AirPods Pro: Rattlegate

[dmelgar]

I bought my pair apparently October 2019. They had been working fine. In January I rented a Tesla. Whenever I'd close the door, big pressure wave in the car, my left AirPods Pro would start non-stop static, ie white noise. But I'd take it out, put it back in and it would generally be fine.
Then it started happening more and more. Then just walking, a breeze or loud noise was enough to start it going.
Fast forward to now, it's constantly white noise. Unusable. Sometimes it will be fine for a few minutes.
No static, music sounds great, then suddenly the white noise turns on. I've been using the right one by itself but thats not what I'd like.

I'm an iOS developer for many years. To me this sounds like a firmware problem. Not handling the pressure wave (loud noise) in the ANC code and it goes crazy. I kept expecting a firmware update that would fix it. But alas no fix.

So I finally look online and see the service bulletin from Apple and I think great! Apple has come through a couple of times for me in the past 17 years which products that turned defective and they fixed them after the fact. So I was pleased and relieved to discover it was a known issue and Apple would make it right.

So I take it to the store, they test them, and yup, they're having the reported issue.
But the "genius" says the Apple website states that my AirPods Pro and NOT covered and not included in this service bulletin. No reason given. Just not included. Period. Full stop. But I'm welcome to spend $90 each to replace them and keep the old case.

The "genius" tells me as justification that the service bulletin says only a small number of units were defective. This somehow helps?

I'm generally pissed, have gone the other way. For the first time in my purchase history with Apple they made a defective product and did not stand behind my purchase. So I'm looking at alternatives. I tried a well reviewed Sony, but ultimately didn't like how they sound. I've moved onto a Sennheiser on sale for $99. Still not as good. But I'd rather not donate to Apple.

As I make my living from Apple products, I've always been a first adopter. It has usually served me well. Apple stood behind the 2006 original white MacBook I bought when the batteries developed issues and swelled. They stood behind the 2015 MacBook Pro with the keyboard fiasco and essentially replaced the whole machine. Looks like being a first adopter didn't work out so well for me with the AirPods Pro. I still have the original AirPods from 2016. They still sound great, but the battery is pretty much shot and they only last a few minutes.

Disappointed.

 

[ukbootlegs]

I bought my pair apparently October 2019. They had been working fine. In January I rented a Tesla. Whenever I'd close the door, big pressure wave in the car, my left AirPods Pro would start non-stop static, ie white noise. But I'd take it out, put it back in and it would generally be fine.
Then it started happening more and more. Then just walking, a breeze or loud noise was enough to start it going.
Fast forward to now, it's constantly white noise. Unusable. Sometimes it will be fine for a few minutes.
No static, music sounds great, then suddenly the white noise turns on. I've been using the right one by itself but thats not what I'd like.

I'm an iOS developer for many years. To me this sounds like a firmware problem. Not handling the pressure wave (loud noise) in the ANC code and it goes crazy. I kept expecting a firmware update that would fix it. But alas no fix.

So I finally look online and see the service bulletin from Apple and I think great! Apple has come through a couple of times for me in the past 17 years which products that turned defective and they fixed them after the fact. So I was pleased and relieved to discover it was a known issue and Apple would make it right.

So I take it to the store, they test them, and yup, they're having the reported issue.
But the "genius" says the Apple website states that my AirPods Pro and NOT covered and not included in this service bulletin. No reason given. Just not included. Period. Full stop. But I'm welcome to spend $90 each to replace them and keep the old case.

The "genius" tells me as justification that the service bulletin says only a small number of units were defective. This somehow helps?

I'm generally pissed, have gone the other way. For the first time in my purchase history with Apple they made a defective product and did not stand behind my purchase. So I'm looking at alternatives. I tried a well reviewed Sony, but ultimately didn't like how they sound. I've moved onto a Sennheiser on sale for $99. Still not as good. But I'd rather not donate to Apple.

As I make my living from Apple products, I've always been a first adopter. It has usually served me well. Apple stood behind the 2006 original white MacBook I bought when the batteries developed issues and swelled. They stood behind the 2015 MacBook Pro with the keyboard fiasco and essentially replaced the whole machine. Looks like being a first adopter didn't work out so well for me with the AirPods Pro. I still have the original AirPods from 2016. They still sound great, but the battery is pretty much shot and they only last a few minutes.

Disappointed.

I’ve got the same issue. Bought mine 2 days after release. Penalised for early adoption. theybkniw it’s an issue, why does the age matter?

 

[Binary Wizzard]

It seems like the issue with the Airpods Pro V1 is with the little pressure vents used for ANC.

I've had mine replaced 2 times by Apple and now my third pair just started doing the buzzing sound again. Just like my 2 previous pairs, when ANC and Transparency Mode are disabled, I don't hear the buzzing sound.

But if ANC is active, I'll hear the buzzing sound (right unit for now) and if I talk, move my head, walk or even if I'm in the bathroom and close the door. Seems like a change in pressure affect this little vents and this in turn create the crackle/buzzing sound.

This obviously is a design flaw and the mention by Apple that this only target Airpods Pro made before 2020 is kinda BS in my opinion. If this was true, then at this stage in 2023 why would they replace defective Airpods with unit made before 2020 that they knew would end up having the same issue?

Doesn't make any sense.

Do we know if this was corrected in V2?

 

[LFO8]

It seems like the issue with the Airpods Pro V1 is with the little pressure vents used for ANC.

I've had mine replaced 2 times by Apple and now my third pair just started doing the buzzing sound again. Just like my 2 previous pairs, when ANC and Transparency Mode are disabled, I don't hear the buzzing sound.

But if ANC is active, I'll hear the buzzing sound (right unit for now) and if I talk, move my head, walk or even if I'm in the bathroom and close the door. Seems like a change in pressure affect this little vents and this in turn create the crackle/buzzing sound.

This obviously is a design flaw and the mention by Apple that this only target Airpods Pro made before 2020 is kinda BS in my opinion. If this was true, then at this stage in 2023 why would they replace defective Airpods with unit made before 2020 that they knew would end up having the same issue?

Doesn't make any sense.

Do we know if this was corrected in V2?

Same for mine (the issue described above). Got mine oct. 2019

 

[ukbootlegs]

Received my replacements (repair) today. Fingers crossed they last

 

[netsped]

My original AirPods Pro (gen1) were replaced today for the second time for the same problem, roughly 1.5 years since first replacement, going to be 3 years since purchase on August. They sound amazing now, thinking of selling them now that they are "new", already bought gen2 on October.

This is why I love Apple, no official Apple Store where I am at so I had to wait one week for them to arrive but it was almost a no questions ask type of scenario.

 

[vinegarshots]

My original AirPods Pro (gen1) were replaced today for the second time for the same problem, roughly 1.5 years since first replacement, going to be 3 years since purchase on August. They sound amazing now, thinking of selling them now that they are "new", already bought gen2 on October.

This is why I love Apple, no official Apple Store where I am at so I had to wait one week for them to arrive but it was almost a no questions ask type of scenario.

To be fair, that is very unusual. Most people in your situation would have been (and have been) denied replacement since you're outside of the warranty and their official replacement window

 

[dannyyankou]

To be fair, that is very unusual. Most people in your situation would have been (and have been) denied replacement since you're outside of the warranty and their official replacement window

I had mine replaced a few times after the warranty expired. No questions asked, they ran the diagnostics and it failed, and they replaced them on the spot.

 

[AppleMango]

I had mine replaced a few times after the warranty expired. No questions asked, they ran the diagnostics and it failed, and they replaced them on the spot.

Do you mind mentioning the store or country at least? Very interesting information that is, given the brutal and strict experiences I myself and others had outside that warranty time…

 

[Michaelangelo28]

Same here got mine last 2019 Oct

 

[dannyyankou]

Do you mind mentioning the store or country at least? Very interesting information that is, given the brutal and strict experiences I myself and others had outside that warranty time…

USA, 2 different stores. One was in Yonkers, NY, and the other was in White Plains.

 

[whsbuss]

Well my replacements, left ear, has started to rattle. These were replace in 2021 by Apple from originals purchased in 2020. They are still okay for most music but calls and podcasts have the rattle. Guess I wait and see if Prime day has them at a good price.

 

[Phillyphil0302]

My OG pro’s been “rattling” for quite a while now and was hoping one of those firmware updates would fix them but to no avail.

My question is, has anyone took their pods to Best Buy to get them replaced as opposed to Apple? Best Buy is 10 minutes away and Apple Store is 45 minutes away. I’d rather take them to Apple but if there’s no difference in service between the two, it’s a no brainer to go to 10 minutes away Best Buy.

Hope to hear from someone with experience getting their AirPods Pro’s replaced at Best Buy

 

[bluegecko7]

I purchased my AirPods Pro on release day from Apple Store Regent Street.
Recently I've been experiencing crackling issues reported mostly on the right AirPod, but on the left too.

This week it finally became unbareable so I booked a Genuis appointment.
He took them away for testing and came back confirming both AirPods have the issue.
He confirmed my AirPods were manufactured in September 2019 and purchased in November 2019.

The Genius confirmed all this but said my AirPod Pros were not elidgable for replacement!?
He said it was out of his hands and I should contact Apple Support, which I did, in-store.

I was in-store for nearly 2 hours and eventually escalated to Technical Senior Advisor, who I'm told is going to investigate further and get back to me on Tuesday.

This seems very frustrating and unnecessary.
This is Apple's own page on the issue:

AirPods Pro Service Program for Sound Issues - Apple Support

AirPods Pro Service Program for Sound Issues

support.apple.com

"Apple has determined that a small percentage of AirPods Pro may experience sound issues. Affected units were manufactured before October 2020."

"Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will service the affected AirPods Pro (left, right or both), free of charge."

"The program covers affected AirPods Pro for 3 years after the first retail sale of the unit."

For my AirPod Pros an Apple Genius has confirmed:
- Both left and right AirPods are effected by this issue.
- They were manufactured before October 2019
- They were purchased less than 3 years ago.

Yet somehow my AirPod Pros are not elidgable for a replacement and they can't tell me why?
"The program covers affected AirPods Pro for 3 years after the first retail sale of the unit."

Am I going crazy here?

 

[Leney]

I purchased my AirPods Pro on release day from Apple Store Regent Street.
Recently I've been experiencing crackling issues reported mostly on the right AirPod, but on the left too.

This week it finally became unbareable so I booked a Genuis appointment.
He took them away for testing and came back confirming both AirPods have the issue.
He confirmed my AirPods were manufactured in September 2019 and purchased in November 2019.

The Genius confirmed all this but said my AirPod Pros were not elidgable for replacement!?
He said it was out of his hands and I should contact Apple Support, which I did, in-store.

I was in-store for nearly 2 hours and eventually escalated to Technical Senior Advisor, who I'm told is going to investigate further and get back to me on Tuesday.

This seems very frustrating and unnecessary.
This is Apple's own page on the issue:

AirPods Pro Service Program for Sound Issues - Apple Support

AirPods Pro Service Program for Sound Issues

support.apple.com

"Apple has determined that a small percentage of AirPods Pro may experience sound issues. Affected units were manufactured before October 2020."

"Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will service the affected AirPods Pro (left, right or both), free of charge."

"The program covers affected AirPods Pro for 3 years after the first retail sale of the unit."

For my AirPod Pros an Apple Genius has confirmed:
- Both left and right AirPods are effected by this issue.
- They were manufactured before October 2019
- They were purchased less than 3 years ago.

Yet somehow my AirPod Pros are not elidgable for a replacement and they can't tell me why?
"The program covers affected AirPods Pro for 3 years after the first retail sale of the unit."

Am I going crazy here?

Three years after your purchase in November 2019 is November 2022.

I purchased by AirPods Pro in early June 2020, and I didn't experience any crackling until the middle of this month, missing the ability to obtain free replacements by less than a week. I purchased them with AppleCare and a credit card with an extended 2-year manufacturer's warranty though so I'm hoping to be reimbursed from repair costs by my credit card company.

 

[whsbuss]

Three years after your purchase in November 2019 is November 2022.

I purchased by AirPods Pro in early June 2020, and I didn't experience any crackling until the middle of this month, missing the ability to obtain free replacements by less than a week. I purchased them with AppleCare and a credit card with an extended 2-year manufacturer's warranty though so I'm hoping to be reimbursed from repair costs by my credit card company.

Well after 2 replacements my left bud has the same rattle back, and its pretty bad. I would think a fix will not permanently resolve this issue. Maybe Amazon Prime Days will knock a few more $$$ off the reduced price for APP2

 

[Leney]

Well after 2 replacements my left bud has the same rattle back, and its pretty bad. I would think a fix will not permanently resolve this issue. Maybe Amazon Prime Days will knock a few more $$$ off the reduced price for APP2

I don't intend to repair them. The credit card company reimburses me for the cost of repairs but doesn't actually require me to repair them. I submitted a repair estimate from Apple. I'll use the funds to offset my purchase of the next gen model.

 

[mushy peas]

Well after 2 replacements my left bud has the same rattle back, and its pretty bad. I would think a fix will not permanently resolve this issue. Maybe Amazon Prime Days will knock a few more $$$ off the reduced price for APP2

Same as you, I've got 2 pairs and both left buds have failed. I've replaced them too many times now to bother doing it again, 8 times plus one failed case across 4 different complete sets as Apple periodically replaced the whole unit.

These things are up there with the butterfly keyboard as absolute reliability duds.

I'll be ready on Prime Day to buy a pair of the 2s too.

 

[Kottu]

I left mine at an Apple dealer for the 4th time now. The first time I had problems with both units. Later it was only the right bud was the cause for repair/replacement. I'm glad that Apple doesn't charge anything but. It shouldn't be so. A tiny device which cost more than 250$ (350$ in Sweden) should last at least 3 years without any problems

 

[mac_head]

Today, my third pair of AirPods Pro failed. The left one started making a clicking sound again. I took them to an Apple Store but am unable to get a replacement. I bought them in 2019 and the exchange program is only valid 3 years after buying them.

Did anyone here made the jump and bought AirPods Pro 2? Do they have this issue as well?

 

[Kottu]

Today, my third pair of AirPods Pro failed. The left one started making a clicking sound again. I took them to an Apple Store but am unable to get a replacement. I bought them in 2019 and the exchange program is only valid 3 years after buying them.

Did anyone here made the jump and bought AirPods Pro 2? Do they have this issue as well?

Mine was bought in march 2021. Got replaced three times from may 22 to feb 23. The right one failed again. As Apple store is far away, I use to leave them at an authorised service centre. They said that this time they couldn’t do anything as Apple doesn’t allow from their side. According to Apple there are no restrictions except 3 year’s rule.

I bought my AirPods Pro 2 a while back, never had any problems. Even Apple claims that only App1 which were manufactured before October 2020, I think it’s much more than that.

 

[Derived]

So, after reading I'm still a bit unclear on this...

I had mine replaced at the end of last year (originals manufactured in October of 2020) - and already by really March or April they were back to the same state almost as the ones I replaced.

Will they replace them again? Or am I SOL?

 

[lympero]

Same problem, bought them October 2019 so I'm penalized for buying them at release date! Thanks apple!

 

[Kottu]

I spoke to Apple regarding my Airpods. As they were purchased in March 2021, I was eligible for the replacement. Apple couldn't tell me why the service center was unable to process the repair/replace procedure. Anyhow, Last monday an Apple representative called me and told that they will take care of it directly. On Tuesday UPC came up to my door and collected my Airpods, on Wednesday Apple received and send them back, I wasn't sure about anything but on Thursday I got 2 brand new Airpods in my old case!. Kudos to Apple!. Probably the best service I ever had.

 

[mac_head]

I spoke to Apple regarding my Airpods. As they were purchased in March 2021, I was eligible for the replacement. Apple couldn't tell me why the service center was unable to process the repair/replace procedure. Anyhow, Last monday an Apple representative called me and told that they will take care of it directly. On Tuesday UPC came up to my door and collected my Airpods, on Wednesday Apple received and send them back, I wasn't sure about anything but on Thursday I got 2 brand new Airpods in my old case!. Kudos to Apple!. Probably the best service I ever had.

…now just wait for you new pair to die on you until your out of the program. I had my AirPods Pro exchanged twice and thought it was great customer service, too. However, the AirPods Pro Gen 1 have a major hardware flaw. I think ANY pair of them will encounter this issue sooner or later…I think it’s irresponsible to keep selling them to customers without acknowledging this problem.