instead of 6-12 months for most phones. As for updates they’re easy via iTunes.
With respect to the antenna problem I’ll probably just pick a charity of choice spend the $2 for a wrist bracelet and cut holes in it.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@ RJ
LMAO. “Theres a reason why apple is so popular, because there products work and the consumers keep comeing back.” FYI, that is whats called a fanboyic statement.
Apple products are only popular because of the media and hype that surrounds Apple as a company, and every 6 months when Jobs holds an event, Apple grabs all the media attention and thats where the hype starts for every apple product. And their products always work?? I guess you’ve never owned an iPod or an Apple TV setup or have iTunes (cause iTunes doesn;t work for s**t).
“People dont upgrade apple products because they break down, they upgrade because they want something new, even though there old products work perfect” another LMAO moment.
Seriously, you have go to be #1 apple fanboy on this site, and one who can’t tell up from down. Again, people upgrade Apple products because of the media attention that Jobs gets, plus the fact that Jobs goes out in every conference and basically shoves every new product down your throat, so you basically have to buy a new Apple product every year, or your not apart of the Steve Jobs Apple Loyalty Fanclub.
I can guarantee you that if any other technology gadget got as much attention as Apple products get, everyone would be all over them and be buying them up left, right and center. But because the media revolves around Apple, and Steve Jobs is Apple = Steve Jobs is the media, and whatever Jobs says, people do and buy. (This is also why people like me who love android and other electronic companies, non-Apple, hate Apple)
But, enjoy your iPhone 4, and let me know how that iOS 4 software update helps correct the antenna issue.
-JB
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
LOL – JB 4TW
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Nice, just put a piece of tape on it! I have a 3GS and will keep it until the next hardware model comes out next summer.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
to be honest, all the iphone is to me is an ipod touch that you pay to use. you can skype the ipod touch can’t you? and that’s free. i’ve got a blackberry and i’m waiting on their new os. if it fails, i’ll go android before i’d ever think of the iphone. i just wish that there were some android phones devoid of touch screen, the very reason i went blackberry.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The antenna issue has been blown out of proportion, thanks to a slow news day.
Every single review in the US will tell you that the new iPhone has way better reception than the old one. Fewer dropped calls, etc. Guess what? The OLD one had no antenna reception issue! Isn’t that weird? Of course they’ve always had AT&T reception issues since it is the worst provider in the US, much like Rogers in the Maritimes or up north or out west in the rest of Canada.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
are you really calling me a fanboy, i own 1 apple product. 1, and yeah they are over priced, i never said they wernt but id rather pay more for something that works rather then waste money on something that is barley sub par. nothing runs smooth on android. You people are the fanboys. Please dont assume that you know more then I, in fact, you probably dont. Like i said earlier, android looks good in paper but fails in reality, the apps mostly suck and the ui is terrible. Do you know how many iphones ive had people return since i started my job a year ago? 2. do you know how many androids get returned, well over 20+ because people just dont really like them. im sorry to say but for haveing 12+ models of android phones your sales are lackluster. Just have fun with your crappy phone while i will go play my kick-a*s apps on my phone that works like it is suposed to.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
i dont want stray off track here, i was a big fan of android untill i saw how rogers basically crippled the crap out of their two HTC phones, and had no intentions of ever upgrading the OS
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@RJay
I see, so who has the ego issues now? You know better than us? You’re just a goddamn salesman. You don’t know s**t beyond what people might like and what is currently selling well, and only within your own region too. I’m sorry to say, but you’re not qualified to judge the merits of either mobile platform. Sales and returns figures mean squat. Have you ever considered a rather large portion of the iPhone buying population did so purely because it “looked nice”, the fact that it functions and has tons of apps is just gravy for the average North American consumer looking for a fashion accessory as opposed to a fully functional mobile device. Explaining why people might keep a phone that may not meet all of a user’s technical expectations. Maybe I’m just awesome that way but for me, functionality/features > form/presentation, any day. Apple and the iPhone are a fad, an incredibly successful one, but a fad nonetheless. Something you’ve clearly let yourself be bought into. Congratulations, Mr. Smartass-know-it-all-salesman, you’re a human lemming.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@RJAY
I don’t understand exactly how Android has failed. I have a Milestone and have been using it without any concerns or problems for a couple of months now. I have my wife’s iPhone as a comparisson. Now, the iPhone IS nice, works smoothly and is simple to operate, but so is my Milestone. PLUS, my Milestone is WAY more cusomizeable AND most of the iPHONE apps have been ported to Android. Also, globally, Android sales and activations are projected to surpass Apple, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
RJ, for a salesman, you sound very biased, unless you’re working in an Apple store.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Well. I am a fan of Apple. And mainly of the intuitiveness of the OS – both Mac and iPhone. It works. Works well. And is easy to adopt. (I work for a carrier).
After using Windows since 86 I changed to an iMac. Wow.
Unless you are a programmer or a gamer that likes to build PC’s – these are the machines that will place once faith back in computers. I was so tired of using an OS that could not keep up with me and was about as stable as a mental patient. Bye Windows.
However a flaw such as this is not acceptable for me, either. I can not recommend a product such as this without making the faults known. And I will.
No one – and I mean NO one should have a phone like this without a case around it – then this issue is much less of an issue. However – it is only a band-aid.
I still know – though testing and watching people who have never used a smart phone – that they will adapt and use this phone (3Gs or 4) faster than any other OS out there. I place my sales integrity on it, and personally guarantee if they do not like the ease of use – you can bring it back and we will take it back. None have some back in my career selling iPhone. I have seen many Android devices returned and many Blackberry devices returned as well, from people not getting past the adoption curve. (speaking only of people NEW to the smart phone).
You can beat it up (the new iPhone 4), but as a smart phone – you will still find it hard to beat in the GUI and ease of use.
I am however more than a little surprised/astonished about this antenna issue.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
ooh and now the iphone 4 is the highest rated smart phone, here we go again, another number proveing the iphone is better
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
@RJay
the iphone 4 still sucks. the antenna issue is too much of a hinderance for those who actually care about a smartphone. for all the mindless people who like it because it’s shiny, they won’t care. apple and iphone are just fashion statements. blackberry is more email/messaging, android is very customizable and smooth, and iphone is for all those little girls who want to keep up on justin beiber and twilight.
(for you who actually bought your iphone for a good reason, i apologize)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’ve used both an iphone and a nexus one. I should say that I was impressed with Android. It’s very customizable and easy to use. I specially liked the market and the camera on the nexus1. iPhone doesn’t have many revolutionary features. The video calling feature has been on Nokia phones since 2007. I should say that Ovi Maps has a lot better capabilities than Google Maps. There are plenty of reasons to like Android. I should say though, iPhone works well for lazy people and those who don’t want to think when running applications. As a previous poster said, little girls who want to follow Justin Beaver.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0