Lam also applauded the antenna design of the Verizon , calling it more robust and technically better than what was used in the iPhone 4 that runs on AT&T's network.

"All the indications from the design, and the evidence that we see inside, is that the Verizon iPhone uses 'antenna diversity,'" said Lam, referring to a term that describes multiple antennas to improve reception and prevent dropped calls.

Both issues made national news last summer after the introduction of the iPhone 4 when that their couldn't hold a signal or bailed out of calls when held in a certain way.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs called it "Antennagate," and dismissed the complaints even as he announced that the company would give free bumpers or cases to iPhone 4 users.

Analysts disagreed whether the August 2010 , Apple's head of iPhone engineering, was due to the brouhaha over the iPhone 4's antenna issues.