Did Apple Actually Fix the Proximity Sensor in iOS 4.1? [Poll]

David W. Martin ()

Did Apple Actually Fix the Proximity Sensor in iOS 4.1? [Poll]

Apple claims the flaky proximity sensor in the iPhone 4 has been fixed by the iOS 4.1 update. But there’s mounting evidence that the proximity sensor isn’t fixed at all.

I’ve done a variety of tests on my iPhone and the sensor just flat-out isn’t working for me at times. I’ve performed a test by standing in front of a mirror in a dimly lit room and observed the sensor not working and behaving erratically.

Meanwhile, iPhone user Ryan Bell has performed a series of comprehensive tests using Apple’s iPhone configuration utility, and finds that iOS 4.1 doesn’t fix the proximity sensor.

The proximity sensor problems are being blamed on software bugs, relocation of the proximity sensor due to the addition of the front facing camera, or greasy ear canals.

But now that the iOS 4.1 update has been released to the masses, we’ve all became iPhone 4 proximity sensor beta testers. Together, we can crowdsource testing of Apple’s claims.

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So clean out your ear canals, screw that iPhone 4 to your ear for a while, make a few phone calls, and share the results of your tests with that utility in the comments. (Perhaps you could monitor the proximity sensor using the Configuration Utility, as we showed you here.)

Please let us know by voting in the poll below whether or not the update fixed the problems you’ve had with the proximity sensor in the iPhone 4. Vote below — is the proximity fixed or not?

39 comments »

About the author

dwmartin

David W. Martin has more than 20 years of experience in the industry as a programmer, systems and business analyst, author, and consultant. David has written for CNET's iPhoneatlas.com and MacLife.com he currently writes for CultofMac.com and BYTE.com. He comes to Cult of Mac's website with deep knowledge and passion for the all things Apple. Follow David on Twitter @david_w_martin.

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Posted in iOS, iPhone 4, News, Top stories |

  • pdm777

    My proximity sensor is fixed, but now my battery drains super fast…is anyone else having this problem with 4.1

  • http://luke-sha.net Luke

    4 days ago, i loved everything about my iPhone 4… except the phone part, only because the Proximity Sensor issue gave me headaches (constantly checking to see if it was on or off, unsure if the convo went to mute or whatever).

    today, i can sufficiently say i love everything about my iPhone 4, including the phone part. Proximity Sensor has been definitively fixed for me.

  • http://www.hub-bub.co.uk Tom

    i’ve never had a problem, and don’t know anyone who has. So I guess it must be a hardware fault for some unlucky people.

  • David

    Since most iPhone 4 users have never experienced any problem with the proximity sensor, how are we supposed to interpret the results? Is it a majority of a minority? Or a minority of a minority? This is the problem with vague tech reporting.

  • Rob

    I would add a third selection, better but not perfect. Mine is way better, but an occasional cheek press.

  • Josh c

    Even better. It still is flakey and still pisses me off. Dealbreaker

  • Porkchop1234

    I’m waiting for a future revision. If iPhone 5 is a lackluster update Im going to have a long wait. I’m still kind of feeling blah over the ipod updates :(

  • http://Sellbuytel.com CTO

    ios 4.1 did NOT FIX PROXIMITY SENSOR. Apple is quickly losing all credibility. The ios 4.1 update DOES NOT FIX PROXIMITY SENSOR! Mr. Jobs KARMA is going to make this right if you don’t. Just recall your defective iPhone 4 and admit Apple messed up. Everyone makes mistakes but LIARS are the same as THIEVES. Which ARE YOU ???

  • Jim

    Mine did fix either. I use to hit the mute and speaker now i hit the keypad and then a bunch of digits while im speaking. they have 19 more days to fix or i am retuning and moving to a Torch

  • Eric

    There is no proximity problem. I know 300 iPhone 4 users (my company) and the proximity AND antenna problems don’t exist.

  • http://www.jbvideo.com Huntington P. Darbenshiretonfil

    My sensor is better, but not fixed. I still cheek activate; mute, speaker phone, and worst of all…open my contacts and somehow ALWAYS proceed to dial a person I have NO DESIRE to speak with. My solution is going to have to be to eliminate these undesirable sorts from my contact list.

    I love Apple, like Steve Jobs, okay with my iPhone 4, HATED my iPhone3G!

  • ds

    WOW CTO – chill out… you’re gonna burst a blood vessel there.

    I don’t think Apple/Steve Jobs lied, or stole from you. Perhaps you can tell us all what happens with your phone, in a calm collected sort of way?

  • Brandy D

    My proximity sensor is definitely not fixed!!!….I have to hold it away from my face when I talk, and while talking to my boyfriend via the cam the other day he even witnessed the phone lighting up in the middle of our conversation, and asked me about it! I said “yea welcome to my iphone 4 proximity sensor issues” Everytime I have a call if I don’t keep the bottom of the phone at least 6 inches from my mouth, I disconnect the person I’m talking to, or put them on speaker phone. I also can’t put the phone on my shoulder at all, if I need both hands for some reason. I disconnect the call EVERYTIME! I have become so paranoid about it, then even when I’m on my regular land line phone I catch myself holding it away from my mouth, or not resting it on my shoulder, so I don’t disconnect the call.

    The update has not done a bloody thing for my phone in terms of the disconnect issues, speaker phone, muting, etc. I just want them to fix the dang thing and quite jerking us around. I’ve been having issues since I got it on July 3rd and was assured by Apple that it would be fixed, just do it already!! PLEASE!!!!

  • Reuben

    Indoors it seems the proximity sensor is improved (I’d occasionally get random inputs, even in low-light situations). That seems to be ok now. But, I ended up muting myself during a call when walking outdoors just yesterday. So I’d say it isn’t entirely fixed.

    That said… I still love my iPhone 4.

  • Erik

    My wife had the prox issue with her phone so we took it the Apple store for an exchange. They were more than happy to do so. No more prox problems.

    Also, there should be a third option for that poll: “I did not have a problem with my prox sensor on my iphone 4 so I cant tell if it fixed it or not”

  • firesign3000

    Fixed the proximity sensor on mine, indoors or out. I’m a happy boy. The internets cannot make me hate my iPhone 4.

  • Andrew MacDonald

    It completely fixed my proximity-related issues.

  • Bill

    The proximity sensor is still a problem. It seems improved but I still can’t cradle the phone on my shoulder like I did with the 3GS. While talking in front of a mirror, I periodically saw the screen turn on.

  • Neal

    Anyone having a problem with photos coming-out yellow?

  • Mike

    Mine certainly is much improved. Can’t say that it’s unequivicably fixed simply because I haven’t had 4.1 installed long enough but I’m thinking some posters here might be the jealous hater pc folks that have been boring us since the beginning of the internet. How pathetic to spend your time complaining about a device you don’t own.

  • TG

    Fixed… and battery lasts 3 full days without a charge and normal usage… happy camper…

  • azurehi

    Eric, are you totally ignoring the experience Many iPhone4 users who Have had proximity sensor and antenna issues?

  • http://www.davidwmartin.com David W. Martin

    TG ref. your battery comment – has anyone noticed that there have been no complaints about the battery? Perhaps Apple finally nailed the battery issues.
    I used to write a lot about ways to conserve your iPhone 3G/3GS battery, but I have not had to consider that for the iPhone 4 yet.

  • Allan

    Both my SO and I have iPhone 4s. Neither of us has had a proximity sensor/antenna/battery problem, and neither of us knows anyone who has. The poll should have at least an option of voting “Didn’t have a problem.”

  • Paul

    What about bluetooth?

    My Bluetooth call quality sucks!

    Very distorted and crackly on and off during calls!

  • James S

    While I’ve never had a problem with the sensor, my wife has, and still does after the update

  • Raz S

    Actually i am experiencing even more issues with the proxity sensor after updating to 4.0 than before. Before the update i was having issues approximately once a day which was irritating. Now since the update it appears to drop calls 3-4 times a day. Exponentially worse. I am going to try and back out the upgrade. Also am looking at other phones on the market. Time to leave iPhone. It was a fun romance for a couple years but lately the phone has been more trouble than it is worth. Very sad.

  • Mike

    4.0 was not supposed to fix the proximity sensor raz. Try upgrading to 4.1 and it’ll fix it.

  • John

    I have had my iPhone4 for about a week. No problem with the prox sensor on 4.0.2 or 4.1 so far.
    I have had two dropped calls though both when indoors while the phone was showing 4 bars. One of those times I wasn’t even touching the phone, I was using a headset.
    3G wifi speed though us just phenomenal compared to my old 3G. On wifi 802.11 it is even better. Just lime using a mini iPad.

    The 4.1 update in my old 3G has also made a big difference, many apps are now much more responsive to the keyboard. But then it could hardly have gotten any worse. Fewer complaints from my wife now.

    Have to wait and see if batterylife is worse. However the first couple of weeks are always going to be worse than normal because I am using my new toy all the time 8)

    Faster, nicer to lookat, mire memory, so I will use it more. I have fount it takes longer to charge than the 3G. I could go from very low to full in an hour docked at ny pc at work. Now the 4 takes about an hour and a half, but I seem to get more run time, and because I’m not waiting so long for apps to load I get more done in that time.

  • Theresa Dobbs

    Waited til they came out with 4.1 to see if in fact the update fixes the problems but they were as persistent if not worse! Returned the phone for a full refund. Went back to my original iPhone and happy as a clam since it works flawlessly.

    Apple still hasn’t addressed their own product neglect… Apples’ bluetooth headset, Still doesn’t show up during charging like the 3.xx version did. They’re really dropping the ball on being through and maintaining high standards of quality!

  • Matt

    I upgraded to 4.1 and still had the problem. Called my local Apple store, hung up on the with my cheek grrrr. Went down to my local store and asked them to replace my obviously defective product, and to my surprise they did without question.

    Oh well, nice shiney new one and all seem ok so far! Yay

  • Norberto

    I just installed 4.1 today.. so far the proximity sensor issue seems to be gone.. will continue testing..

  • Helius

    Mine’s fixed.

  • vopat

    Still a problem with my iPhone 4. If I hadn’t sold my 3GS after getting my new phone I would have returned it.

  • Nathan

    I still have the proximity sensor problem. It’s incredibly annoying, and I’m starting to hate my iPhone 4. I think the antenna issue was a non-issue for me and everyone I know who has the phone. The proximity sensor is almost the opposite – 3 out of 5 people I know who have the iPhone have the problem, and 4.1 did nothing for any of us.

    To Eric, and all those who discount the proximity sensor issue, don’t believe that just because something doesn’t happen to you it doesn’t happen to anyone. The proximity sensor issue is a real problem for real people, as opposed to your 300 imaginary friends at work whom you have diligently polled about their iPhone experiences.

  • Craig B

    My sensor worked perfectly for 2 days following the update and was so relieved but after that it reverted back to it’s old pathetic behavior. It’s nearly unusable as a phone. It’s literally every call and I am about at my wits end. Really disappointed in Apple. I was a huge fan of their products but this is truly unacceptable. They’ve lost me.

  • Randy

    I still have the proximity sensor problem! I had two international calls hung up prematurely because of this. The problem still persist even if I set it up as a new phone.

  • kendal

    4.1 did not do a thing. I asked the apple rep if he was sure it was going to work because I did not want to unjailbreak my phone. He said “Oh yes, it will definitely work”. It didn’t do sh — except kill my jailbreak. I would kick his ass if I knew how to find him !!!

  • Eddie

    I thought it was hardware because I exchanged a phone and the new one worked — until the 4.1 update, which broke it. I then “reset network settings” and “reset all settings” and it worked again for a short time. Now, its just as flickery as ever. My current fix has saved me from gnashing out my teeth:

    1. Get “Call Guard” from the App Store

    2. Use Jailbreak program “Activator” and set it to trigger Call Guard via a short press of the power button

    3 . After you press call, you can press the power button briefly, and the call guard program will trigger, and you will be protected for the remainder of the call.