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Karl-Hungus

macrumors newbie
Mar 31, 2020
5
1
Got my pair in December as a X-mas gift. The left pod got the rattle around May and was replaced, and now the right one just started. Both times it began with a little popping/shaking noise whenever I touched or moved the AirPod, then after a few days it degenerated into a constant obnoxious rattle when any kind of audio is playing. It's definitely hardware flaw. There's something physically shaking around inside the device, like something came loose.

Aside from couple drops on wood floor early on they haven't been through any serious or sustained abuse. I've always tried to be careful with them, especially after the first time. I can't think of anything that would've caused to right one to go bad. For a $250 device that's supposed to be carried around and used on a daily basis this fragility is totally unacceptable, and it kinda sours my experience with this product. I was really loving these things before all this.
 
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setmyselfonfire

macrumors newbie
Jul 22, 2020
1
0
Same here. I got mine for Christmas and have had both replaced. One of the replacements just started crackling yesterday. In my experience, it gets progressively worse until it cannot be ignored. I am convinced that sneezing causes the issue. I think the change in pressure causes physical damage to the iris. Now let’s see what happens on a replacement more than 6 months after purchase with no AppleCare. (My bad)
 

cmatuk

macrumors 6502
Jul 10, 2013
259
169
I think you might be on to something. Ots Either blowing or just doing that thing when you don’t blow out just kinda hold the nose close to “unplug the ears” like on an airplane... or maybe even coughing.
 

G.McGilli

macrumors 6502a
Oct 19, 2015
615
516
Tried to hold out sending my 2nd pair in after they started developing this issue again a few weeks ago- but tonight it was suddenly so bad. Anyways - replacements are on the way.

3rd pair... here we go!
 

RealSkyDiver

macrumors 6502a
Jun 15, 2010
570
167
I had an offer for free AirPods with my iPad Pro or upgrading them at a charge to the Pros. I took the upgrade with AppleCare which came to around $140 and decided to cancel them after reading this. It’s really crappy how bad Apples quality testing has become. Looks like I have to stick with my wired earphones and get a usb-c to headphone Adapter. Having to constantly returning them is just not an option since all the Apple stores around me are closed and after my warranty is up in 2 years they’ll eventually become useless.
 

cmatuk

macrumors 6502
Jul 10, 2013
259
169
I had an offer for free AirPods with my iPad Pro or upgrading them at a charge to the Pros. I took the upgrade with AppleCare which came to around $140 and decided to cancel them after reading this. It’s really crappy how bad Apples quality testing has become. Looks like I have to stick with my wired earphones and get a usb-c to headphone Adapter. Having to constantly returning them is just not an option since all the Apple stores around me are closed and after my warranty is up in 2 years they’ll eventually become useless.
Regular AirPods are great. The pros just have faulty sensitive mics we think
 

dannyyankou

macrumors G5
Mar 2, 2012
13,839
29,844
Westchester, NY
Well my left replacement only lasted 4 months. It's back to rattling when I'm walking, and static noises whenever I talk. I'll try to go in for a walk in appointment tomorrow to get it replaced. These things are great when they work properly, but they can be damn frustrating sometimes.
 

ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,021
2,897
This has started happening to my right Pro. Its a really unpleasant noise, I think “rattle” doesn’t do it justice. Its almost like a squawky feedback.

I’ve never had a problem with the original ones - my son actually has a hand-me-down pair which still work flawlessly. Unfortunately they don’t fit my ears very well which is why i love the Pros.
 
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benshive

macrumors 6502a
Feb 26, 2017
714
6,141
United States
Well my left replacement only lasted 4 months. It's back to rattling when I'm walking, and static noises whenever I talk. I'll try to go in for a walk in appointment tomorrow to get it replaced. These things are great when they work properly, but they can be damn frustrating sometimes.
I had my left bud replaced for a different issue like 5-6 months ago and it just started rattling yesterday. Hope I don't have any trouble getting Apple to send out another one :(
 

dannyyankou

macrumors G5
Mar 2, 2012
13,839
29,844
Westchester, NY
I had my left bud replaced for a different issue like 5-6 months ago and it just started rattling yesterday. Hope I don't have any trouble getting Apple to send out another one :(
This is my 5th time getting an AirPod Pro replaced. You’d think a $250 pair of headphones wouldn’t have such persistent issues. It’s like they weren’t stress tested at all.
 

ninecows

macrumors 6502a
Apr 9, 2012
760
1,249
This is my 5th time getting an AirPod Pro replaced. You’d think a $250 pair of headphones wouldn’t have such persistent issues. It’s like they weren’t stress tested at all.

Seriously guys. 5th time?!? You are putting up with way too much here. Where I’m from the seller/manufacturer would have 2, max 3 attempts to fix it. Clearly there’s something wrong with the design and you should all just get a refund after 2 attempts. I don’t know why you accept this?

Mine are still behaving nicely. They’re around 2 months old, so fingers crossed!
 

vinegarshots

macrumors 6502a
Sep 24, 2018
982
1,348
Seriously guys. 5th time?!? You are putting up with way too much here. Where I’m from the seller/manufacturer would have 2, max 3 attempts to fix it. Clearly there’s something wrong with the design and you should all just get a refund after 2 attempts. I don’t know why you accept this?

Mine are still behaving nicely. They’re around 2 months old, so fingers crossed!

Lol, I'm guessing you don't live in the USA then.
 

ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,021
2,897
To be fair to Apple, it was a 15 minute online chat process and the replacement will be here today, but talk of people with multiple replacements doesn’t inspire confidence.
 

MayaTlab

macrumors 6502
Dec 12, 2007
320
302
I don’t know why you accept this?

I don't accept it, but tolerate it :D. It isn't like, taking all aspects of it into considerations, there are a lot of alternatives to the APP. I bought them with AC+ and the knowledge that Apple rather quickly changes them in case of a problem without much fuss. It's unpleasant, but I wouldn't use other TW earbuds anyway, so...
 

ascender

macrumors 603
Dec 8, 2005
5,021
2,897
Of course, I forgot that now I have a replacement I have mismatched firmware so neither are working. Time to hit the search function again.
 

dannyyankou

macrumors G5
Mar 2, 2012
13,839
29,844
Westchester, NY
I had a walk-in Genius appointment today (thank you mask-wearing New Yorkers!) and replaced my left AirPod. Working good as new again.

When the next pair of AirPods Pro come out, I’m definitely waiting a few months to see if they fixed the issue.
 

topbin

macrumors member
Mar 12, 2020
81
54
UK
I eventually gave up here in the UK after having left replaced, then right replaced, then left went again. Had to Karen my way to the manager but once I'd said I wanted a refund to them they couldn't have been more helpful in sorting out a refund, so I've downgraded to AirPods and pocketed the £90 difference.

I was getting particularly nervous as I was heading towards a year of ownership (think I got them late Oct/early Nov) and once you pass that in the UK the warranties all fall off, plus there didn't seem to be any solution to the problem, just constant replacement until I hit a year then I assume its "tough luck".

Happy enough with the AirPods for most things but I do miss the ANC on the bits of walk to work where I'm on a fairly busy road.
 

cornerexit

macrumors 6502
Sep 11, 2014
474
251
Bought mine upon release. 2 months in (IIRC) this issue occurred. Took them back to BB on my premier membership thing. They replaced them. 2nd pair lasted until 2 weeks ago when the rattling started again. Just called Apple, no Genius appointment available for weeks so I have to pay $19.50 to have them replaced, fronting $200 first then $19.50. I will never buy a new Apple product again. Will wait +6 months at least. Tired of dealing with this. Premium price for these and they should work 100% for at least a few years due to the price.
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,707
7,277
Bought mine upon release. 2 months in (IIRC) this issue occurred. Took them back to BB on my premier membership thing. They replaced them. 2nd pair lasted until 2 weeks ago when the rattling started again. Just called Apple, no Genius appointment available for weeks so I have to pay $19.50 to have them replaced, fronting $200 first then $19.50. I will never buy a new Apple product again. Will wait +6 months at least. Tired of dealing with this. Premium price for these and they should work 100% for at least a few years due to the price.
Why would you have to pay anything for the repair? These are all still under warranty; this is not an accidental damage repair.
 

predation

macrumors 65816
Apr 3, 2013
1,237
867
I think it has something to do with how the AirPods are seated in your ear.
I think I know what everyone is talking about.
Sometime I walk around and I hear (what I presume everyone is talking about) it.
I just adjust the way the AirPods are seated in my ear and the “rattling” goes away.
Everyone’s ear holes are different, even between our ears. ??‍♂️

I presume this hasn’t been confirmed a hardware or a software issue?
 
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MayaTlab

macrumors 6502
Dec 12, 2007
320
302
Not that isn't it. The "crackling" issue should be present with ANC on or in transparency mode, but not with ANC off.
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,707
7,277
I think it has something to do with how the AirPods are seated in your ear.
I think I know what everyone is talking about.
Sometime I walk around and I hear (what I presume everyone is talking about) it.
I just adjust the way the AirPods are seated in my ear and the “rattling” goes away.
Everyone’s ear holes are different, even between our ears. ??‍♂️

I presume this hasn’t been confirmed a hardware or a software issue?
It’s absolutely not a problem caused by fit.
 
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predation

macrumors 65816
Apr 3, 2013
1,237
867
It’s absolutely not a problem caused by fit.
Then I dunno. I guess what I’m personally hearing is different from what’s being discussed in this thread.

other than what can be remedied by adjusting for me, no issues here other than the odd/random non-ability of being able to switch between modes (most likely a software glitch).

happy with my set so far. Best is being able to ignore my co-workers and blame my APPs ?
 
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