iPhone 17 Users Report Widespread Call Problems, Echoes of Antennagate

Apple finds itself once again at the center of controversy with the iPhone 17, as nearly half of its users report problems with the very function that defines a phone: making calls. This echoes memories of Antennagate and Bendgate, infamous chapters in Apple’s history where hardware flaws turned into full-blown consumer crises.

Now, a wave of reports is surfacing across forums and tech communities pointing to major cellular reception issues in the iPhone 17 lineup.

Our recent poll shows an almost even split: roughly 50 percent of iPhone 17 owners say they have trouble maintaining reliable cellular service, while the other half claim the device performs better than previous models like the iPhone 16. This stark divide suggests a problem that may not lie with carriers – since complaints come from customers on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and MVNOs alike – but rather with the phone itself. That makes the situation even more puzzling, especially because Apple’s new Pro models were marketed as having improved antenna design to maximize reception.

Despite the improved hardware surface area, users experiencing flawless service are getting faster speeds and more stable signals than ever, while others cannot complete a basic call without disruption. Such inconsistency strongly hints at a software bug or firmware issue rather than a fundamental flaw in the hardware. In fact, there are already isolated reports of the problem vanishing after a firmware update, further strengthening this theory. Apple support teams appear aware of the matter, offering replacements, resets, and acknowledgments that a fix is likely on the horizon.

Unfortunately, the troubles don’t end with connectivity. The iPhone 17 has been criticized for its new aluminum chassis, which scratches more easily than many expected. The anti-glare screen coating – while an appreciated addition – fails to match the clarity and resilience of competitors like Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra. On the software side, iOS 26 feels unpolished, with users reporting visual glitches, unexpected bugs, and a general lack of refinement that undermines the premium feel Apple is known for.

To be fair, some owners swear their iPhone 17 experience is flawless. One user with an unlocked 17 Pro Max notes zero overheating, no battery drain, and no connectivity problems whatsoever. Others running side-by-side comparisons with rival devices found the iPhone delivering faster speeds despite similar signal bars. For them, the phone represents Apple’s best hardware yet, albeit still missing long-requested features like split-screen multitasking or Apple Pencil support. This mix of glowing experiences and frustrating malfunctions is exactly what fuels speculation of a bug rather than a uniform design flaw.

Regardless, Apple is facing a perception battle. For a company whose brand rests on reliability, the idea that an iPhone might fail at making calls – a function more than a century old – casts a shadow over its newest flagship. If Apple delivers a quick fix via software updates, the iPhone 17 may escape this storm relatively unscathed. If not, Antennagate 2 might soon enter the lexicon as another blemish in Apple’s storied product history.