According to new research, smartphones are not as good at making calls as basic mobile phones from a decade ago.
Mobile phones have evolved significantly over the past several years, with large technology giants such as Apple and Samsung focusing on adding as many bells and whistles as possible. However, the quality of the phone’s most basic function may have actually declined.
The study, carried out by industry regulator Ofcom, revealed that modern-day smartphones do not offer the same level of signal performance compared to the handsets of the past.
The researchers carried out tests in laboratory conditions and found that the cheaper (older) devices were better at picking up weak signals.
Smartphones, on average, required a signal at least seven times stronger than the average non-smartphone on a 2G network. Meanwhile, the worst smartphone performer on a 3G network required a signal nine times stronger than the GSMA recommended minimum.
Some of the smartphones included in the study needed a signal at least 10 times stronger than what non-smartphones required in order to function.
The findings support claims that some of the high-end materials used in modern-day smartphones may be the cause of calls cutting off.
An Ofcom spokesman said: “We tested a very small number of mobile phones, not for ranking but to understand how handsets performed in different situations.
“As no one device consistently outperformed the others we chose not to list the handsets.”
Ofcom didn’t specify the smartphones it used in the research.