iPhone 4 – the problems begin
We’ve reviewed it, and today thousands of you will be slipping its 9.3mm shell into your pockets in the satisfied knowledge that you now own what is widely touted as the world’s best smartphone.
But despite the glowing reviews, the gushing praise and the usual hyperbole, even Apple’s new handset can’t escape a few teething problems.
Customers who joined the queue early enough have been reporting problems with patches of yellow tint on the otherwise triumphant Retina Display. Others have reported the phone’s signal strength dropping when the handset is held, perhaps as a result of the new antennae built into the sides.
A poll conducted by Engadget showed nearly a fifth of respondents had seen yellow spots on their iPhone 4’s screen, while 23 per cent admitted that the handset appeared to have a weaker signal when clutched in the hand (although many said that although bars had dropped off, there was no noticable drop in quality).
It won’t stop Apple’s latest being the best phone in the world, but for all the hype, it’s worth remembering the iPhone – while brilliant – isn’t perfect.
UPDATE: We've seen the yellow tinge first hand. It's too slight to photograph, but it's definitely there and will be an issue for those who've just forked out a lot of dosh for that premium display.
UPDATE 2: Before you rush off to claim a refund, there's word about that the yellow tint may be caused by drying glue. If that's the case, the problem should clear up on its own soon enough. (This appears to be supported by mike.bignell's experience, reported in the comments.) Anyone else?
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Comments
ajh10
2 years ago
It would be interesting to know whether there are still signal problems when the iphone bumper is on. This could break the circuit being created by the hand between the two antennas.
Drunken Max
2 years ago
I think Apple are offering a software upgrade shortly to resolve the issue. ..... the iGlove
Drunken Max
2 years ago
"It won’t stop Apple’s latest being the best phone in the world, but for all the hype, it’s worth remembering the iPhone – while brilliant – isn’t perfect." thats frankly pathetic... i don't know how Steve Jobs can walk with so many tongues so firmly lodged.
stevie1741
2 years ago
while we rush out an buy them in there millions they can get away with having these faults when production lines are at full speed faults will happen more often
markster
2 years ago
the problem is these products are not beta tested properly. they rush them out. to make millions. all phones should have at least 6 months on test daily,before releasing to the public. but in apples case make a product, then release to the public. then spend 12 months updating firmware to make the thing actually work. silly idea personally
The_Corporal
2 years ago
Broken phones, yellow tinged displays and dropped calls if your holding the phone. Behold the magical iFail 4
mike.bignell
2 years ago
@markster Apple began field testing this iteration of the iPhone around October/November last year. The prototype iPhone which Gizmodo bought in April was being field tested when it was lost in that bar. So clearly Apple do test their products months in advance of their release. As for the screen issue, bear in mind Apple use a lot of "bleeding edge" technology, so naturally there will be problems. My iPhone 3G had a yellow tint on the screen when I first got it, it soon disappeared after a bit of use. People expect perfection. Nothing can be perfect all the time.
Drunken Max
2 years ago
What a load of fanboy tosh. I would expect my phone not to have faults or at least not be worse than the predecessor. Perfection ? no. Fit for purpose and as advertised? Yes Especially when Jobbsie stands on stage and claims he's the new messiah. Apple apologists are everyhere at the moment. How can so many people have this fault if it had been tested properly and its a design fault, not a manufacturing fault.
Drunken Max
2 years ago
http://www.avforums.com/forums/iphone/1276819-iphone-4-problems.html Lots of people enjoying the experience. Makes you wonder why Apple gave out or sold the bumpers at launch?
mike.bignell
2 years ago
@Drunken Max You NEVER have a good word to say about anything do you?
Drunken Max
2 years ago
I like my iPad actually and my Desire Xbox PS3 Classic.... lots of things actually. just gets limited around apple fanboys who can see the king's new clothes. Good generalisation though, well done.
mike.bignell
2 years ago
Seriously, just grow up. Idiot.
Al McCarley
2 years ago
This is taken from http://www.macrumors.com/: According to a forum post at AppleInsider, however, the issue should resolve itself over the next several days, as it is claimed to be caused by a bonding agent in the screen that has not yet fully dried following the manufacturing process. Apple is using a bonding agent called Organofunctional Silane Z-6011 to bond the layers of glass. Apparently, Apple (or more likely Foxconn) is shipping these products so quickly that the evaporation process is not complete. However, after one or two days of use, especially with the screen on, will complete the evaporation process and the yellow "blotches" will disappear. How do I know? I was involved in pitching Z-6011 to Apple. The veracity of the poster's claim has not been verified, but it does offer some hope to those affected by the issue. Adding to those hopes are reports from users that their blotches are in fact fading with time and usage, indicating that affected users should probably take a wait-and-see attitude for a few days rather than rushing out to their local Apple Stores in hopes of exchanging for new units. I had major yellow spots on the bottom corners of the iPhone 4 this morning when I received it (as shown in the other thread) and as of right now they have COMPLETELY faded away. I have no idea what caused this but it happened. So keep an eye on it over the next day or so if you have the issue. . . It just seemed like the more I used the phone today the more it faded. It's really odd but I'll take it.
Drunken Max
2 years ago
Thats not very nice. I think you should apologise for the personal insult.
thegoodly
2 years ago
had the yellow colour at the bottom right hand of the screen and seems to be fading more and more and pretty much gone now.
mike.bignell
2 years ago
@Drunken Max You'll be waiting a long time for an apology. I have always been very reluctant posting anything anywhere on this site due to your attitude, I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks the same.
Jonprevans
2 years ago
Mike, I think it's not what you are saying that's winding up Max, it's your tone. Unfortunately no one, is ever always right, but sounding like you think you do annoys people. Max knows his comments pour paraffin on the Apple fire, and he generally makes his statements to get a rise out of people, more for entertainment value. You need to rise above his comments and stay objective. Reacting makes him happier.
Jonprevans
2 years ago
While we're on this topic, ever since IOS4 my ipod functionality has been (ironically) removed from my iPhone. If I try to open up the ipod function to play music or video it crashes in 6 seconds. anyone else had this problem?
mike.bignell
2 years ago
@Jonprevans So basically what I said above is wrong then, even though I am just mirroring what I have observed since the end of last year? And since when has humiliating someone been an acceptable way of entertaining people? It's wrong. Well if what 'Max' does on here makes him happy, then I think he needs to get a life. I have logged my complaint with Stuff.
Drunken Max
2 years ago
@mike.bignall. Actually I made a personal remark about you once and I apologised afterwards as well. I guess you're not the same so I won't hold my breath. Hey ho. @jonprevans I'm very very unhappy, slighted in fact
Jonprevans
2 years ago
Unfortunately Mike, if you look back at this dialogue, Max never directed any insults to you personally, whereas you have been quite rude to him. I always try and imagine having a conversation like this to people in person. Would I behave in the same way? Probably not. It's very easy to trade insults over the long distances of the internet, but let's remember that this forums is for discussion about technology, not our own personality defects. If you don't like the way Max behaves then you're quite right about complaining to Stuff, but make sure you keep your own nose clean. Come back to this topic in a couple of days after a cooling down period. You're getting angry because you care passionately about something which is admirable, but it really isn't worth the tension it raises.
mike.bignell
2 years ago
Nope, as long as Drunken Max is active on this site, I am NEVER coming back. I shall be asking about having my account details removed in the morning. And yes, he did apologize to me for a personal remark once but I never accepted it. He responded to my response to markster as "a load of fanboy tosh" which I objected to.
Drunken Max
2 years ago
You object a lot to people who don't agree with you mike. Maybe you should not take things so seriously. I promise to be nice to you from now on, I'll treat you special. I actually enjoy your posts so don't be prissy and take your ball away. It's a techie website after all, not the house of commons
wooopeee
2 years ago
Why on every occasion does all the gadget web sites try there best to slate apple as i have owned every iphone from the start i was always aware of this issue with signal but to be honest every phone on the market has this problem of which i see as not a problem at all!! as our bodies are full of static electricity its going to happen all the time and as for the fact people are not suppose to be gripping there phone like a baseball i feel this has been made such a stupid issue! i have had my iphone 4 for around 24 hrs and no signal issues at all.What are people really wanting from a phone? being the best must so difficult as people look for silly little faults.. my phone is the best thing i could ever have imagined from i phone.. no problems at all..stop looking for faults with such a flawless product..
Drunken Max
2 years ago
A lot of people , to be fair, are losing the signal completely. Not all so I guess you are in the lucky majority. The problem with the 3GS ( and I did own one for a year plus) was that it wasn't a very good phone. Everything else was fab but not the phone bit. Its dissappointing to subsequently find that the 4 seems to be actually worse. Also, it didn't come with instructions about how NOT to hold the phone, phones shouldn't have to. Its always annoying when you buy faulty tech but it cannot be dismissed as trivia just because you made a bad choice. Christ, I've bought loads of crap tech as an early adopter. I even bought the wrong iPad.
The_Corporal
2 years ago
@ Drunken Max, Really? I think you really ought to treat yourself to the right iPad this weekend, and I'll make sure your old one gets recycled or sent to needy children in Africa or something. Oh and a product that a huge number of people have reported issues with the screen (both yellow tinges and random white spots) and that you can't hold without bridging the two ariels and depleting signal strength isn't flawless. I'm not an Apple hater by the way, I do dislike the let's gloss over the glaring problems and bask in it's "magicalness" attitude
djianm
2 years ago
And back to the phone does anyone else think the ipone 4 is overpriced?
Drunken Max
2 years ago
If it worked?
The_Corporal
2 years ago
@ djianm. Of course it is, but you always pay a premium for Apple products. Is it worth it? Well that's very much up to the individual. There are other handsets on the market just as capable, the HTC desire for example is a fantastic phone, and in terms of functionality it's easily a match for the iphone. Is it as desirable (excuse the pun) though? Personally I think the iPhone 4 is the nicest looking handset on the market at the moment, and as much as it pains me to admit it (being an Android handset owner)the App store is still light years ahead of the Android market place.
djianm
2 years ago
I cant see past the price difference between iphone and the lastest android handsets. Yes the app store may be light years ahead on the Android market place but that will change over time. There are still loads of good apps for android and you could spend the money you saved on an ipod touch!!
Drunken Max
2 years ago
The android app store is a bit pitiful at the moment (there I go putting things down again) when compared to the Apple store. For me the best phone is the EVO at the moment. Get an iPad. After that the iPhone isn't so attractive
daveski
2 years ago
christ some of you need to grow a pair, stop your school girl arguing, if you are really interested in doing that, i advise you go to a chat room or something! I am able to upgrade my o2 contract to the iphone 4 this month but have held off for a couple of reasons. 1. To see if there were any problems(i would like to have a mobile where i can actually make calls and send send texts, something i apparently may not get with the iphone 4) what if i dont want to hold it in a different way, i think they are trying to make YOU change your habits compared to them paying money to resolve the issue. 2. 500mb, 750mb and 1gb....sorry this is a phone! capping there usage of wap to these levels is poor, downloading apps will eat into that without you even going onto a website! 4. Pull my pants down over the price! 3. A lot of people tell me to buy a Blackberry instead. Im torn between the iphone and blackberry. What do you lot think?
Drunken Max
2 years ago
Blackberry have limited apps. Have you looked at Android phones at all? Or are you too much of a girl?
johnerz
2 years ago
I got my phone on Thursday, the signal was a bit temperamental until Friday morning when the carrier settings were updated when I connected to iTunes. I have since looked into this issue regarding how the phone is held, I held it in the death grip several times and noticed a drop in signal once. My screen display is perfect, no yellow tint, the phone is great, exactly what I wanted/hoped for. Whenever a top end product is hyped up and released there are always people looking to slag it off or criticise. For people that are interested, go and have a look at the hardware in action then make your mind p, honestly it is an absolute pleasure to hold, look at and use. If you liked the 3G and want an upgrade you will not be disappointed. If you don't like the iPhone ui or hate Apple, don't moan about, just don't buy it! there are plenty of android phones playing catch up, but for me, until android offers a support function equal to iTunes it will never deliver an experience that is equal or better.
daveski
2 years ago
Have you looked at Android phones at all? Or are you too much of a girl? ...........that doesnt even make sense. yes i looked at android phones, working for a phone company i no about phones quite a bit.
Drunken Max
2 years ago
So why do you need your friends to tell you to buy a blackberry if you're so well informed?
djianm
2 years ago
daveski i have a HTC hero and can def recommend it. Almost as good as iphone3 but without the daft price tag. Legend and Desire even better phones so may be worth a look. These phones might not be quite as good as iphone4 but when you factor in price the iphone doesnt even come close
daveski
2 years ago
Because i have not tried the iphone 4, some people on here have it and i would like there opinions. Being arsey over the internet or trying to act the hard man doesnt suit you my friend. Cant you just be like everyone else and add normal thoughts to the topic? Dijanm - thanks i have had a quick go on the Desire and it is a ice phone, is fairly large though. Whats the apps like on the HTC's?
djianm
2 years ago
daveski the android market place is getting better still some holes some big companies only release apps for iphone at the min,ie sky, but that is changing. still plenty on good apps though(many free) If the desire is a little too big then try the legend. Not as powerful but then my Hero does the job just fine. The legend is a step up from the hero and in my opinion is one of the coolest looking phones on the market.
macy
2 years ago
The iPhone 4 Deals is both 2G and 3G compatible. It has a decent 3.5 inch LED-backlit IPS TFT capacitive touchscreen for wonderful viewing. It flaunts the features such as accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate....http://www.mobilejazz.co.uk/apple-iphone-4-deals.aspx
harman1915
1 year ago
Hi, I found this blog once, then lost it. Took me forever to come back and find it. I wanted to see what comments you got. Nice blog by the way.
gates
business and network
PeterSmith
1 year ago
My iPhone 4 for the last few days has started to get very hot in use and the battery is gone very bad. Leaving the phone on standby can see the battery drain nearly 20% in an hour. This is gone to the stage where I have to turn it off at times just to save battery during the day.It only began to happen when I updated to iOS 4.3. I updated to iOS 4.3.1 yesterday and it still has the same issues. I have custom writing paper about this issue! Anyone else having the same problem?