AirPods Pro: Rattlegate

[Bazooka-joe]

So both of my ear buds have started rattling over the last couple weeks and noise cancelling test no longer works.
Spoke to Apple and they want me to send them in for repair and are sending some returns packaging. Both buds are 16 months old. The interesting thing is that on the returns page it says that I need to send the case in as well which is strange

 

[LFO8]

I have the same issue with my left earbud. I am betting it’s an issue with the microphone that is set to counter environmental noise as part of the noise cancellation. As whenever I talk when wearing them I get the ‘rattling’ (however I describe it as input overload from the microphone) and whenever my finger comes near the microphone when adjusting my left earbud I can hear microphone feedback (ringing, whistling noise).

It’s a huge bummer for such expensive earbuds. I take good care of them and they are only about a year old now.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

In my experience the issues always return. So I think they're just swapping them.

I’ve had great service from Apple.
Phoned on bank holiday Monday as mine are over a year old.
Return box arrived on Wednesday, I had text on Thursday, arrived, being repaired, being dispatched.
They were delivered back to me Friday lunch, this is for a UK repair.

Just sent mine off today after logging a call yesterday. Box arrived today with Royal Mail tracking. Hopefully I will get them back some time next week. Were they actually repaired or just replaced? I can’t imagine that it’s cost-effective for them to repair them and if they turned them around that quickly, they must’ve been a replacement

 

[whsbuss]

Got my original pros in Dec. 2019 from Amazon. In June 2020 they developed the rattle and Apple replaced them via mail. 10 days ago my left bud started buzzing/rattling. Went to Apple store, who did a sound test, and said actually both needed to be replaced. They only had the right bud in stock, so he ordered me a new set. Sure hope my original case will last now that I will have a brand new pair soon.

 

[japanime]

Got my original pros in Dec. 2019 from Amazon. In June 2020 they developed the rattle and Apple replaced them via mail. 10 days ago my left bud started buzzing/rattling. Went to Apple store, who did a sound test, and said actually both needed to be replaced. They only had the right bud in stock, so he ordered me a new set. Sure hope my original case will last now that I will have a brand new pair soon.

If your experience is anything like mine, the original case will long outlast the replacement set of buds.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

So my AirPods have been repaired and preparing for shipment . I’m not sure if they’re actually repairing them or just shipping new ones out. I would be surprised if they can actually repair them in just three hours.

 

[whsbuss]

So my AirPods have been repaired and preparing for shipment . I’m not sure if they’re actually repairing them or just shipping new ones out. I would be surprised if they can actually repair them in just three hours.

Well they put them on a machine(?) to play sounds and measure the responses. They don't repair, just replace. Got my new ones today.... they are definitely louder.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

Well they put them on a machine(?) to play sounds and measure the responses. They don't repair, just replace. Got my new ones today.... they are definitely louder.

Nice one. Thanks for the info

 

[Wackery]

Transparency mode is unusable and creates a painful crackling sound, replacement from apple support on the way

 

[chiefdave]

I know things can get missed in testing but how on earth has a product with such a major issue made it to market? And even if it did we're now a long time from when the issue was first acknowledged by Apple and there is no fix past swapping them out.

I've had mine back from their 3rd or 4th repair / replacement, losing track of how many times it is, for a couple of weeks and after less than 10 hours use the left one is popping again. Its really not acceptable, I'd be annoyed if a cheap pair of earbuds were having this many issues, let alone something at this price.

The service website says this is only an issue for units manufactured before October 2020, if this is true shouldn't Apple be sending out replacements that work? Assume they're just reconditioning the ones sent in for repair and to speed up the turnaround you get someone else's repaired AirPods sent to you.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

I know things can get missed in testing but how on earth has a product with such a major issue made it to market? And even if it did we're now a long time from when the issue was first acknowledged by Apple and there is no fix past swapping them out.

I've had mine back from their 3rd or 4th repair / replacement, losing track of how many times it is, for a couple of weeks and after less than 10 hours use the left one is popping again. Its really not acceptable, I'd be annoyed if a cheap pair of earbuds were having this many issues, let alone something at this price.

The service website says this is only an issue for units manufactured before October 2020, if this is true shouldn't Apple be sending out replacements that work? Assume they're just reconditioning the ones sent in for repair and to speed up the turnaround you get someone else's repaired AirPods sent to you.

I found the tech notes where Apple only tested the product for a month before releasing it so I don’t think they anticipated long-term issues. But reliability is absolutely diabolical. My replacement pair and this is my 10th pair are fine but I know that in a couple months time I’m gonna start having issues again

 

[kevincaja]

Hi all, sorry for posting out of the blue. I had my APP replaced six times due to noise cancelling problems. I did not have that rattle sound when I had my APP in use when walking. I do sweat a lot and I suspect that my sweat does affect the inner mesh port of the APP, when ever I look at the black inner mesh I does become shiny and a bit oily. I decided to stop coming to Apple Store as well as the staff always make the same excuses of "we updated the firmware of the airpods to make noise cancelling weaker for safety.", something like that.

Anyway, I would like to share what I do to make ANC stronger again. Instead of using a blu tack or something similar, I use a 3M VHB tape, the clear one.

I usually cut around 1 inch length and I gently stick the tape to the black inner mesh port of both airpods. I repeatedly do this until I see the mesh is clean and not oily anymore. This should make the ANC stronger again. Been doing this for the last 4 months already.

It is a pain to do this now and then... I'm actually on the edge of buying the Bose QC Earbuds but gotta wait next month incase Apple releases a new version of the APP hopefully with the added fixes. If not then I'll go with Bose, even though I hate the case and the size... really wanted a good ANC earbuds. BTW I tried the new Sony's but I did not find the ANC strong, also they are a bit uncomfortable... The Bose (when I demoed from the store) and the APP does seem to cancel out chatter noise as well compared to others.

BTW I live in Hong Kong so sometimes, exchanges are a bit difficult unless there is a very serious defect.

 

[zakarhino]

I've had extreme rattling occuring in both within a year of purchase. I still have them but hardly use them outside of working out. I'm about to start my THIRD attempt to get them repaired because both previous times I've put in the request they tell me they'll send me an envelope to send the AirPods back to them but nothing ever shows up in the mail. It's infuriating.

 

[Tagbert]

I've had extreme rattling occuring in both within a year of purchase. I still have them but hardly use them outside of working out. I'm about to start my THIRD attempt to get them repaired because both previous times I've put in the request they tell me they'll send me an envelope to send the AirPods back to them but nothing ever shows up in the mail. It's infuriating.

Are you going through Apple support? it would be odd for them to not follow through. I had to go through a rather tedious process to try different things to get support to acknowledge the problem, but once they did, the process was fast and simple.

 

[Phwoar]

I'm actually on the edge of buying the Bose QC Earbuds but gotta wait next month incase Apple releases a new version of the APP hopefully with the added fixes

Me too I checked out the specs of the Bose QC Earbuds, looks good but yes I want to wait to see if they release a new version of the APP!

I know things can get missed in testing but how on earth has a product with such a major issue made it to market? And even if it did we're now a long time from when the issue was first acknowledged by Apple and there is no fix past swapping them out.

I agree!

 

[whsbuss]

Me too I checked out the specs of the Bose QC Earbuds, looks good but yes I want to wait to see if they release a new version of the APP!



I agree!

I doubt Apple releases APPs this year. From all the rumors, standard AirPods are being announced this September. But not the Pros

 

[G.McGilli]

I was one of the first people to post in this thread - and it's been a while but I'm back...

My 3rd pair were just replaced for a 4th pair. I didn't use this last pair as much just to prolong their life but it was inevitable.

Anyways - the only thing better about it now is that Apple has that dedicated 'rattling' section on their APP repair page, and when you click it they just say contact us. Just mention it over chat or phone and boom, replacement box arrived 1 day later, and then got an email that my replacement were shipped 1 day after that. No more have you tried this, or tried that etc...

No offence to you all, but I hope to never be back in this thread again ?

 

[zakarhino]

Can't believe it. My THIRD attempt at trying to get them to send me a box to get my AirPods fixed for rattlegate and this is the third time a return box has failed to turn up in the mail. The address is correct, everything is correct but the box never turns up.

I've been trying on and off to get them fixed for the past year. At this rate I will have to go into the Apple Store which I really don't want to do.

 

[whsbuss]

So will al of these replacements, will I buy the APP 2.0 when released?

 

[tehBrad]

Just to share my experience: I bought my airpods Pro back in November 2019 and noticed the left bud started crackling in December of 2020. I happened to see an article about the replacement program and notified the apple support lady on the phone - they initially tried to say it wasn’t covered but I insisted she look for the program. She eventually gave in and at the time they sent me a new left airpod and had me return my original one (no case or anything).

Just last week the right airpod started crackling. I called in to support again and this lady also wasn’t aware of the replacement program until I explained the issue further. She had the option to replace both AirPods even though only one was experiencing the issue. She advised me to replace both just in case the other one goes out soon (knowing my 2 year purchase period was ending this November). This time they had me send back my case and the AirPods (In their provided box). Just 2 days later I received the replacement AirPods (appear new) within my old case. Satisfied with the resolution - assuming these are new/like new I’m sure they’ll last until the next AirPods Pro.

 

[japanime]

Just to share my experience: I bought my airpods Pro back in November 2019 and noticed the left bud started crackling in December of 2020. I happened to see an article about the replacement program and notified the apple support lady on the phone - they initially tried to say it wasn’t covered but I insisted she look for the program. She eventually gave in and at the time they sent me a new left airpod and had me return my original one (no case or anything).

Just last week the right airpod started crackling. I called in to support again and this lady also wasn’t aware of the replacement program until I explained the issue further. She had the option to replace both AirPods even though only one was experiencing the issue. She advised me to replace both just in case the other one goes out soon (knowing my 2 year purchase period was ending this November). This time they had me send back my case and the AirPods (In their provided box). Just 2 days later I received the replacement AirPods (appear new) within my old case. Satisfied with the resolution - assuming these are new/like new I’m sure they’ll last until the next AirPods Pro.

Not trying to be argumentative. Just curious as to why you think the replacements will be good until the release of the next AirPods Pro when your first pair began crackling within a month of buying them?

My own didn't last more than a couple of months, and none of the four subsequent replacements lasted more than three months. After pair No. 5, I decided to just live with it.

 

[whsbuss]

Not trying to be argumentative. Just curious as to why you think the replacements will be good until the release of the next AirPods Pro when your first pair began crackling within a month of buying them?

My own didn't last more than a couple of months, and none of the four subsequent replacements lasted more than three months. After pair No. 5, I decided to just live with it.

I think because Apple said it affected those before October 2020.

 

[japanime]

I think because Apple said it affected those before October 2020.

Unfortunately, my most recent replacement pair, which snap, crackle and pop just like all the ones prior to it, were manufactured after October 2020.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

Just sent mine off today after logging a call yesterday. Box arrived today with Royal Mail tracking. Hopefully I will get them back some time next week. Were they actually repaired or just replaced? I can’t imagine that it’s cost-effective for them to repair them and if they turned them around that quickly, they must’ve been a replacement

Apple never repairs AirPods and only replaces them as it's essentially impossible or at least highly unfeasible to open AirPods and close them again.

This is also why there's only one third party company doing AirPod battery replacements, and they only do the more simple 1st and 2nd gen AirPods.

 

[chiefdave]

I think because Apple said it affected those before October 2020.

Either this isn't correct or they are in a never ending cycle of patching up AirPods manufactured before October 2020 and sending them back out as I'm on my 4th or 5th pair and need to log another call with Apple to get them replaced.

Will be annoying if one of the 'features' of the updated version is that they don't have this issue and we're all expected to pay again to replace ours with the new working version. At the very least I'll be expecting a hefty trade in to be offered.