The tests are unscientific because they were made using sample devices, meaning an extremely small sample set, and using various manual techniques to create the scenario whereby holding the iPhone 4 in a bare hand can cause dropped calls, signal attenuation, or slowed data flow. The most famous of these techniques was to bridge the antenna gap in the lower LHS of the iPhone 4.
That was the position which Steve Jobs famously said was simply holding the phone the wrong way.
So far, at least three tests have been run, and they all don't seem to indicate, at least, the same sort of issue. SlashGear, PC Mag, and Ars all did testing. PC Mag did manage to knock one bar off the signal level.
Of course, we won't really know until devices reach the hands of end users. As with the original iPhone 4, that's when the reports came flooding in, to YouTube and other sites. Even then, Apple never admitted any wrongdoing, stating that all phones had that sort of issue, although most did not see it to the extent as on the iPhone 4.
Some staunch defenders also chimed in on Apple's side. Still, "Antennagate" did result in a free case campaign by Apple.
We'll know more as more testing continues. We'll know for sure when Verizon's iPhone reaches end users on Feb. 10.
