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Many iPhone SE Users Experiencing Bluetooth Phone Call Audio Issues [Fixed]
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You seem to have a lot invested in the issue. (I am invested both as a fanboi and shareholder and if there are problems let folks call it out, this is the only route to improvement.)
I'm all for calling out problems, I'm not for over-dramatizing something that, as of yet, does not seem to be exceedingly widespread, and as has been pointed out by others here, is also affecting non-Apple devices.
I personally have had Bluetooth (and Wifi) issues with devices from multiple different brands, and Apple is no exception here.
Like I said earlier, if this is a bug that Apple can fix (and likely will) in software, terrific! One of the reasons I switched to them years ago is because they do push out fixes to their iOS devices better than anyone else.
I don't get why these types of things always seem to be issues with phone manufacturers. Android devices have these kinds of issues too. I would think these more common problems would be caught and solved before release of a device into consumer hands. This doesn't seem like a super rare issue that would slip through cracks easily and that no one testing would have never seen. Maybe they need larger pools of devices in the testing phase.
Do tell of the many sleepless nights which you endured, scratching your head, scribbling down witticisms before frustratedly scrunching them into balls & then tossing them into the waste paper basket, flipping over a new leaf of your jotter and trying again... and then... one inspired morning, this comedic masterpiece dropped into your head..... EUREKA!
Yeah, some people end up returning good hardware because they don't even consider their brand new premium iPhone to be at the root of the problem. This should be a good reminder to people that Apple's quality isn't as good as it used to be, especially when it comes to software and they shouldn't return/toss out accessories until they can verify that their Apple product(s) isn't the cause of the problem.
#nottechnicallyminded
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Or maybe, possibly, that the modern devices we all HUGELY take for granted, have so many layers of incomprehensible complexity that we are shielded from, thankfully, it's a marvel of engineering prowess that they work AT ALL. Yeah, that's probably more like it
For those who express their the "get over it" thoughts, please unless you have this issue, you don't know or understand how irritating it is on many levels.
I've had iPhones for years. Never had a Bluetooth issue until I purchased the SE.
I purchased a 2015 Silverado LTZ six months ago. My 5s, 9.2.1, works flawlessly with MyLink. Connected to it using the Lightning cord. Sound quality for Pandora and calls were excellent. Bluetooth just worked.
However, now my SE will NOT connect to MyLink using the Lightning cord which totally defeats the purpose of having it. Bluetooth will connect to MyLink, only I lose the ability listen to incoming/replying to texts, placing/receiving calls and listening to Pandora.
As a result of this, I spent 2.5 hours last week with AppleCare trying to resolve this with a senior level tech. His final suggestion was to take my truck to my dealer to see if the MyLink system needed a firmware upgrade. I'll humor Apple; have an appt tomorrow with my dealership.
Obviously, I'm not going to return my truck for a refund because the SE doesn't connect properly. I'll drive the 4+ hours round trip to the nearest Apple Store to return the SE, saving myself $624.00 and continue to use my 5s until Apple resolves the Bluetooth issues.
I've had iPhones for years. Never had a Bluetooth issue until I purchased the SE.
I purchased a 2015 Silverado LTZ six months ago. My 5s, 9.2.1, works flawlessly with MyLink. Connected to it using the Lightning cord. Sound quality for Pandora and calls were excellent. Bluetooth just worked.
However, now my SE will NOT connect to MyLink using the Lightning cord which totally defeats the purpose of having it. Bluetooth will connect to MyLink, only I lose the ability listen to incoming/replying to texts, placing/receiving calls and listening to Pandora.
As a result of this, I spent 2.5 hours last week with AppleCare trying to resolve this with a senior level tech. His final suggestion was to take my truck to my dealer to see if the MyLink system needed a firmware upgrade. I'll humor Apple; have an appt tomorrow with my dealership.
Obviously, I'm not going to return my truck for a refund because the SE doesn't connect properly. I'll drive the 4+ hours round trip to the nearest Apple Store to return the SE, saving myself $624.00 and continue to use my 5s until Apple resolves the Bluetooth issues.
Or just save yourself a huge trip, use analogue input to the stereo until they fix it (they will). Which is a better option? Bluetooth is not the only solution.
Was that comment directed at me? Yeah..sure. I've only been using technology since the Apple II and Atari 800 days and have done some coding and HTML development but I'm not technically minded.
#nottechnicallyminded
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Or maybe, possibly, that the modern devices we all HUGELY take for granted, have so many layers of incomprehensible complexity that we are shielded from, thankfully, it's a marvel of engineering prowess that they work AT ALL. Yeah, that's probably more like it
Well, that "marvel of engineering prowess" is loosing its shine. I don't know if that's a result of engineers biting off more than they can chew, being asked to do too much, good engineers retiring and not being replaced by engineers of similar caliber (being outsourced to people abroad with less than ideal skills), not enough effective beta testing or some other reason. We've had too many issues lately and that has to be the result of some unknown (or perhaps known by some) deficiency in the system. Maybe I'm trying to simplify this too much and I should be glad that things usually work despite the complexity, but you have to admit that there has been a "trend" of late and it's not an encouraging one. There will always be issues, but lately it seems like there's one after the other in a steady progression.
There are great sounding BT headphones on the market where the sound quality will be indistinguishable from that of wired headphones (for all but the pickiest audiophile). I've got a pair of Plantronics BackBeat Pro's that are awesome (they use the AptX codec) and I can't tell the difference when I connect them wirelessly - so I use them exclusively without wires.
In my experience Bluetooth causes massive battery drains so I don't ever use it.
PS> Be safe and don't fiddle with your cell phone while driving!! Where I live far too many people on their phones and driving recklessly because of it. It's like getting on a race track where over half of the drivers are DRUNK. It's ridiculous and unfortunately somebody reading this will roll their eyes....and will probably do harm to their body/property or somebody else's body/property at some point in the future ALL B/C OF inappropriate cell phone usage.
BE SMARTER THAN YOUR PHONE PEOPLE!!
PS> Be safe and don't fiddle with your cell phone while driving!! Where I live far too many people on their phones and driving recklessly because of it. It's like getting on a race track where over half of the drivers are DRUNK. It's ridiculous and unfortunately somebody reading this will roll their eyes....and will probably do harm to their body/property or somebody else's body/property at some point in the future ALL B/C OF inappropriate cell phone usage.
BE SMARTER THAN YOUR PHONE PEOPLE!!
These bluetooth woes reminds me of the ones that occurred during the late iOS 7 or early iOS 8 days. Either way it was almost 2 years ago and I had a i5 at the time.
I noticed this using my Philips Bluetooth audio headset model SHB5500BK/27. I chalked it up to teething issues with a new model phone. The same headset worked fine with my iPhone 5S. I'm sure it will be resolved soon.
^THIS Drives me fricking NUTZ!!! I use a Plantronics Legend that knows when I have it on and when I place a call, it rings in the headset but when answered, switches to iPhone 6 earpiece.
Other times, like when listening to VM's through the PT Legend, there is a repetitive connect/disconnect tone, about 5-10 times, before the thing works. By then, the VM has played and I have to do it all over again.
It's not just me...a friend with same and different BT headsets has similar issues. Apple doesn't care, though. It's been since iOS 9 and it's still broken.
No. This is not just a minor or hard to come-by bug. BT is a key function of any smart phone in 2016 and one that should have have been well tested in a large group of common cars and accessories. Also Apple is no small company that can't afford to throughly test its products, and especially after the iPhone 4 you would think it would go over operability of major features with a fine tooth comb.
Having suffered Stockholm syndrome over the 2012 rmbp wifi issues, the BT works fine
You are correct it's really not good enough
We tried this, didn't work. The SE is recognized as only a media player, not as an iPhone.
I have a brand new iPhone which doesn't perform the way it should. Living in a rural area and driving long distances I need my phone to sync with my truck. Sure I could swap out the SIM card and use my 5s every time I drive my truck, but after a day of doing it, that got old fast.
I waited to purchase the SE and other than this issue, I really like the phone. It definitely out performs my 5s.