Buzzing / static sound coming from back of new iPhone 7 Plus

[CSpackler]

The sound reminds me of a phenomenon called "coil whine" present in some graphics cards. Technically, what happens is that a (relatively) high electrical current runs through the inductors, causing them to vibrate. Hence the high-pitched buzz or whine.

If this is related, then it's a hardware issue that won't go away with time. I have two identical AMD graphics cards in my computer—one whines more than the other while under load. You need to be down next to it with the case open in order to hear it, but it's definitely there and would drive me bonkers if I had to listen to it all the time.

 

[AmelieCofas]

any iphone 7 (not plus) with this issue?

 

[indiekiduk]

Do the people with the problem have the Intel or Qualcomm modem?

 

[xeio]

I have the normal iphone 7 and have the same problem. Its very very very quiet when running a benchmark for example. But it doesnt bother me

 

[Sgall123]

Curious, has everyone updated to 10.0.1 perhaps theres a fix? I can't imagine it a serious issue, Ive heard a similar noise in previous phones, even non Apple ones. Parts do have to make some noise.....I can understand though how a noise would bother some, my ears can't really hear that great so most stuff goes right by me, but those younger ears out there pick up the slightest stuff!

I updated & no differnce

 

[skwood]

I had never noticed processing noise from my 6s until this thread! Thanks guys...seriously though it seems to be standard. Might just be a bit louder on the 7 than the 6s or earlier so noticeable for first time.

 

[iphone1105]

I had never noticed processing noise from my 6s until this thread! Thanks guys...seriously though it seems to be standard. Might just be a bit louder on the 7 than the 6s or earlier so noticeable for first time.

I heard similar on my 6+.

 

[renet]

Go to a quiet room. Hold any phone from a 6 on up against your ear. Put your finger on to the home button. Listen for a clicking or buzzing. My six does it. I have never heard the sound until I just tried to do it with my 6.

you're right!!

 

[skwood]

Maybe people are just noticing this because they can't plug headphones in

 

[IconIc215]

Well it seems now a lot of the tech media outlets are picking up on 9to5mac's story so hopefully we find out what is actually causing it. It would be nice if Apple either said Yes its normal or No its a defect before our return window expires. I would not count on it though. The only way I hear it on mine is if I put my ear up next to the back. It seems it is louder in these audio clips posted on Youtube than what I experienced. I suspect it has always been apparent on phones just to different degrees. I would guess if there was a thread for this back when the 6S+ was launched there would be reports here and there.

 

[DADDYDC650]

My new iPhone 7 Plus (128GB, Black) has an odd buzzing / static sound coming from it. Specifically, if I put my ear up to the back of the phone where the apple logo is, I can hear the battery or processor or something “working”… note the sound file attached.

Same on my lady's Rose Gold 32GB iPhone 7 Plus.

Pretty sure every iPhone 7 has this noise and I wouldn't have ever noticed until OP pointed it out. It isn't a big deal. For those that claim theirs don't make noise, either they don't own an i7, are in a noisey environment, in denial or have hearing issues.

 

[newellj]

Some ICs make noise. It probably was designed to operate silently. I'd return it.

 

[jimbo1mcm]

A10 noise. Apple solution: Don't hold it up to your ear and listen.

 

[indiekiduk]

you're right!!

yep my 6s has the noise too

 

[Hogg]

Have we reached pause for concern time?

People with the issue... what date was yours made on?

 

[Zulithe]

Just tested on my iPhone 7 Plus 256GB (black), can confirm the sound.
As a test case, run something intensive. Like a browser benchmark:
https://developers.google.com/octane/

6S Plus: barely any noise
7 Plus: noticeable noise (focused nearer to the top of the phone)

 

[yegon]

A10 noise. Apple solution: Don't hold it up to your ear and listen.

You're listening wrong.

 

[RickNY]

While I didn't hold my regular 7 up to my ear, yesterday when I was restoring my apps, I noticed almost like a very high frequency vibration coming from the top back of the phone when I ran my fingers lightly across it. I haven't been able to get it to occur again -- but I haven't had the phone under a lot of load since then either.

 

[maverick808]

Just tried this. If I put my ear against the back of the phone while the CPU is under load (e.g., open a game) then I hear it too... on my 6S.

 

[Hogg]

Just tried this. If I put my ear against the back of the phone while the CPU is under load (e.g., open a game) then I hear it too... on my 6S.

Yeah, this seems to be a little louder though. You don't need to put your ear up to it, to hear it.

 

[IconIc215]

It looks like IMore FWIW is going to dig around for the cause. You figure the more this gets out the more calls/appts going to Apple Support so they themselves will have to come up with an answer. Otherwise no one knows if this is a defect or just normal operation of the new guts of the phone.

www.imore.com/if-hissgate-and-buzzgate-are-everywhere-yaour-iphone-7-really-making-strange-sound

 

[mjjferreira]

Go check your old 3GS, i bet it hisses too.

Jesus, this foruns are usefull for many things, but when many start searching for problems (where probably they don't exist) it's a really big mess.

My guess is all of the iPhones 7 models do it, probably lounder on some. For now we can only speculate but i am sure that there's got to be a very good reason.

I waiting for my ip7+ and i am start thinking on shutdown my internet! Lol

 

[asleep]

Here's the sound: https://www.instagram.com/p/BKeH-VvjVkU/

 

[aj8690]

It's probably not as big of a deal as you're making.

I am very curious to see if this is a speaker buzz sound issue due to the new front facing speaker, or if it is simply internal components like CPU working on their own. Others said they can hear it in older models, but if it was this noticeable it probably would have come up previously.

Is it more of a whine, or a buzz?

It's definitely not from the speaker. I can barely (if at all) hear it from the front. From the back it is many times louder. For me it's a buzz that alternates in frequency seemingly randomly (but gets louder with more CPU usage). For me, the sound is reminiscent of an old hard drive seeking, except higher pitch. There's a constant, quieter buzz that's always there and always has the same frequency (think like the hard disk spinning); then in addition, there's a 2nd buzz that is louder and higher pitch with alternating frequency (think like hard disk head seeking) depending on CPU demand. That's my observation.

 

[Sgall123]

It's definitely not from the speaker. I can barely (if at all) hear it from the front. From the back it is many times louder. For me it's a buzz that alternates in frequency seemingly randomly (but gets louder with more CPU usage). For me, the sound is reminiscent of an old hard drive seeking, except higher pitch. There's a constant, quieter buzz that's always there and always has the same frequency (think like the hard disk spinning); then in addition, there's a 2nd buzz that is louder and higher pitch with alternating frequency (think like hard disk head seeking) depending on CPU demand. That's my observation.

I agree it's only at the back I can't hear anything from the front... however I have noticed it's only when it's downloading stuff like music etc... other times it's barely noticeable