iPhone 8/Plus iPhone 8 Plus Hardware Issue .. lessons..

[PBz]

So I am one of the people that has had speaker issues with my 8 Plus since I got it. It has been replaced 3 times and I have been on at least 4 public betas and all non-beta iOS since the 8 was released. Apple did correct the crackle issue during calls. Ironically, I have had the issue where people cannot hear me occasionally through the normal iPhone mic.

Where I am today...

Apple has no resolution for the in-app speaker crackle/popping. To elaborate, I have horrible speaker popping using apps like Sky Guide, Sudoku ME, YouTube, Brain Wave Studio.. I am confident there are others affected that I do not use. I have worked with Apple on this and been very patient but it's reached a point where, per Apple directly, there is no resolution. Apple has offered to refund my 8 Plus. Apple has not answered my question on whether the regular 8 has the same issue.

My options... 1. I could keep the $1,000+ 8 Plus and put up with the horrible speaker issue. On principle I struggle with this. Apple has basically admitted there is an issue but they cannot fix it. Replacements will have the same issue.

2. Return the 8 Plus and risk going to 8 and it having the same issue.. this likely leads me back to #1.

3. Return the 8 Plus and leave the iPhone for a year or so until $1,000+ gets you a phone without a broken speaker... The problem here is Apple and their ecosystem holds onto us tightly. I have an Apple Watch that will not work with an Android phone. I have an iPad Pro that I love and would keep.

Luckily, I do have a Garmin watch that could replace my Apple Watch (LTE Series 3) but I will take quite a loss selling my Apple Watch. Not cool.

I guess where I am going here...and I know it's obvious to most here.. is that it only takes 1 small issue to cost Apple customers some serious time and $. I don't want an Android phone but on principle I struggle with allowing Apple to keep my $$ for a phone that has a broken speaker. The crackling is even starting to happen with normal music play.

I do find it interesting that this issue is all over the Apple Support boards, affects every 8 Plus replacement per Apple and has affected 4 8 Plus for me personally but there is no news or coverage of this issue. The media outlets were all over the issue that Apple was able to correct.. but now that there is one that they cannot correct... silence.

 

[Givmeabrek]

Never heard of this problem. Obviously get a different phone, an 8, X or whatever. Why keep punishing yourself?

 

[Strelok]

I believe this is an issue with those specific apps. I remember at one point I used Youtube and got HORRIBLE crackling and I thought my speaker had blown. Then I tried Music, Spotify and and iTunes movie and the sound was perfect. Just tried YouTube and it is working fine. iOS 11.2.5 Beta, latest Youtube version.

 

[PBz]

Never heard of this problem. Obviously get a different phone, an 8, X or whatever. Why keep punishing yourself?

May try the 8.
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I believe this is an issue with those specific apps. I remember at one point I used Youtube and got HORRIBLE crackling and I thought my speaker had blown. Then I tried Music, Spotify and and iTunes movie and the sound was perfect. Just tried YouTube and it is working fine. iOS 11.2.5 Beta, latest Youtube version.

Test something.. use YT app, search and play a piano video. Use double screen tap to FF/RW. Hear the speaker clip? In this case it’s just a single clip. Sounds over background sounds cause it.

 

[Strelok]

I think I hear what you are talking about, but I've never heard it in any of the videos I've watched. I guess it really depends on the content.

 

[PBz]

I think I hear what you are talking about, but I've never heard it in any of the videos I've watched. I guess it really depends on the content.

That is just a single clip. Other apps that have a selection sound that plays over a background sound (Sky Guide is a good example) will set off the clipping quite a bit. In SG it will just start clipping without any selections.

 

[thadoggfather]

I wouldn’t go for another model over the speaker crackle issue. You’ll be settling when you want the model you really want.

If it were me I’d return the 8+ wait it out a few days just to gain your sane-ness back over lost time and effort, and try another. Especially if other users aren’t reporting the same.

I had horrendous luck with X for varying reasons, would swap one and get issues with another but screen lottery was the biggest issue

Saw the att possibility deal thread and got an X for 549 w a 2yr (silver 64) and low and behold, nearly all my problems mitigated and finally got a screen tho not perfect (that’s fine) is quite good to look at and no glaring issues like I’ve seen with my
Own eyes with all other units except the first. If only my first unit (contract free) had good reception I wouldn’t have gone down the rabbit hole. But kinda a big deal when reception on that one was noticeably worse than my 7+ FaceID was worse than my current unit but I had some where it failed more often than it succeeded. So that turned into a lottery too.

The Apple universe finally rewarded me. And I got a unit with 11.1.2 but did a clean restore the day before 11.1.2 stopped being signed. Shipping was quick on this one luckily. And now I’m just waiting for a jailbreak

Hopefully a good X unit and JB And throttle free firmware will keep me out of phone hell for a while, while everything sorts itself out or gets more interesting than the X refreshing and sprucing up the iPhone lineup.

Good luck!

 

[PBz]

I wouldn’t go for another model over the speaker crackle issue. You’ll be settling when you want the model you really want.

If it were me I’d return the 8+ wait it out a few days just to gain your sane-ness back over lost time and effort, and try another. Especially if other users aren’t reporting the same.

I had horrendous luck with X for varying reasons, would swap one and get issues with another but screen lottery was the biggest issue

Saw the att possibility deal thread and got an X for 549 w a 2yr (silver 64) and low and behold, nearly all my problems mitigated and finally got a screen tho not perfect (that’s fine) is quite good to look at and no glaring issues like I’ve seen with my
Own eyes with all other units except the first. If only my first unit (contract free) had good reception I wouldn’t have gone down the rabbit hole. But kinda a big deal when reception on that one was noticeably worse than my 7+ FaceID was worse than my current unit but I had some where it failed more often than it succeeded. So that turned into a lottery too.

The Apple universe finally rewarded me. And I got a unit with 11.1.2 but did a clean restore the day before 11.1.2 stopped being signed. Shipping was quick on this one luckily. And now I’m just waiting for a jailbreak

Hopefully a good X unit and JB And throttle free firmware will keep me out of phone hell for a while, while everything sorts itself out or gets more interesting than the X refreshing and sprucing up the iPhone lineup.

Good luck!

I appreciate the comments but Apple has told me directly that a replacement will have the same issue.

 

[thadoggfather]

I appreciate the comments but Apple has told me directly that a replacement will have the same issue.

Dang ! That widespread huh? That’s unfortunate

And 8/X supposedly not universally affected in same way?

 

[Strelok]

I appreciate the comments but Apple has told me directly that a replacement will have the same issue.

Get a refund, and if you are set on Apple try a 7 Plus. There won’t be a huge difference in terms of performance on day to day tasks anyways. Otherwise I would suggest trying something from the other camp (Android).

 

[GalaDaliGirl]

No Crackle on iPhone 6.

40 months later and it still works great.

 

[PBz]

No Crackle on iPhone 6.

40 months later and it still works great.

Yeah.. to date the 6S/+ is one of my all-time favorite phones.
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Dang ! That widespread huh? That’s unfortunate

And 8/X supposedly not universally affected in same way?

[doublepost=1514243294][/doublepost]Deleted some posts out of respect for good Apple employees who have helped me.

 

[GomerBoy]

I’ve noticed this more often now with my iPhone 8 Plus. I was taking snachat videos with the filters and the speakers would make a crackling sound when replaying the videos. The volume isn’t even loud. It’s just a tad frustrating...I mean I paid nearly 1000 dollars for the phone. Is this a software issue that Apple will hopefully fix soon?

 

[44267547]

I’ve noticed this more often now with my iPhone 8 Plus. I was taking snachat videos with the filters and the speakers would make a crackling sound when replaying the videos. The volume isn’t even loud. It’s just a tad frustrating...I mean I paid nearly 1000 dollars for the phone. Is this a software issue that Apple will hopefully fix soon?

You only have two options. You could either exchange your iPhone for a warranty device or wait for the next iOS update patch to come through, which may or may not resolve the issue. But I can see your frustration, because that's not something you want to hear when you're recording video.

 

[GomerBoy]

You only have two options. You could either exchange your iPhone for a warranty device or wait for the next iOS update patch to come through, which may or may not resolve the issue. But I can see your frustration, because that's not something you want to hear when you're recording video.

If it’s widespread (like it apparently is), hopefully Apple knows about it and is attempting to fix it. Besides that, the phone is awesome! I’ll have to think more about what to do.

 

[PBz]

If it’s widespread (like it apparently is), hopefully Apple knows about it and is attempting to fix it. Besides that, the phone is awesome! I’ll have to think more about what to do.

That is 100% true. The 8/8 Plus is best iPhone ever made IMO. I hate that it’s for the speaker issue. I’ve worked with Apple & developers on this .. awareness & cause.. and no resolution to-date. May be trying the 8 today.

 

[GomerBoy]

That is 100% true. The 8/8 Plus is best iPhone ever made IMO. I hate that it’s for the speaker issue. I’ve worked with Apple & developers on this .. awareness & cause.. and no resolution to-date. May be trying the 8 today.

It has only been 4 months since the phone was released, maybe Apple just needs more time but what do I know?

I can never go back to a smaller phone like the 8 now. The screen size on the 8 Plus is perfect and I can do so much more on it because of that. Not to mention the amazing battery life and 2 camera lenses! I can’t go back...it’d be like a downgrade.

And I don’t want the iPhone X. Just not a fan of the notch at the top (I know haha) and the screen is less wide than the 8 Plus...no thanks. 8 Plus also has superior battery life.

I guess I will deal with the speaker issue for now.

 

[PBz]

Thought I would post an update.

Apple let me return my 8+. I decided to go with the 8 to escape the speaker clipping issue of the 8+.

Unfortunately, the 8 has the same issue.

At this point I’ve pretty much worn out my welcome on this issue and Apple has been beyond fair about an issue they have no resolution for. If I put myself in the retail employee’s shoes I can understand there isn’t much that they can do. They did offer me a refund but I’m pretty tied to Apple ecosystem.

At this point I’m just going to ride it out. I’m definitely frustrated but I don’t want an Android phone.

 

[GomerBoy]

Thought I would post an update.

Apple let me return my 8+. I decided to go with the 8 to escape the speaker clipping issue of the 8+.

Unfortunately, the 8 has the same issue.

At this point I’ve pretty much worn out my welcome on this issue and Apple has been beyond fair about an issue they have no resolution for. If I put myself in the retail employee’s shoes I can understand there isn’t much that they can do. They did offer me a refund but I’m pretty tied to Apple ecosystem.

At this point I’m just going to ride it out. I’m definitely frustrated but I don’t want an Android phone.

Yeah your hands are tied! Besides the speaker clippings the phone is amazing...hmmmm come on Apple! Fix please!

 

[thadoggfather]

That is 100% true. The 8/8 Plus is best iPhone ever made IMO. I hate that it’s for the speaker issue. I’ve worked with Apple & developers on this .. awareness & cause.. and no resolution to-date. May be trying the 8 today.

The 6s plus speaker was inferior to 6 plus

Seems the same with 8plus (7s) next to 7plus?

That actually wouldn’t surprise me now since the former was my experience (6plus to 6s plus)

 

[44267547]

Seems the same with 8plus (7s) next to 7plus?

Actually, the iPhone 8 stereo speakers are 25% louder over the iPhone 7, which actually is a significant improvement.

 

[GomerBoy]

Actually, the iPhone 8 stereo speakers are 25% louder over the iPhone 7, which actually is a significant improvement.

...but pretty pointless if there is crackling going on!

 

[44267547]

...but pretty pointless if there is crackling going on!

I was making the point that Apple did increase the loudness of the stereo speakers, but that doesn't mean all iPhone 8's are experiencing crackling, is likely more intermittent.

 

[Helmsley]

OP...can you post a link to a YouTube video that crackles for you, so I can see how it sounds for me? 8 Plus user here.

 

[PBz]

I was just making thr point that Apple did increase the loudness of the stereo speakers, but that doesn't mean all iPhone 8's are experiencing crackling, is likely more intermittent.

I can demo it on-demand. It’s certain apps. Been through a lot of Apple devices but this has me stumped. I truly don’t know if it’s hardware or software.
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OP...can you post a link to a YouTube video that crackles for you, so I can see how it sounds for me? 8 Plus user here.

I will try to find one. YT is less an issue but piano with additional sounds will do it. The best example is Sudoku ME & Sky Guide. Phone cannot be on mute. In SG start selecting things and it the clipping will kick in. In Sudoku ME it’s immediate.