Android Smartphone Manufacturers Caught Deceiving Users 0 11

Android smartphones may incorrectly display the quality of cellular signal, inflating the indicator. This was noted by the publication Android Authority.

Phone manufacturers and Google were caught deceiving by enthusiasts from the Nick vs Networking project. They discovered that there is a setting in the Android operating system (OS) code that inflates the indication of the signal level. When activated, the smartphone will always show the level as 'one bar higher' than it actually is.

The controversial feature is disabled by default, but it can be activated with a simple OTA update that can be sent by the smartphone manufacturer or cellular operator. "Mobile operators may have limited control over this feature," said the engineers from Nick vs Networking.

It is unknown who initiated the implementation of this feature and which operator launched it first. However, specialists have proven that the two largest cellular operators in the U.S. — AT&T and Verizon — use this setting. "In addition to distorting data, this feature also gives users a false sense of security and may reduce the likelihood of complaints about weak signals," the report authors stated.