iPhone 4

Dear iPhone 4 Users,

The 4 has been the most successful product launch in Apple's . It has been judged by reviewers around the world to be the best ever, and users have told 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.

To start with, gripping almost any phone in certain ways will reduce its reception by 1 or more bars. This is true of , 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 strip in the lower left corner of the metal band. This is a far bigger drop than , and as a result some have accused the iPhone 4 of having a faulty antenna .

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 . They are delighted. This matches our own experience and testing. What can explain all of this?