The Apple iPhone 4 Antenna Fiasco

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The Apple iPhone 4 Antenna Fiasco, commonly known as "Antennagate," began shortly after the iPhone 4's release on June 24, 2010. Users quickly reported issues with cellular connectivity, specifically when holding the phone in a certain way, often with the left hand. This caused signal strength to drop significantly, leading to dropped calls. The problem was attributed to the iPhone 4's new antenna design, where the metal band around the device doubled as the antenna, making it susceptible to interference from human contact. Apple initially downplayed the issue, suggesting it was a common problem with all phones and that users were holding the device incorrectly. However, after Consumer Reports confirmed the design flaw, Apple acknowledged the problem and offered free bumper cases to mitigate the issue. A software update was also released to improve signal strength display accuracy. The controversy eventually led to a class-action lawsuit, which Apple settled by providing either a cash payment or a free case to affected users. Despite the controversy, iPhone 4 sales remained strong, though the incident highlighted concerns about Apple's design decisions.