Apple confirms iPhone 4 reception issue in statement

Apple acknowledges there is indeed an issue with iPhone 4 reception. NEWLINE In a statement in the form of a letter to iPhone users, Apple says there is in fact a bug involving reception with its iPhone 4. Debate online has gone back and forth whether it is a hardware or software problem, but if Apple's claim is true the bug is in the software. NEWLINE Apple says an errant formula used to calulate the signal display is at fault and the problem will be resolved with an update in the next few weeks. NEWLINE Many critical users predicted that Apple would push out an update that they suspect would only mask a problem rather than fix it, but a recent test by hardware review blog AnandTech suggests reception is better than the 3Gs even while holding the device in the manner that causes the reception to drop. NEWLINE Here is the statement: NEWLINE Dear iPhone 4 Users, NEWLINE The iPhone 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple's history. It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best smartphone ever, and users have told us that they love it. So we were surprised when we read reports of reception problems, and we immediately began investigating them. Here is what we have learned. NEWLINE To start with, gripping almost any mobile phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, as well as many Droid, Nokia and RIM phones. But some users have reported that iPhone 4 can drop 4 or 5 bars when tightly held in a way which covers the black strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than normal, and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna design. NEWLINE At the same time, we continue to read articles and receive hundreds of emails from users saying that iPhone 4 reception is better than the iPhone 3GS. They are delighted. This matches our own experience and testing. What can explain all of this? NEWLINE We have discovered the cause of this dramatic drop in bars, and it is both simple and surprising. NEWLINE Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong. Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars. Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don't know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place. NEWLINE To fix this, we are adopting AT&T's recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength. The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone's bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area. We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see. NEWLINE We will issue a free software update within a few weeks that incorporates the corrected formula. Since this mistake has been present since the original iPhone, this software update will also be available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G. NEWLINE We have gone back to our labs and retested everything, and the results are the same- the iPhone 4's wireless performance is the best we have ever shipped. For the vast majority of users who have not been troubled by this issue, this software update will only make your bars more accurate. For those who have had concerns, we apologize for any anxiety we may have caused. NEWLINE As a reminder, if you are not fully satisfied, you can return your undamaged iPhone to any Apple Retail Store or the online Apple Store within 30 days of purchase for a full refund. NEWLINE We hope you love the iPhone 4 as much as we do. NEWLINE Thank you for your patience and support. NEWLINE Apple NEWLINE NEWLINE