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

[Lx007]

I noticed this on the first call. It is intermittent, but loud enough to be a distraction. This is an 8+, 256, Verizon. I have tried different volume levels, hard reset, but it’s still there.
It took a few Google searches to find this great thread. I found some others with the issue Twitter.

 

[chillenandy321]

It's been intermittent with me today on phone calls. Maybe 1 outta 3 times its makes crackle. 8+ 256gig

 

[BillyBobT]

I need to open my iPhones asap

 

[cl516]

8+ 256GB silver. Totally didn’t notice until I saw this thread. Then yes, I hear it. I’d say about 1 in 3 calls. Not consistently repeatable. If the problem isn’t appearing on a particular call, toggling speakerphone will make problem appear. Here’s hoping it’s a software issue.

 

[flashflooder]

I noticed this on the very first call I made after receiving my iPhone 8.

 

[Ngamtns706]

I noticed this on the very first call I made after receiving my iPhone 8.

Nice

 

[coolio93]

Noticed on my first call as well

 

[Ngamtns706]

Tap around the top of the phone especially up on the back behind the earpiece and see if you hear a rattle. I do. Maybe that’s always been on the phones.

 

[coolio93]

Tap around the top of the phone especially up on the back behind the earpiece and see if you hear a rattle. I do. Maybe that’s always been on the phones.

I believe that’s the vibration motor. But that’s something different from the earpiece rattle during calls that’s being discussed here

 

[Ngamtns706]

I believe that’s the vibration motor. But that’s something different from the earpiece rattle during calls that’s being discussed here

Ok thanks for clarifying. I just was looking for possibilities and something I haven’t noticed before.

 

[Vipremix]

Seems as though I’m one of the unfortunate few who experiences this in every call. Even had a few friends test it and they all came to the same conclusion as me. Does anyone know how we can get the ball roling for Apple to look into this?

 

[wba1990]

Had this issue on my first 2 calls I made

Haven't had it since, not reset it or nothing, hoping it had just sorted itself out

 

[ABC5S]

iPhone 8+ carrier Verizon and I have no crackling sound at this time. I’ve tried numerous calls as well. Good luck to you all and I hope it doesn’t happen to me.

 

[cl516]

Did a few more test calls to my voicemail this morning, and if crackling was there, toggling speakerphone makes it go away. How weird.

 

[pmau]

Did a few more test calls to my voicemail this morning, and if crackling was there, toggling speakerphone makes it go away. How weird.

I seem to recall that they said the stereo speakers on the 8 are implemented by boosting the earpiece volume.
Maybe the volume control and the power amplifier responsible has some bugs.
If it's a microcontroller issue, software might not fix it but circumvent boosting.

 

[Ngamtns706]

Did Apple not make any test calls?

 

[708692]

Talking with Apple support at the moment. Not hopeful they will know anything about this.

Update - Apple have confirmed they have had several reports and are looking into it. They are not currently sure if it's hardware or software/firmware.

Edit - The support rep requested anyone experiencing the issue should report it at https://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

 

[vask]

Talking with Apple support at the moment. Not hopeful they will know anything about this.

Update - Apple have confirmed they have had several reports and are looking into it. They are not currently sure if it's hardware or software/firmware.

Thanks for the info, keep us updated when/if you hear more from them.

 

[iphone84]

Talking with Apple support at the moment. Not hopeful they will know anything about this.

Update - Apple have confirmed they have had several reports and are looking into it. They are not currently sure if it's hardware or software/firmware.

I have the iPhone 8 plus, 64GB, on Verizon. I received it Friday and have been having the intermittent earpiece issue since setup. I tried a hard reset multiple times. I have also tried toggling the speakerphone button when on a call (which works sometimes) but the issue always returns. I just chatted with Apple support. They had me walk through some troubleshooting steps. They asked if the device earpiece was clean of any debris and asked if I was using Wifi calling. I told them it was clean, and I was not using Wifi calling. They then had me take a voice memo and play it back. There was no static when I played back the voice memo. At this point they indicated because there was no static the earpiece was fine and that I should contact my carrier because it is likely their issue. So, the experience was not very helpful. I believe it is a software issue because it is intermittent and because it is happening across multiple carries. Hopefully enough people complain and they roll out an update.

 

[Indywillsdad]

iPhone 8+ carrier Verizon and I have no crackling sound at this time. I’ve tried numerous calls as well. Good luck to you all and I hope it doesn’t happen to me.

What is the color of yours? Just curious.

 

[Harthag]

I tried doing a system wipe and restore through iTunes (downloaded iOS 11 within iTunes) and it made no difference. So torn on whether I should wait this out or run to the Fed Ex store and take back my 7 that I sold / awaiting shipment tomorrow.

 

[riverer]

Never actually use my phone for phone calls, so I tried it after reading the first post and sure enough... same issue!

its like someone has a needle or pin and is tapping the inside of the phone with it.

Called voicemail, it was obviously there
Called voicemail, not there, toggled speakerphone on/off and it started again.

 

[nadroj.jordan]

Having the same issue on an iPhone 8. I'm on Verizon, but as others have said, it doesn't seem to be carrier related.

Observations so far:

• As others have experienced, it happens on some calls and not others. Toggling speakerphone on and then off will usually either stop the problem, or start the problem, for the remainder of the call. It does not seem to come and go in calls, unless speakerphone is activated and then deactivated.
• When playing back my Visual Voicemails in the earpiece, I have not had the problem happen yet. It only seems to be on calls (though I did not test FaceTime Audio yet).
• It happens on both cellular and Wi-Fi Calling.
• No other sounds besides calls seem to have the issue, and the speaker sounds perfect at louder volumes.

Based on these four things and what has been said by others so far, I personally think it's software-related.

 

[Hulip]

I have the iPhone 8 plus, 64GB, on Verizon. I received it Friday and have been having the intermittent earpiece issue since setup. I tried a hard reset multiple times. I have also tried toggling the speakerphone button when on a call (which works sometimes) but the issue always returns. I just chatted with Apple support. They had me walk through some troubleshooting steps. They asked if the device earpiece was clean of any debris and asked if I was using Wifi calling. I told them it was clean, and I was not using Wifi calling. They then had me take a voice memo and play it back. There was no static when I played back the voice memo. At this point they indicated because there was no static the earpiece was fine and that I should contact my carrier because it is likely their issue. So, the experience was not very helpful. I believe it is a software issue because it is intermittent and because it is happening across multiple carries. Hopefully enough people complain and they roll out an update.

I listened through visual voicemail instead of calling and I did not hear the crackling either so I am now leaning towards software as well.

 

[jiehanzheng]

Both of my T-Mobile iPhone 8's have this problem. Very annoying and my ear hurts after making long phone calls

EDIT: tried hard reset, unfortunately, did not help