The one thing they never talked about is the difference between the iPhone 4's external antenna (exposed) and the internal antennas in most phones.
Testing a various websites shows that while most phones drop signal, the iPhone 4's signal dropped significantly more because the antenna is exposed and your skin comes in direct contact with the antenna rather than just in close proximity.
With the bumper "fixing" the problem, wouldn't putting the antenna inside the case essentially create the same fix by putting non-conductive material between the user and the antenna?
Dropped more (-24 dB vs -17 dB), and yet picks up signal in significantly more areas and is significantly more sensitive (-121 dB vs -113 db).
I like the innovative external antenna (Anandtech calls the design tradeoff "ballsy") and I like holding more calls in more places. I'm willing to hold it "right" in exchange.
Surely the solution though is to improve signal strength everywhere so it isn't an issue. Other (admittedly smaller) countries don't have any issues with cellphone coverage.
My questions is are those results due to the antenna being external or some other design feature of the antenna? Could they get similar performance with an internal antenna, or at least an antenna that had some insulation between the antenna and the user?
Testing a various websites shows that while most phones drop signal, the iPhone 4's signal dropped significantly more because the antenna is exposed and your skin comes in direct contact with the antenna rather than just in close proximity.
With the bumper "fixing" the problem, wouldn't putting the antenna inside the case essentially create the same fix by putting non-conductive material between the user and the antenna?