Knowledge Base

Why do some cell phones have better signal reception than others?

Not all cell phones are manufactured with the same emphasis on performance. That's why some cell phones have better reception than others. Each model’s antennas, radios, and other components are specific to the manufacturer’s design strategy (and, often, price point).

For example, back in 2010, the iPhone 4 experienced significant reception problems when it was held a certain way. Apple founder Steve Jobs initially told users to “just avoid holding it in that way,” and Apple soon acknowledged that the phone’s software was incorrectly displaying received signal as being stronger than it actually was. It turned out that the iPhone 4’s new bezel, which acted as part of the antenna, was the culprit.

Apple corrected the antenna problems in later versions of the iPhone, but the truth is “lots of cellphones and smartphones experience some drop in reception and signal strength if users place their hands where their antennas are located.” The core of the smartphone is connectivity, but not all phones are designed with connectivity as their top priority.