Iphone 4- good call quality?

[bjscheel]

DH is due for a new phone on his Verizon plan on Saturday, so we've been looking. He currently has the Casio G'Zone flip phone particularly because it's so durable. The current G'Zone version is now a touchscreen style. It would cost him $100 I think.

The iPhone 4, among other phones, is free, so it intrigues him. He could get a case to make it more durable. The girls and I have iPod touch, so he is a little used to that style. He would not be using data hardly ever, but would probably get a few apps to play with while waiting in line in his semi. His fingers are kind of big, I know I should have him mess with an iPod between now and then to make sure he can touch the keys okay!

The internet/apps/etc are just a bonus. What is most important is that he can hear and be heard on calls. He spends a LOT of time talking on his phone for business. Most of the time he will be in rural parts of Iowa. He uses a Bose bluetooth. Verizon has pretty good coverage in most places.

Anybody ever have any trouble with call quality on an iPhone 4, especially outside of metro areas?

There are other free ones too, it's so hard to know what to get.

 

[RitaE]

The iPhone 4 is the one with the "You're Holding it Wrong" antenna problems.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365705,00.asp

I experienced the disappearing bars everytime I picked the phone up, but keeping it in a case solved the issue.

I think that they fixed the shorting out the antenna bugs in the 4s, but I never upgraded to find out.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, iphone 4 (older) user here and I LOVE it!! It was VERY easy to learn to use I have a case on mine so no problems with "holding it wrong?" I was also unsure of the touch screen and small letters but got used to it easily. I have Verizon also and I never drop any calls. I do travel some,and always have had service. Joan

 

[JakeJenna]

I've had my iPhone 4 for my now completed contract. I have had it fixed or replace several times but I've never had it in a case so it my own fault. I've never had the antenna problems the PP were talking about. If I had one complaint it is that at times it can be hard to hear quiet talkers on the phone. If he is using a Bluetooth or speaker that shouldn't be a problem. My personal opinion would be if he is going to get the iPhone pay the hundred bucks and get the 4s.

 

[bjscheel]

My personal opinion would be if he is going to get the iPhone pay the hundred bucks and get the 4s.

That's another thought we're tossing around- pay for a 4s or 5.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Honestly, pay for the 4s or 5. I just upgraded from a 4 to a 5 last week, and there is a huge difference. Even though the 4 is running the same iOS as the 4s and 5, it just doesn't have the power to do it. I didn't realize how badly the basic functions were performing until I upgraded.

The other thing is that getting a 4 at this point puts you 2 generations behind. A lot of people who got the 3GS for free now have phones they can't use the apps they want because the apps no longer support the 3GS. However, they still are not in their upgrade window so they are stuck for a few more months. This is going to happen to the 4 when the next iPhone comes out some time this year.

However, the call quality is excellent on both iPhones.

 

[aimeeinohio]

The iPhone 4 is the one with the "You're Holding it Wrong" antenna problems.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2365705,00.asp

I experienced the disappearing bars everytime I picked the phone up, but keeping it in a case solved the issue.

I think that they fixed the shorting out the antenna bugs in the 4s, but I never upgraded to find out.

Ah, antennaegate

I had the 4, and never had that problem...Yes the bars would drop but the phone still worked fine When it was time to replace it, I went with the 4s (not impressed with the 5)...I think he can get the 4s for $99.00.

Yes, a case- Otterbox or the less expensive Griffin Defender. My husband is a mechanic and has had the Griffin on both of his iphones and they are pristine.

 

[3boymthr]

We all have iPhones in my house and I have to say I like the 4S the best. One of the things I like about it is the ability to press the microphone button, talk into the phone press done and have it type out a text message for me - which totally solves the tiny button problem. The 5 will also do this but the 4 won't. The voice to text feature also works for most data searches and for typing e-mails. Every so often it will totally misinterpret a word that you say and you still have to do a little typing (like spell correction on proper names, adding punctuation, etc.) but really LOVE this feature.

Price wise on the 4S and 5, check with your local Target store, because mine offers the 5% redcard discount on cell phone purchases and this is on top of the price match they offer for the ATT/Verizon/Sprint online upgrade offers.

 

[JAMIESMITH]

Mine drops calls like crazy. My old iPhone 3s didn't do that.

 

[eMd]

I now have an iphone5 (my 4 was stolen back in December at a bar). I never had any issues with call quality and people being able to hear me. I also have verizon and usually have great service(except for in my house its so weird). But I recommend it.

 

[girli565]

My 4 is great. No dropped calls, no antennae issues but I've always had it in an Otterbox case so I may not have noticed. It's in pristine condition still and I've had it for over 2 years now. I'm not looking to upgrade yet because it's still in perfect condition, even with the IOS updates (I'm running the most recent IOS update) it's working fine. I would like the 5 but if the rumors are true and a new one is set to come out in the summer I'm going to wait until then to upgrade.

 

[disneymom2003]

I had the 4 and now the 5. The only time I have problem hearing people is if they are on THEIR speaker phone.

 

[bjscheel]

Was just reading more about iPhone 5 and it has a larger screen (better for big fingers perhaps) and an improvement to the mics for better sound quality. CNET gives it rave reviews. The other frontrunner for us is the G'zone Commando as it is tough enough without a protective case- CNET said it sounded a little muddy. So hard to make choices and reviews are a blessing and a curse! You're sold on something till you read a couple of bad reviews...

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Was just reading more about iPhone 5 and it has a larger screen (better for big fingers perhaps) and an improvement to the mics for better sound quality. CNET gives it rave reviews. The other frontrunner for us is the G'zone Commando as it is tough enough without a protective case- CNET said it sounded a little muddy. So hard to make choices and reviews are a blessing and a curse! You're sold on something till you read a couple of bad reviews...

The screen is bigger, but the icons and keyboard (portrait view) are not. You get more icons on your screen, but they aren't bigger.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I have a hard time hearing most people on my 4S... They hear me fine. I use my desk phone at work. Forget talking in a car, everyone has to repeat what they're saying constantly.

I just ordered some ear buds with a mic from Walmart.com - I'll pick them up after work.

 

[usd2bmd]

I have the 4 and haven't had any problems. My husband just upgraded from a flip phone to the 4S last month. He was reluctant because he also has big fingers but he didn't have a problem adjusting to it.

The tech at the AT&T store did talk about the new phone coming out, although he actually made it sound like there are two new ones coming out in the next year. I guess it really doesn't matter what ever you get will be replaced in 6 months time anyway...

 

[girli565]

Was just reading more about iPhone 5 and it has a larger screen (better for big fingers perhaps) and an improvement to the mics for better sound quality. CNET gives it rave reviews. The other frontrunner for us is the G'zone Commando as it is tough enough without a protective case- CNET said it sounded a little muddy. So hard to make choices and reviews are a blessing and a curse! You're sold on something till you read a couple of bad reviews...

My husband has the 5 and the sound quality is 100 times better than my 4. I even asked him if he had an external speaker hooked up to it one day because he was in the living room watching trailers on it and I could hear it clearly in the bedroom through the wall. This is a bit TMI but he'll watch videos while in the bathroom and even with the door closed and the exhaust fan going I can still hear it pretty clearly through the door.