iPhone XS and XS Max in silver, space gray, and gold.
Several iPhone 8 and 8 Plus Owners Report Hearing 'Static Noise' in Earpiece During Calls
Several MacRumors readers who purchased Apple's new iPhone 8 Plus have reported hearing intermittent crackling noises while taking calls on the device. MacRumors forum member vask first posted about the issue on Friday and a number of iPhone 8 Plus owners from Australia, the U.S., and across Europe have since contributed to the thread describing similar experiences.
According to iPhone 8 Plus owners, "very annoying" static sounds can sometimes be heard from the handset's earpiece during regular cellular calls, but the issue doesn't occur when using headphones or if speaker phone is enabled, which could indicate a software issue rather than a speaker defect. The audible crackling has also been reported when using FaceTime, increasing suspicions that the problem doesn't lie with network carriers. Forum member Jgpsolo describes the issue like so:
Some users have tried performing a hard reset on their iPhone 8 Plus, with mixed results. Apple's support team has advised some owners to restore their phone to factory settings and set up again via iCloud backup, again with variable results. Other users have even reported the same problem on like-for-like replacement devices after exchanging what they thought were faulty handsets.
Apple is apparently aware of the issue and is currently looking into it. We'll update this article as soon as we know more.
According to iPhone 8 Plus owners, "very annoying" static sounds can sometimes be heard from the handset's earpiece during regular cellular calls, but the issue doesn't occur when using headphones or if speaker phone is enabled, which could indicate a software issue rather than a speaker defect. The audible crackling has also been reported when using FaceTime, increasing suspicions that the problem doesn't lie with network carriers. Forum member Jgpsolo describes the issue like so:
It is a high-pitched crackle like an audio pop that happens in the earpiece top speaker intermittently during calls. Some calls are fine and others crackle. It is not audible on earphones or on speakerphone, only through the earpiece. The caller on the other end doesn’t hear it.The problem occurs "with or without WiFi calling, with 4G voice (VoLTE) on or off, with phone noise cancelling enabled or disabled under accessibility, and even with third party VoIP apps (like Acrobits Groundwire), with several different carriers," according to forum member ManuCH in Switzerland.
I don’t know whether this is hardware or software related, but one thing that made me think it’s software related is that if you switch on to speakerphone for a few seconds then back to earpiece, the crackles resolve for the duration of the rest of the call. If this was a hardware issue with the earpiece, doing this shouldn’t make a difference.
Some users have tried performing a hard reset on their iPhone 8 Plus, with mixed results. Apple's support team has advised some owners to restore their phone to factory settings and set up again via iCloud backup, again with variable results. Other users have even reported the same problem on like-for-like replacement devices after exchanging what they thought were faulty handsets.
Apple is apparently aware of the issue and is currently looking into it. We'll update this article as soon as we know more.
Related Roundup: iPhone 8
[ 165 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
13 months ago
Wow, hopefully its just a software fix. Given the high price of these products, there's absolutely no way a consumer should accept issues such as these. If apple wants to charge a premium price they damn well better make sure the phone is perfect.
13 months ago
If this becomes a wide issue then you have to start questioning Apples quality control.
It’s been questionable for some time as of late...
13 months ago
If this becomes a wide issue then you have to start questioning Apples quality control.
If you’ve only just started you haven’t been paying attention. Under Tim Cook there’s a definite policy to ship questionable quality.
13 months ago
Cue the apologists with "This happens to every new phone, every year!", "This has just been released don't expect it to be perfect!", "[Even though you bought the product for what it is NOW] Wait for them to fix it!".
13 months ago
Who the hell is using their phones to call people? :confused:
Should just disable the phone functions. People are just entitled. Just enjoy the God's creation and move on.
13 months ago
If this becomes a wide issue then you have to start questioning Apples quality control.
13 months ago
Why do I have the feeling iphone X will have more issues?....
that thing is going to be a real pain in the butt in my opinion. Apple's QC has been falling dramatically the last couple of years.
[ Read All Comments ]
With several of our recent giveaways focusing on Apple's new iPhone models that are launching today in the US and several other countries, today's giveaway goes back to the Mac. Rain Design...
Belkin today introduced its BOOSTUP Wireless Charging Dock for wirelessly charging an iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time. There is also a USB-A port for charging a third device like an iPad via...
Best Buy's one-day sale today is discounting a collection of Apple Watch Series 3 models (GPS + Cellular) that have been officially refurbished by Geek Squad. Prices for the aluminum models are...
Apple has launched a new iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max "experience" micro-site that puts its ".apple" top-level domain to use, as discovered on Reddit.
As noted by 9to5Mac's...
Microsoft has revealed that Skype is coming to Alexa devices. The partnership between Microsoft and Amazon means that owners of devices in Amazon's Echo range will soon be able to make outgoing...
In iOS 12, Apple added a new Effects camera in Messages that's similar to the live camera features in Snapchat and Instagram, allowing you to take a photo in the Messages app and then edit it...
Apple has given a straight-to-series order for drama series "Defending Jacob," which will star Chris Evans, known for his roles in "Captain America" and "The Avengers,"...
In iOS 12, Apple has introduced new password-related features that are designed to make it easier for iPhone and iPad users to create strong, secure, and unique passwords for app and website logins....
