iPhone 8 Supports Enhanced Voice Services Codec for Better Quality Audio on Some Carriers - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iPhone 8 Supports Enhanced Voice Services Codec for Better Quality Audio on Some Carriers

by

The iPhone 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus include support for the Enhanced Voice Services (EVS) audio codec that offers improved voice quality and better call reliability, KDDI president Takashi Tanaka told Engadget Japan in a recent interview.

EVS is the first codec that offers up to 20 kHz audio bandwidth for higher quality audio, higher frame/packet error resilience, and higher compression efficiency than other speech codecs for a better user experience.

iphone8andiphone8plus
In the United States, T-Mobile supports Enhanced Voice Services and has offered EVS since early 2016. According to T-Mobile, EVS on its network offers improved voice call reliability in areas of weaker signal for fewer dropped calls and higher-fidelity calls for more realistic voice audio.

AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon have not yet announced support for EVS.

Apple does not mention support for the feature in its iPhone 8 documentation, but UK carrier EE also recently confirmed that the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus work with EVS in a press release announcing EVS support on its network.

Along with T-Mobile and EE, several other carriers in Europe and Asia also support EVS, including Vodafone Germany and NTT DoCoMo.

Top Rated Comments

115 months ago
T-Mobile, nice. Keep Sprint and its owner the heck away from them, ownership and a merger.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Solomani Avatar
115 months ago
T-Mobile will absorb Sprint and not the other way around as reported in the previous years. T-Mo is actually doing better now.
T-Mobile is a good competitive carrier. Sprint is a bottom of the barrel carrier. If they merge, absorbing Sprint's mediocrity will bring down T-Mobile a few notches.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
115 months ago
If it's not supported on 3/4 of the carriers, how would it be causing this? Makes zero sense.
Because it's easy to blame something when you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Strelok Avatar
115 months ago
I think this new codec is why some people are hearing crackling on their new iPhone 8. Huge thread in the forums.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-8-plus-crackling-static-noise-in-earpiece-during-calls.2070615/
If it's not supported on 3/4 of the carriers, how would it be causing this? Makes zero sense.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macfacts Avatar
115 months ago
I think this new codec is why some people are hearing crackling on their new iPhone 8. Huge thread in the forums.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-8-plus-crackling-static-noise-in-earpiece-during-calls.2070615/
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
splogue Avatar
115 months ago
T-Mobile will absorb Sprint and not the other way around as reported in the previous years. T-Mo is actually doing better now.
True. The CEO of T-Mobile will run the merged companies, which is business-speak for Sprint will be absorbed.

Still, I agree with the original poster. T-Mobile has impressed me repeatedly since I moved to them early this year, and I don't want anything to derail or distract them.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iCloud iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Get Two New Perks on iOS 27

Thursday July 2, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
If you pay for certain iCloud+ storage plans beyond the 5GB that Apple offers for free, you will receive two more perks on iOS 27 at no additional cost. A summary of the two new iCloud+ perks on iOS 27:Increased daily usage limits for some new Apple Intelligence features, including image generation in the revamped Image Playground app. HomeKit Secure Video cameras receive generated video...
American Express Gold Apple Pay Feature

American Express Announces New Apple Pay Feature

Tuesday June 30, 2026 10:27 am PDT by
American Express today announced that you can now redeem Membership Rewards points when checking out with Apple Pay on the web and in apps on the iPhone and iPad. When checking out with Apple Pay on iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 or later, tap on your eligible American Express card (Platinum, Gold, Green, and others) and select the Membership Rewards points option. You can use points to cover all or...
series 10 apple watch titanium digital crown

Report: Apple Watch Redesign Coming Next Year With New Band System

Tuesday June 30, 2026 8:45 am PDT by
A "major overhaul" of the Apple Watch's design is due to arrive next year with a new system for connecting bands, according to a known Weibo leaker. In a set of recent posts, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" linked the new claim to older rumors about an "Apple Watch X" model, which was said to introduce a fresh design and break compatibility with the existing watch band system. Citing...