iPhone 4 Antenna Problem Is Back, This Time on Verizon

“Can you hear me now?” Apparently he can’t if you’re calling on a Verizon iPhone 4 and holding it in just the right wrong way. Like AT&T’s iPhone 4 experienced in the summer, the Verizon iPhone 4 is dropping calls in low signal areas when held a certain way, according to a review by Consumer Reports.

As you’ll probably recall, the iPhone 4′s debut was marred by the same problem. The external antenna basically  cut calls if held the wrong way. And as it now has with the Verizon iPhone 4, Consumer Reports refused to recommend the AT&T version because of the issue. Eventually Steve Jobs stepped in, held a special press conference, gave free cases to the iPhone early adopters and allowed them to return the phone for full refund. Those that chose to buy the phone afterward pretty much knew: cover it with a case or risk the problem.

So I guess it’s not all that surprising that the Verizon iPhone 4 has the same problem, since it is, after all, an iPhone 4. But it’s just bad press for one of the most anticipated devices in recent memory–especially when a more reliable connection was the primary selling point.

So far both Verizon and Apple are all about deny, deny, deny. I don’t know why they just don’t include a cheap case with every iPhone 4 to nip the problem in the bud, but they don’t. Check out the full Consumer Reports review before you buy a Verizon iPhone. [via Digits]