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iPhone 8/Plus (Fixed in 11.0.2) Iphone 8 plus crackling static noise in earpiece during calls

Visited an Apple store and as expected the genius didn't hear anything. I am the 1st person to mention it. They think it is the noise cancelling mic and said putting a finger on it during calls could create the issue. Seemingly disregarded my remark that the clicking / digital noise happens when I don't put my finger around that area, that just exacerbates it. I was told to try leaving noise cancellation off and see what happens and come back tomorrow. Back at home, the digital noise clicks still happen with the noise cancelling mic disabled. Either way the phone is going back, torn on whether to exchange or just return and go back to the tiny screen on my 7.

Why is it that every time something happens the store reps never see or hear it and I feel guilty about exchanging a phone more than once. They were more than happy to exchange it on the spot but I am not in the mood to play the exchange game with this.
 
jlp2979 said:
Visited an Apple store and as expected the genius didn't hear anything. I am the 1st person to mention it. They think it is the noise cancelling mic and said putting a finger on it during calls could create the issue. Seemingly disregarded my remark that the clicking / digital noise happens when I don't put my finger around that area, that just exacerbates it. I was told to try leaving noise cancellation off and see what happens and come back tomorrow. Back at home, the digital noise clicks still happen with the noise cancelling mic disabled. Either way the phone is going back, torn on whether to exchange or just return and go back to the tiny screen on my 7.

Why is it that every time something happens the store reps never see or hear it and I feel guilty about exchanging a phone more than once. They were more than happy to exchange it on the spot but I am not in the mood to play the exchange game with this.
Click to expand...


I’m going to hang on to this replacement handset for a while longer and see if Apple push a response/fix out. I feel as if it’s just a bug with the rear mic vs hardware and that it will be fixed easily enough. If it was hardware I’m sure there would be issues with voicemail playback or voice memos too but so far just calls. I understand your frustration though, you don’t pay for a premium phone that doesn’t... well phone very well.
 
I am starting to worry this might be a hardware issue. Reading all this and just now discovering that if you press on the lenses and ear piece it crackles too. How could that possibly be software? Just my two cents.
 
vask said:
Is anyone else experiencing a crackling static noise from the earpiece during facetime or cellular calls? Strange thing is this noise happens randomly, roughly 1 in 3 calls. This is happening on iphone 8 plus.
Click to expand...

Yes I have been experiencing the same issue on my iPhone 8 256Gb.
Its very annoying and because of that issue I mostly use earphones for calls.

The other thing I noticed was that the popping sound gets worse if I start moving.

Anyone else having the same issue??
 
Gmbb55 said:
I am starting to worry this might be a hardware issue. Reading all this and just now discovering that if you press on the lenses and ear piece it crackles too. How could that possibly be software? Just my two cents.
Click to expand...

YES. pressing slightly, below or above the earpiece speaker creates the "clicking" sound.

iPhone 8+ ATT
 
jasonfly said:
YES. pressing slightly, below or above the earpiece speaker creates the "clicking" sound.
Click to expand...
I wonder if when you press near the speaker (just guessing here) do you have a finger covering the noise canceling microphone one the back of the phone??? I have issues with callers hearing garbled voice when I am on the phone.
I use a folio type case.....so that mostly covers the NC mic when it is folded back behind the phone. Have used that type of case for years with no problems. Just wondering if there is some connection??? Someone mentioned they noticed a change in the noise levels when they had their finger near that NC mic hole between the camera and the flash.
Maybe Apple has cranked the 'gain' way up on the NC mic in the firmware and its causing issues.....????
 
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jasonfly said:
YES. pressing slightly, below or above the earpiece speaker creates the "clicking" sound.

iPhone 8+ ATT
Click to expand...
I don’t notice anything personally by pressing in those areas or covering the NC mic. Mine clicks the same regardless. Sad we are discussing this.
 
bchris said:
I wonder if when you press near the speaker (just guessing here) do you have a finger covering the noise canceling microphone one the back of the phone??? I have issues with callers hearing garbled voice when I am on the phone.
I use a folio type case.....so that mostly covers the NC mic when it is folded back behind the phone. Have used that type of case for years with no problems. Just wondering if there is some connection??? Someone mentioned they noticed a change in the noise levels when they had their finger near that NC mic hole between the camera and the flash.
Maybe Apple has cranked the 'gain' way up on the NC mic in the firmware and its causing issues.....????
Click to expand...

I do not see a correlation with any sensors on the back, but that doesn't mean it isn't involved. It's funky because it doesn't effect everything. For example, if I record something on Voice Recorder and play it back on the headset, there is no issue. But phone calls are hit almost every time. And toggling speakerphone does not resolve the issue for me. I have hard reset, just restored (have tried from iTunes and iCloud).... with same issue.

Interestingly, you can get the phone to reproduce the sound with the phone locked, by pressing just above/below the earpiece. It does seem like there might be a sensor involved because it does not immediately have that issue when playing with it. It seems as if something trips (a sensor?) and then the issue is live.

But again, no issue on playback of ANYTHING. just affecting phone calls. I wonder if the sound is reproducible while locked because of Siri? I will continue to play with settings. Also, disabling noise canceling did not resolve problem.
 
On my Verizon 8+ doing the speaker toggle on/off trick doesn't work. I get the popping noise nonstop when using the earpiece. If I switch to speaker then the popping stops but as soon as I go back to the earpiece then the popping resumes.
 
Ngamtns706 said:
I don’t notice anything personally by pressing in those areas or covering the NC mic. Mine clicks the same regardless. Sad we are discussing this.
Click to expand...

Haven't played with it much either, so far. Just a wild guess. Sure enough people here will do some testing and Apple will try to resolve the issue. The more info we feed to them the faster it gets resolved.
Apple rep says the best method is to do the apple.com/feedback reports. Says they really monitor/pay attention to those.
 
I chatted with Apple before I read about the issue. here is a snip of the transcript....was this afternoon.

Andrew: Then you will need to fully restore the iPhone in iTunes, set it up as new without restoring a backup, and test it out

Jason: thats annoying.

Jason: I am guessing this is not a common issue

Andrew: No, we have not received very many, if any, reports of this

Jason: okay I guess I will have to try that out

Jason: I will be back if problem persists

Andrew: I understand, but if it still persists at that point, we will want to get the phone in for service.
 
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jasonfly said:
I chatted with Apple before I read about the issue. here is a snip of the transcript....was this afternoon.

Andrew: Then you will need to fully restore the iPhone in iTunes, set it up as new without restoring a backup, and test it out

Jason: thats annoying.

Jason: I am guessing this is not a common issue

Andrew: No, we have not received very many, if any, reports of this

Jason: okay I guess I will have to try that out

Jason: I will be back if problem persists

Andrew: I understand, but if it still persists at that point, we will want to get the phone in for service.
Click to expand...
 
jasonfly said:
I chatted with Apple before I read about the issue. here is a snip of the transcript....was this afternoon.

Andrew: Then you will need to fully restore the iPhone in iTunes, set it up as new without restoring a backup, and test it out

Jason: thats annoying.

Jason: I am guessing this is not a common issue

Andrew: No, we have not received very many, if any, reports of this

Jason: okay I guess I will have to try that out

Jason: I will be back if problem persists

Andrew: I understand, but if it still persists at that point, we will want to get the phone in for service.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I don’t see how they can’t have had many reports given it’s occuring in multiple territories and across the 8/8+ and replacement devices are still affected. Though it’s not implausible.

Really hoping EFFA are aware of this issue.
 
Update:
Currently at the Apple store in Stonestown mall in Sf,CA. Told the genius the situation and he heard the static/crinkling. He confirmed it. Getting a replacement as we speak! Hopefully the new one is better
 
Sorry, had another email I had to answer and the reply blew up.

I had talked to apple this morning to report my garbled phone conversations.
The service rep was GREAT, as usual. Took lots of notes and said he would send them up the 'food chain'.

Also mentioned that Skype was crashing on login and instantly after the first crash. Skype came out with an update this evening (Thanks again, JLeal, for letting me know).
So someone is watching/listening at least.
 
LorQ1027 said:
Update:
Currently at the Apple store in Stonestown mall in Sf,CA. Told the genius the situation and he heard the static/crinkling. He confirmed it. Getting a replacement as we speak! Hopefully the new one is better
Click to expand...
Have they heard any other reports? Please update on the replacement. Ty
 
LorQ1027 said:
Update:
Currently at the Apple store in Stonestown mall in Sf,CA. Told the genius the situation and he heard the static/crinkling. He confirmed it. Getting a replacement as we speak! Hopefully the new one is better
Click to expand...
But then that confirms that it’s probably hardware.
 
Polymerpouch said:
Interesting, I don’t see how they can’t have had many reports given it’s occuring in multiple territories and across the 8/8+ and replacement devices are still affected. Though it’s not implausible.

Really hoping EFFA are aware of this issue.
Click to expand...

My guess is that no one really use the the phone as a phone. And when they do its speaker phone or with a headset.

i know thats how i do it.

I think i used the earpiece the past 3 days more than i have in the past year just testing this thing out.
 
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This is unbeliavable. I can’t believe there’s this type of issue after FOUR iterations of the same phone.
 
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