AirPods Pro: Rattlegate

[TheAustrianGuy]

Hmmm.... Wanted to have my APPros replaced because of rattling / weak ANC / continuous fit test fails on both.
Cleaned them now (speaker and both external grills) with type cleaner (Läufer Typutz), which already solved speaker/mic issues on my iPhone X, and now they sound like new - even the fit test works on both APPs again.

Still have them under AC+ for over a year, but I think I won‘t need it just now.

Addition: Spatial Audio is impressive!

 

[AXone1814]

I didn’t realise this was a known issue. I just had to get my right airpod replaced due to this and Ive Now noticed that the left one is also doing it just to a lesser extent so Ill have to go back again.

 

[RobHandz]

Had the rattle/clicking noise for some time now, also the ear tip fit test didn't work. I can't wear the standard AirPods properly because my ear canal is larger than most. Also I dropped them while inside the case a few times and that's probably the reason why the NC was messed up.

I've had them replaced this week and no complaints so far. NC works flawlessly and ear tip fit test as well. So be careful not to expose the APP's to shock or anything similar too much. They can mess up the internals

 

[chrfr]

Also I dropped them while inside the case a few times and that's probably the reason why the NC was messed up.

Others have had these problems without having dropped the AirPods. It's a defect.

 

[TheAustrianGuy]

Update: Right APP rattles slightly and fails fit test again.
Will trigger AC+.

 

[HDLA]

i was looking into purchasing a set of APP but all this talk with rattlegate and all of these other issues got me rethinking. With the amount issues being reported, have people decided to go to Gen 2/PBP or, despite the issues, the APP are still worth purchasing

 

[rawCpoppa]

i was looking into purchasing a set of APP but all this talk with rattlegate and all of these other issues got me rethinking. With the amount issues being reported, have people decided to go to Gen 2/PBP or, despite the issues, the APP are still worth purchasing

I would wait for gen 2 APP. When they work they are great. The rattling though hasn’t been addressed. Replacement APP rattling as well? That’s poor. My APP started rattling 8-9 months in. Trying to get them replaced.

 

[japanime]

I'm now on my fourth replacement pair. The most recent one that Apple sent to me was brand new in the shrink-wrapped box, not the usual white-box replacements.

They began rattling within a week.

I don't mishandle them. I've never dropped them. I'm sure it's a design flaw. So I'm not going to bother to ask for yet another replacement. It's not worth the time and frustration.

 

[golfgrouch]

i was looking into purchasing a set of APP but all this talk with rattlegate and all of these other issues got me rethinking. With the amount issues being reported, have people decided to go to Gen 2/PBP or, despite the issues, the APP are still worth purchasing

If I had to do it over again, I would not have purchased the APP. There's just too much tech packaged in such a small package and it's just not ready for primetime.

 

[Werewolf]

Yeap. Two replacements in the last 6 months..... At this rate, probably going to be another 2-3 replacements until AC+ runs out.. after that... Apple will gladly sell you brand new AirPods Pro version 2 without the rattling issue (that's going to be the flagship feature) and people will go crazy about those new magical Airpods...

 

[solarguy17]

So I just got a replacement right side, I did this through Best Buy since I don’t have an Apple store near and I was able to buy AppleCare from BB without an actual inspection of the other airpod or the case.
so far so good on the right side.
but I notice a slight rattle on the left now. Might be more obvious since the right is fine.

 

[SickDimension]

And it took 2 months from the last repair/replacement on my Pods and now my right side Pod has startet to rattle again. Called to Apple and after couple minutes I’m now between 2 possible options they gave - either they will do full refund and I’m free from the problems or they can also send a brand new pair with full 1 year warranty which basically will reset my situation. I’m in crossroads which option to choose, on the otherhand I really love the Pods and kinda hope I would have luck with new pair, but considering this is 4th time the Pods become faulty within the same year, am I really ready to keep visiting repairs service again after this... geez, I’m just so disappointed to the quality, one time can happen to anyone but 4 times is just telling there is something wrong in the design or quality control.. Will have to update how this develops.

 

[kajukenbo]

Did you have to do anything special to get the refund option? Did you buy direct from Apple or a retailer? I love my AirPods Pro when they work, but I can't stand the audio issues and I'm tired of exchanging them out all the time.

 

[SickDimension]

Did you have to do anything special to get the refund option? Did you buy direct from Apple or a retailer? I love my AirPods Pro when they work, but I can't stand the audio issues and I'm tired of exchanging them out all the time.

I bought mine from local authorised reseller, and no nothing special. I just called to Apple’s service and they actually brought up the possibility for the full refund, only thing I have to do at this point is take the pods back to the shop for them to do the diagnostics and when they find the problem is the hardware that will start the process. They did warn that the process might be lengthy but at this point I couldn’t care less how long it takes. I do have had mine replaced 3 times already, so I guess the times the Pods have been broken also counts to if they offer the deal.. Good service none the less..

 

[jimmy_uk]

And it took 2 months from the last repair/replacement on my Pods and now my right side Pod has startet to rattle again. Called to Apple and after couple minutes I’m now between 2 possible options they gave - either they will do full refund and I’m free from the problems or they can also send a brand new pair with full 1 year warranty which basically will reset my situation. I’m in crossroads which option to choose, on the otherhand I really love the Pods and kinda hope I would have luck with new pair, but considering this is 4th time the Pods become faulty within the same year, am I really ready to keep visiting repairs service again after this... geez, I’m just so disappointed to the quality, one time can happen to anyone but 4 times is just telling there is something wrong in the design or quality control.. Will have to update how this develops.

Take the refund. Get the new Bose Quietcomfort Earbuds. Better ANC, better sound, better fit.

 

[circatee]

My, my, reading really is fundamental. Earlier, I was checking Apple inventory, to see about purchasing a pair of AirPods Pros, and picking them up from Cumberland Mall, today. Then, I stumbled across this thread.

Without recreating the wheel, it seems even now, this 'rattlegate', is still an issue and is hardware related, no?

PS: AirPods Pro are currently sitting in my Apple.com cart; for now.

 

[Knowimagination]

Honestly verses the number sold this thread represents an tiny portion of users. I would wager that the vast majority of people will never have issues with their APP.

despite just having mine replaced I would still recommend them and I would still buy them.

 

[circatee]

Honestly verses the number sold this thread represents an tiny portion of users. I would wager that the vast majority of people will never have issues with their APP.

despite just having mine replaced I would still recommend them and I would still buy them.

Plus, with any product, there will always be that 1-2% of badly made products.

 

[andyw715]

I've had mine replaced twice....I would also still recommend them, with the caveat that AC+ is a worthy purchase as well

 

[rawCpoppa]

Plus, with any product, there will always be that 1-2% of badly made products.

With so many repeat returns I doubt it is as low as 1-2%. I expect issues with products but how can customers encounter the exact same issue with these sometimes 3+ times?

 

[kajukenbo]

I expect a lot of folks either don't recognize there is an issue or don't realize that the AirPods are the issue. I know I was troubleshooting for a long time before I realized it was the AirPods Pro themselves and started reading about it online.

 

[DEERE1973]

I didn’t realise this was a known issue. I just had to get my right airpod replaced due to this and Ive Now noticed that the left one is also doing it just to a lesser extent so Ill have to go back again.

My AirPods Pro started the rattling a couple weeks ago. Whenever I spoke loud or sharply, cleared my throat hard they rattled .

 

[jimmy_uk]

There's got to be a reason that Sony and Bose versions of ANC earphones are larger than the APP. Have Apple over miniaturised advanced tech then manafactuered cheaply on mass - ie corners have been cut to meet size and production costs.

From my tests, the drivers are better on the WF-1000XM3 and Bose Quietcomfort Earbuds which would cause some of the reasons for larger size. But have they just been built better so avoiding the hardware failures the APP are having?

 

[japanime]

There's got to be a reason that Sony and Bose versions of ANC earphones are larger than the APP. Have Apple over miniaturised advanced tech then manafactuered cheaply on mass - ie corners have been cut to meet size and production costs.

From my tests, the drivers are better on the WF-1000XM3 and Bose Quietcomfort Earbuds which would cause some of the reasons for larger size. But have they just been built better so avoiding the hardware failures the APP are having?

You may very well be correct.

A few months ago, I would have naively dismissed your question. In fact, I once likened the look of other Sony's buds as "high-tech wine corks," without considering that they might be large for a good reason.

And now, after having had FIVE pairs of APPs develop the death rattle, I'm definitely in the camp of "these things aren't built very well."

 

[legionsunited]

Hello folks, I've been thinking of getting myself a new Airpods Pro, but I've read a lot about the Rattle gate issue on the internet and it seems very prominent. So, what would you guys suggest should I take a gamble or wait for the next generation?
Thank you.