AirPods 4 w/ ANC - Awful call quality on other end

[TopToffee]

Anyone had issues since the new firmware with people telling them their voice quality is coming through terrible?

Got mine on Tuesday, called my wife and she said the quality was incredibly clear. Far more so than with the AirPods 3.

Firmware upgrade went through last night, and since then both she on phone calls and people on zoom calls (through MacBook) have said they can barely understand a word I’m saying.

Very frustrating.

(Voice isolation was turned on both pre and post update)

 

[Mackilroy]

None whatsoever.

 

[TopToffee]

None whatsoever.

The lack of response here makes me think I’ve got lemons.

 

[sixth]

Don’t forget these are brand new and hardly known about outside the core Apple fan community. Just because you don’t hear it here. I have them and people complained day 1 on zoom clarity and phone calls. Hopefully it gets better with some updates.

 

[Riley-Freeman]

I have heard not great feedback as well. I’m on iOS 18.1 beta. Firmware 7a304

 

[Jackbequickly]

The lack of response here makes me think I’ve got lemons.

I have used my AirPod 4s with ANC extensively and have not had the first complaint. My new AirPods 4 with ANC have worked way better than I thought they would. Could not be more happy with them.

 

[TopToffee]

Swapped mine out at the Apple Store. No difference. Returned them for a refund. Absolutely gutted. These are basically the EXACT AirPods I’ve wanted apple to release for years, and they were brilliant for listening music etc. no good if people can’t hear/understand me when I’m speaking to them though.

Might buy them again. When the next firmware update drops.

Interestingly, the guy at the store did say he’s heard anecdotally that having Conversation Awareness on can have an adverse effect when making calls.

Seems weird and kinda unlikely, but he only told me that AFTER I’d already done the refund, so I couldn’t test it.