iPhone 4 sells 1.7m in three days

By Tom Bramwell Published 29 June, 2010

Steve Jobs apologises for shortages.

Apple sold more than 1.7 million iPhone 4s between 24th and 26th June according to figures released by the company.

Boss Steve Jobs described it as "the most successful product launch in Apple's history", although he apologised "to those customers who were turned away because we did not have enough supply".

In recent days Jobs has been less apologetic about a design quirk that means holding the phone a certain way can reduce carrier signal strength.

The phone's antenna array relies on a metal band around its circumference - something Jobs described as "brilliant engineering" at the phone's unveiling.

However, it seems that if you cover the area at the bottom left of the phone with your hand it reduces signal and even drops calls.

Apple's official advice was to "avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band".

The iPhone 4 is the "thinnest smartphone on the planet" according to Apple, and boasts a new screen with increased pixel density, improved battery life thanks to the iPad's A4 processor, and a gyroscope for "full pitch/roll/yaw sensing in 3D space", which Jobs has said is "perfect for gaming".

It also has a Wi-Fi only video call feature called Skype. Sorry, FaceTime.

In the UK iPhone 4 costs £499 for the 16GB version and £599 for the 32GB version, although availability is still limited i.e. we couldn't buy one at the Apple Store in Brighton yesterday.

Earlier this month Apple said that it had sold three million of its new iPad tablets in just 80 days of the device being on sale.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (34) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Phily50 #1 2 years ago

    Apple! Now tells us how we should hold our phones...

  • el_pollo_diablo #2 2 years ago

    Apple's implication that it's their customers who're at fault ("avoid gripping it in the lower left corner";) rather than a design problem is pretty disgusting in my opinion, and this is from someone who generally loves Apple stuff.

  • MonsieurToni #3 2 years ago

    It is funny how people are willing to pay such money from a phone that is not too good as a phone. The antenna issue it has was tackled by other mobile phone manufactures 10 years ago but if you tack something with Apple logo all the sudden you can forgive all marks of bad design much like with iPad wi-fi. Silly me for thinking that a phone that you cannot use effectively as a phone is not too good a deal.

    If you want a handheld gaming device why not go for something that is actually designed for that purpose alone and is cheaper?

  • Les #4 2 years ago

    Was certainly a PR blunder from Apple to react the way it did ("just hold it differently";). Might be what other phone designers tend to do (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/... but people expect more from Apple.

    Am interested to see though whether this turns out to be a real issue (lots of dropped calls during regular use) of just the internet going bananas again over something small (reception indicator dropping when one wets his/her hands and holds the phone in an unnatural position without a noticeable degradation of call quality let alone dropped calls). We'll know in a few weeks I guess.
    Edited by Les at 29/06/10 @ 15:54

  • influenceuk #5 2 years ago

    Well i have have my iPhone 4 since launch, yes i have seen the issue first hand. However i have not had any dropped calls i mainly notice it when i am using data (IE Browsing or looking at the App store).

    I do think Apple need to look at this though, and maybe provide one of their Bumpers free to all iPhone 4 customers. i mean 1.7m users thats a lot of pennies they have made!! I think they can afford to chuck in the Bumper.

    Considering the left out the 1p sim tool from the box as well lol bloody penny pinching

  • tap #6 2 years ago

    @influenceuk

    The sim tool was definitely provided. Maybe yours was just missing?

  • yegon #7 2 years ago

    I bought bumpers with the phone at launch, before this prob was discovered so haven't had any problems. Amazing phone, love it love it love it.

    Ridiculous design flaw though and a bummer for those who don't want bumpers or use incompatible accessories. Adds much needed grip and durability though, and I'm usually anti-case.

  • Armoured_Gideon #8 2 years ago

    Yes, it might be a cliche, but I really do hold to the accepted wisdom that Apple early adopters are beta testers. I'll wait a few iterations and then pick up a model that has had all the flaws screened out.

    I don't care for Jobs' tone either. The product is broken. You don't dictate to your customers to adapt to the flaw, you say sorry and fix it. It's a bit of breathtaking arrogance, but hey, it's Apple.

  • UncleLou #9 2 years ago

    Using the term "Macfags" and making two basic grammar/spelling errors. Can't say I am surprised.

  • ignatiusjreilly #10 2 years ago

    I don't care for Jobs' tone either. The product is broken. You don't dictate to your customers to adapt to the flaw, you say sorry and fix it. It's a bit of breathtaking arrogance, but hey, it's Apple.

    Any company would do the same. What are they going to do - make 1.7m new iPhones and give them to the people that have already bought one? The 'bumper' is its fix.

  • Emth #11 2 years ago

    I'm left handed and that issue has pretty much put me off from upgrading from my 3G (which is still awesome after 18 months of ownership) tbh.

  • ignatiusjreilly #12 2 years ago

    [link url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg
    ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL7yD-0pqZg
    [/link]

    Hehe. I'm sorry, it's just a joke, please don't be offended :)

  • onyxbox #13 2 years ago

    I've had an iPhone 4 since launch and so far it's been fine (left or right hand). I can however re-create the problem but I have to press really hard and hold the phone in a way I wouldn't normally do so.

    I think what I'm getting at is that I have to go out of my way to make the problem occur.

    I also tried the 'death grip' on a 3GS (right side instead of left) and achieved the same problem... makes you wonder if this sort of problem has always been around or perhaps iOS4 is more susceptible to the issue.

    Who knows, it shouldn't happen at all really but it's been a bit of a non issue for me so far... seems to bother people without an iPhone 4 (which is a bit weird).

    Ho, hum.

  • StooMonster #14 2 years ago

    Shame one cannot get hold of iPhone 4 (no pun intended), and I couldn't be arsed with queuing, as iOS 4 makes my iPhone 3G run like treacle.

  • chrisjm #15 2 years ago

    Baaaa

  • Iain815 #16 2 years ago

    Apparently, as onyxbox said, it has something to do with iOS4 interference, not the antenna as everyone is suggesting.

  • kwesleyb #17 2 years ago

    I still to this day cant work out whats so special with the iphone or even ipods... or anything by Apple to be honest.

  • Les #18 2 years ago

    @Milky1985

    Trying to fix the link but can't get it to work for some strange reason.

    As for the site, yes it's tailored to Apple news. So yeah, there's likely an inherent bias, as is the case with most internet 'news' sources.

    The gist of the article is Nokia making fun of Apple's "just hold it differently" comment, gushing about how great the reception of their phones is and that it is first in their minds and then some random people on the internet pointing to the manuals of Nokia telephones that recommend people to not hold a phone in a particular manner to avoid compromising reception quality...

    But like I said, the Jobs remark was very stupid from a PR point of view. Given that the whole world watches Apple's every move, a bit more care should have been applied.

    As is pointed out elsewhere on the internet, the human body tends to interfere with radio signals and generally reduces the effectiveness of antennas. On the other hand, there are (safety) regulations that prescribe where phone antennas should be placed. A good phone design balances the two in the most optimal way.

    If Apple's phone leads to low reception when held in a common grip, it's of course a design flaw. If you have to really put an effort into holding the phone in such a way that it compromises reception quality in a meaningful way, then the advise "just hold it differently" is understandable though still rather stupid to actually express. The less bones thrown to the rabid internet community the better in general... ;)

  • Les #19 2 years ago

    "I still to this day cant work out whats so special with the iphone or even ipods... or anything by Apple to be honest."

    There's probably people that say the same about computers in general, calculators or even abaci...

    If you can't figure out what makes Apple different in the market place, then I feel for you. If you can't understand why they should be special for you, you're asking yourself the wrong question, as they shouldn't.

  • ignatiusjreilly #20 2 years ago

    Seriously, what's so special about an abacus? It's just beads on a stick.

    Still, like sheep, those chinese schoolchildren keep buying them. Baaa.
    Edited by ignatiusjreilly at 29/06/10 @ 14:51

  • MinerWilly #21 2 years ago

    Get an HTC Desire instead , im able to use skype over 3g and not restricted to wi-fi . I can also record in 720p the only thing it has over my phone is a front facing camera and tbh i dont require one. Open your eyes people there are better phones out there or is it just that you think you are part of a hip ,cool , white head phone wearing generation ?

  • UncleLou #22 2 years ago

    Get an HTC Desire instead

    No thanks. Can't stand the UI myself (too much gimmicky stuff I don't need cluttering everything), and a poor and mostly antiquated choice of apps. Also a nightmare to get basic stuff sorted (like syncing podcasts including bookmarks).

    Good for feature/spec nerds (and I have sympathy, don't get me wrong), but not what I want from a phone. If only HTC missionaries wouldn't always think the phones are somehow objectively better for everyone. Because they aren't.

    im able to use skype over 3g and not restricted to wi-fi

    Er, Skype on the iPhone isn't restricted to Wifi.
    Edited by UncleLou at 29/06/10 @ 16:20

  • ben111g #23 2 years ago

    Is it called the ihold?

  • immateriaux #24 2 years ago

    (iBored with iNaff iComments at this stage)

    Thought there would be teething problems with the new "chasis" and there's another inevitability that Apple hate-boys would dance with delight at any perceive-able issue to jump about to. It is very surprising Apple missed this though - would have to wonder whether the early "lost" phone was a distraction in any way. Their initial reply also makes me think they didn't really think it was a genuine issue, just typical net/forum hyperbole. If talk of new software fixing the issue is true, then essentially it is and the biggest gaff then will be from their PR, as opposed to QA, team.

    Hope it is just a simple fix as it's a fabulous phone in most respects, would love to get one at some point.

  • ignatiusjreilly #25 2 years ago

    I had a play with one today. It's still not the right phone for me, but I must say it is an absolutely gorgeous bit of hardware.

  • Pablo2k5 #26 2 years ago

    1.7 million mindless zombies out there.

  • immateriaux #27 2 years ago

    Ha! That's right Pablo. Only you know the true way. You're the messiah. Only mindless zombies want something easy to use; "hard to use", that's the way forward.

  • darc #28 2 years ago

    I guess I've gotta see one of these things in person, because I've seen photos, video, heard everyone raving about them, and I still don't see where it's much improvement over a 3G. In fact, just in terms of aesthetics, I think the old one looks a little cooler. And do I really need a faster *phone*? Come on.

  • darc #29 2 years ago

    "Shame one cannot get hold of iPhone 4 (no pun intended), and I couldn't be arsed with queuing, as iOS 4 makes my iPhone 3G run like treacle."

    Really, in what regard is your 3G slower. I updated to OS4, and I swear mine got faster. Results are not exactly scientific, though, especially since I cleared a lot of music content at the same time.

  • Les #30 2 years ago

    Updated my 3GS to iOS4 as well. Works great in general but 50% of my Apps don't work properly anymore. Love that the camera is much faster now when taking pictures. Though booting up appears to br a little slower. Multitasking is about as useless as I expected it to be on a touch device. Though to be fair, profiting from it will probably require a serious rewrite of most Apps.

  • onyxbox #31 2 years ago

    I agree with a few others here; before I got an iPhone 4 I updated my old 3G and I thought it ran better and slightly quicker too.

  • Downside #32 2 years ago

    I've tried the iPhone 4 at the apple store and held it normally... signal drops to zero in either hand. This is holding it just like I hold my 3GS. No excuses, it's just stupid design. Quite annoyed, as I wanted one for the loverly new display.

    Respect to Apple for letting you play with a real live phone in the shop though.

    While I'm here, is it just me, or is the iPad far too heavy?

  • UncleLou #33 2 years ago

    1.7 million mindless zombies out there.

    Several millions less than the insecure, sheep-like trolls posting in every Apple-related thread.

  • gjgjg #34 2 years ago

    appleism is madness, so many willing to pay so much for something that doesnt perform all that well... (for that price anyway)

    'apple holds people by the bottom left ball' would be my suggested tagline