iPhone 4 Proximity Sensor problem - how common is it?

**SenorDD** · 07-19-2010, 11:04 AM

I'm on the fence about buying one or not when it comes out in Canada. For those of you who own one, how often do you accidentally hit buttons while on a call? Should I wait until they have a software update for it or is it not as common as I think it is?

**lazaruz** · 07-19-2010, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by SenorDD

I'm on the fence about buying one or not when it comes out in Canada. For those of you who own one, how often do you accidentally hit buttons while on a call? Should I wait until they have a software update for it or is it not as common as I think it is?

i havent had an issue with the proximity sensor- then again i havent had a noticeable issue with dropped calls- i live in metro chicago and w/i 1 mile of an antenna- but my house is a faraday cage (not really but it is a stucco home w/wire mesh in the walls and old plaster walls- even my old verizon phones used to drop calls..... having said that i get really better reception w/ip4 over my old 3gs- ymmv

so i guess the answer to your question is only the dissatisifed folks *****..nobody is going to post "i dont have the proximty sensor issue"..

but those that ***** - do so alot and they tend to bring on "copy cat" *****ers who probably dont own the phone and are jealous of those who do own it.

according to the news conference - apple thinks this is a software issue that can be resolved soon...

**Saoirse1916** · 07-19-2010, 01:14 PM

It's happened to me several times, from simply pushing random buttons to hanging up on someone to calling someone else altogether. I'm hopeful that the 4.1 update (or some other update) will solve it, as discussed in last Friday's presser.

**wookiee2cu** · 07-19-2010, 01:18 PM

I had it with my first one and exchanged it, the replacment unit seems much better. Apple is aware of it and said it will be addressed on the next firmware update so they make sound to be only a software issue which is good. I think it's just a matter of adjusting the sensitivity level. If this is the only thing holding you back, don't let it the phone is awesome. Besides you will have 30 days to return it should it end up being an issue for you.

**{StatuSChecKa}** · 07-19-2010, 01:41 PM

I wonder why this was not a huge issue on the 3GS.
If it is really sunny, or bright in my area, the screen does not lock very good. The phone has to be parallel to my face, I only notice a problem ever so often. Its my only problem.

**wookiee2cu** · 07-19-2010, 01:49 PM

I never had a proximity issue with my 3G. I did notice on my 3G it is much easier to see the sensor than it is on the 4G, maybe the black area is darker?

**parsec** · 07-19-2010, 02:36 PM

I personally experience the issue on just about any call longer than a minute or two. I am confident that this is just a software problem though. Only you can decide how much of an issue this is, but for what it's worth I just recommended the iPhone to my fiance. But there is a caveat; if you are going to conduct any kind of business with the phone, or perhaps participate in phone interviews, I would recommend either waiting or using some sort of headset (the included one is just fine).

BTW, am I the only one who is ticked at all the coverage the antenna is getting because it distracts from the proximity sensor? The way I see it, "Antennagate" isn't really that big of a deal, but because the press decided to collectively "rend their garments" (thank you Andy Ihnatko) over it Apple now has to divert resources to investigate that. These people would have otherwise been working on a solution to the proximity sensor problem. Just a thought.

**Solange82200** · 07-19-2010, 02:58 PM

I havent had the proximity problem. I dont talk on the phone alot though, so that might be it. But i have made calls on it, although most are less than 3 to 5 minutes long. I never had anything weird with the sensor. I have not had any dropped calls either, and I get better signal than my 3gs, and MUCH better signal than my old verizon phones. But obviously not all areas will be the same. However, I had my iphone 3gs when I went to San Francisco, and was able to make calls fine, and I had my iphone 4 when I went to new york city, and it worked fine, and those are supposed to be two trouble cities.

**SenorDD** · 07-20-2010, 12:13 PM

Only 7 replies...am I to assume that it's not that big of a problem, or that not many people have the phone to test it with yet?

**MI_canuck** · 07-20-2010, 12:53 PM

i don't have this issue.

**rman222** · 07-20-2010, 01:49 PM

I have the issue... took me a little while to figure out what was happenning. now when I remember I use multitasking to launch an app like the calculator when on a call.
jh

**Saoirse1916** · 07-20-2010, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by parsec

BTW, am I the only one who is ticked at all the coverage the antenna is getting because it distracts from the proximity sensor? The way I see it, "Antennagate" isn't really that big of a deal, but because the press decided to collectively "rend their garments" (thank you Andy Ihnatko) over it Apple now has to divert resources to investigate that. These people would have otherwise been working on a solution to the proximity sensor problem. Just a thought.

Totally agree -- I was sleeping through the antenna business on Friday and the got excited when I saw the slide about the proximity sensor...only to be disappointed that the only mention was, "we know, we're working on it." But, if they really do work on it and get it fixed, I'm happy.

**gambit57** · 07-20-2010, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by parsec

BTW, am I the only one who is ticked at all the coverage the antenna is getting because it distracts from the proximity sensor? The way I see it, "Antennagate" isn't really that big of a deal, but because the press decided to collectively "rend their garments" (thank you Andy Ihnatko) over it Apple now has to divert resources to investigate that. These people would have otherwise been working on a solution to the proximity sensor problem. Just a thought.

Totally agree also. Antenna has a real easy fix that's basically just a cosmetic issue. When you combine that with the fact that prolly 95% of iPhone users use a case anyways, it's really not an issue at all.

The proximity issue is a real defect IMO. Luckily, it appears to be fixable thru a software update, but that update hasn't come yet so it deserves attention.

I haven't had a problem with the 2 phones in my household. You aren't seeing a response cuz like most problems with phones, they tend to be relatively rare occurrences. There are over 3 million iPhone 4s out there. If it were a big problem, we'd have heard about it.

**Tikerz** · 07-20-2010, 06:11 PM

I don't have the issue, but my wife's iPhone 4 does. When she's on the phone I can see sometimes that the screen is on when the phone is to her ear. When I'm on the phone I always look out of the corner of my eye to see if my screen is on and it never is.

**davistld01** · 07-20-2010, 06:35 PM

I had intermittent prox sensor issues, mostly putting callers on "mute" by hitting button withy cheek during calls. Not a major deal...but annoying. Yeah, maybe another sw update might fix that...but I didn't feel like waiting and exchanged at the Apple store.

Now...no prox issues, no dropped calls, and I'm living the dream again!