Mobile Phone Reviews UK

15 Reasons Why NOT To Buy The iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 has been one of the most anticipated and sought after mobile phones ever released, but is it really worth buying?? Sure the phone looks good and it has many useful features, but there are many other phones on the market that look just as good and have the same amount, if not more, features than the iPhone 4. Also, with the large amount of sales a large amount of problems and issues with the iPhone 4 have been raised.

Here is our 15 reasons NOT to buy the Apple iPhone 4

1.Signal Problems

The problem that we have all heard of and the one that has been dominating the Blogs and Web pages of iPhone 4 users since its release in June 2010, is that there are signal problems. This is mainly due to the design and positioning of the antenna within the phone.

When a part of the phone on the lower left hand side is touched, it can significantly reduce signal and sometimes causes you to lose connection altogether during a call! This problem has been widely reported and yet although the problem has been acknowledged by Apple, only generic advice has been given, telling owners to “Use one of the many available cases or to just avoid gripping the phone on the lower left corner”.

2.Faulty Software

Apple have claimed that the iPhone 4´s signal problems were mainly due to a fault in its software causing an “optical illusion”. However, a recent report and study by ´Consumer Reports´ magazine dismisses this claim to be true. The study tested three iPhone 4 in its radio frequency isolation chamber, which emulates phone signals to simulate the “real world” and concluded that the iPhone 4 was much more prone to radio frequency faults than the iPhone  3GS and other competitors. However, for Apple to claim that there is an issue with the software suggests there actually is one, or they are trying to cover up a massive fault with the phone.

3.You Can´t make FaceTime calls over 3G

FaceTime on the Apple  iPhone 4 enables you to make video calling more easily, but it only works when you are connected on Wi-Fi and only to speak to other iPhone 4 users. There are many other phones available on the market these days and the inability for Apple iPhone 4´s to be able to connect to them shows their stubbornness to be completely dominant in the market, not caring if it hinders the user. Also, video calling can be made on 3G, so why not include it on the iPhone 4?

4. There is No Free Sat Nav

One of the main criticisms of the iPhone 4 is that it doesn’t come with a free Sat Nav application. This criticism becomes apparent when you look at most Android phones, which do come with Sat Nav. You can pay for the application and there are probably free ones soon to be released, but they are either expensive or won´t be as good as the free Android Sat Nav systems available. This shows another way in which Apple are trying to ´cash in´ on their customers rather than help them and offer them an application that is widely available for free on other mobile phones.

5. iPhone 4 Uses Micro SIM Cards

Instead of using the standard SIM cards used in other mobile phones Apple have decided to use a Micro SIM card in their iPhone 4. This may not seem a problem, but the iPhone 4 can be purchased in an unlocked state, which means you can´t simply insert your old SIM into it. There are ways around this, but it makes the purchase of an iPhone 4 more hastle to the consumer than using a standard SIM.

6. Yellow Patches On The Screen

Although not in every case, some iPhone 4 users have reported yellow blotches or patches appearing on the screen. This has been identified as a problem with the laminating process during the creation of the screens. Apparently some haven´t been given enough time to finish the evaporation process before being released to be sold. Apple have stated that if you return the phone they will replace it, but you obviously want and should have a perfect phone to begin with.

7. Rear Camera May Stop Working

Many iPhone 4 users have reported that the virtual shutter on the rear camera stops working when you go to take a picture. Even if the function worked initially, many users have found that it stops functioning permanently at some point. This problem has not been acknowledged by Apple as yet and shows a major flaw with one of the phones main functions.

8. White Balance On the Rear Camera Doesn´t Work

There is evidence that the camera on the iPhone 4 is one of the best on the mobile market and that it truly does take good photographs. However, a recent study by ´Macworld´ has concluded otherwise. The report shows that although the camera is very good on outdoor and illuminated shots, its indoor shots can look terrible because of a faulty automatic white balance setting. The study reviewed four different cameras, including previous iPhones and found that it was only the iPhone 4 that interpreted white sheets as yellow. Surely not a good thing for the budding mobile photographer!

9. The Glass Can Be Fragile

Although Apple have dismissed concerns about their glass front on the iPhone 4, saying that it is much stronger than using plastic, there have been reports that it breaks easier. The tech site ´Gizmodo´ reported that one of their staff managed to break the glass on his iPhone 4 on the day it was purchased from dropping the phone only at ear height! Breakages can occur dropping any mobile phone, however one claiming their screen to be 20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic shouldn’t be breaking as easily. (We don’t know exactly how tall the Gizmodo employee was, but we´re assuming he must be under 8ft).

10. Proximity Sensor Issues

The proximity sensor on the iPhone 4 is the feature that disables your screen when it´s close to your face during a call. This ensures that you don´t press any other functions, hang up or mute the call if your phone touches your face.

Many iPhone 4 users are reporting that their proximity sensor isn´t working correctly and that they are able to select other functions, without knowing, when the phone touches their face. On the Apple support forum, one user has even reported that the problem occurs on almost 90% of their calls.

11. Bumper Case Compatibility Problems

There have been a number of reports that the iPhone 4´s rubber Bumper cases are causing compatibility problems with previous Apple cables and headphones, leaving users unable to use them. The Bumper cases have been recommended by Apple to help with the signal problems (previously discussed), but you can only use new style headphones and cables with the cases on the phone, so if for any reason you want to use your old headphones or charging lead you will have to take the case off, leaving the acknowledged signal problems to be unresolved.

12. Jailbreaking Security Flaw

Apple have announced they are going to investigate a major Security problem with the iPhone 4. The iPhones Operating System is allowing hackers to gain complete control and access to iPhones and iPads. The main issue with the ´Jailbreakme´ hack, however, is not that it isn´t useful if used for proper reasons, it´s that it can be used destructively if in the wrong hands and can be used by just visiting one website. The problem is with how the iPhone 4´s OS deals with PDF files. Essentially, all the user has to do is visit a website with a dodgy PDF file and their phone can become a security hazard.

There are many security flaws on other phones too, but with the recent problems in the UAE banning Blackberry phones because of security issues, will the Apple iPhone 4 be the next to go??

13. White iPhone 4 Release Problems

Apple have not yet release the White iPhone 4, so for those waiting for it to be released, will there be any point?? Apple have suggested that the white iPhone 4 will be release by the end of the year and is late due to manufacturing issues. Some have reported that there could be a problem with the chemicals used in the white casing being scarce and difficult to perfect, others suggest that it´s because Apple are trying to iron out all of the problems with the current Black  iPhone 4 before its release. However, for whatever reason it´s late the White iPhone 4 will probably not be available until December, which makes it only around seven months until the next iPhone is due to be released. So if you are planning to get the White iPhone 4 on a 12, 18 or 36 month contract there is a possibility that your phone will be out of date sooner with the release of the next generation iPhone expected soon.

14. Still Tied In To Apple

iPhone 4´s, like previous versions are still tied in to using only Apple applications and rules. This means that you cannot download everything you want and when you want it. It also means that because Apple don’t like Flash, you can´t access any Flash websites which means you are missing a large chunk of what´s out there on the web. Other phones allow you to do this, for example Android phones, so why not Apple iPhones??

15. They´re Just Too Expensive

An Unblocked 16GB iPhone 4 costs around £499, and a 32GB costs around £599 on the Apple UK web site (10^th August 2010). The mark-up on the iPhone 4 is huge, perhaps because everybody wants one, but also because Apple are being greedy. The monthly charges on contracts are higher than with other smartphones, because not only are the network operators subsidising Apple’s ridiculously high prices for the devices, but Apple also demands a cut, said to be up to 30 per cent, of users’ monthly charges, further driving up the cost.

To conclude, some of the problems above will not make you hate the Apple iPhone 4, it is still a desirable phone and this is proven in the sales statistics. However, there are problems and flaws, and on a phone that costs the amount that the iPhone 4 does, should they really be there?? Also, would it be better to be more individual and buy a phone that is more enriched with features, such as a Google Android phone, than following a trend that will most probably cost your pocket much more than it is worth?