iPhone 4 vs 3GS signal comparison
June 29, 2010 12:02 PM   Subscribe

For people with the new iPhone 4, who previously had experience with the iPhone 3GS. How do you find the iPhone 4 stacks up against the 3GS in the area of signal reception? Is the iPhone 4 better or worse at obtaining and maintaining a cellular signal?

I live in an area where the AT&T coverage is borderline. I tried the iPhone 3GS once but the signal strength was not good enough. I am wondering if the iPhone 4 has made any improvements in this area. **Please note** that I am aware of the signal reduction/attenuation when holding the iPhone but as I would use it with a case anyway I am not so concerned about it.

Essentially I am looking to see if people who have used both the 3GS and iPhone 4 notice any difference in the signal reception. Thanks!
posted by DerekTheGeek to Technology (9 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
(for me 3g -->4, not 3GS --> 4)

I don't see any difference in reception, but I think sound quality is slightly better
posted by mercredi at 12:32 PM on June 29, 2010


I don't have AT&T, but in for me, in Paris, the reception is better in all aspects. My iPhone 4 can maintain a 3G connections in places where my 3GS would normally drop into GPRS or EDGE, and I can maintain a connection in the metro for the most part, whereas my 3GS usually dropped to "no signal" when going between stations. Also, it resolved this issue that I had with both my 3G and 3GS.

The signal attenuation issue doesn't affect me at all in any real usage scenario. I can make it happen by gripping that spot on the phone with my hand as tightly as possible, but if I hold the phone normally it has a negligible effect.

But I don't have any experience using it in a place with a weak signal yet (except in the metro, but that's sort of a special case).
posted by helios at 12:39 PM on June 29, 2010


Also previously 3G - I haven't seen any difference in reception here is Connecticut.
posted by elvissa at 12:39 PM on June 29, 2010


From what I've noticed the signal is slightly better - perhaps a half bar's worth in some areas that aren't well covered.
posted by Brent Parker at 12:51 PM on June 29, 2010


Previous 3G. Signal is just as crap as it ever was in my Faraday cage of an office (AT&T swears they're going to fix the "degraded" towers in the area... someday), but sound quality is actually much better and I've had fewer dropped calls since I got my 4.

Now, iOS 4 did awful things to my old 3G's wifi reception, but that's another question.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 1:44 PM on June 29, 2010


I don't talk on my phone too much, I have the 4g and the 3g and I don't notice any kind of significant difference.
posted by hazyspring at 1:56 PM on June 29, 2010


It depends on whether you bridge the gap in the metal band.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 2:41 PM on June 29, 2010


According to this article, it's better, but definitely get a case.
posted by FreezBoy at 6:06 AM on June 30, 2010


Doesn't really answer your question, but my wife's company got her an AT&T microcell to improve reception for her Blackberry, and for the first time I can finally use my iphone in the house. I think the price is around $150, but we didn't buy it, so I'm not sure.
posted by nevercalm at 2:59 PM on August 18, 2010


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