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AirPods Pro: Rattlegate

Does having the 4th and 5th letters in the charging case serial read "DF" and the last four read LKKT mean they were manufactured in September 2020 aka pre-October 2020?
 
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mistergadgett said:
I am having a similar experience. I have the original AirPods Pro from when they first came out. I bought Applecare+ for them. I had the sound issue with the right one last year. I chatted with Apple online at that time and they put a hold on my credit card and shipped me a replacement right AirPods Pro. The replacement right AirPods Pro has been working great since and I promptly sent back the bad one and the credit card hold was released. I was not without the use of my AirPods at all.

Fast forward to this week. Monday I chatted in with Apple Support because the same sound issue has been happening with my LEFT AirPods Pro now. I gave them my Applecare+ Agreement number. Said I have the Crackling/Static sound in Transparency or Noise Cancelling mode when I'm walking around and talking on a phone call.

This time they mailed me an empty box to send back both AirPods Pro inside of the battery base (sans the ear tips). They had to be shipped to Pennsylvania to the repair center to "confirm the sound issue". A short while ago I got an email saying the Apple Technician "couldn't duplicate issue" and the "Original product shipped" back to me.

So, I bought Applecare+, my LEFT AirPods Pro definitely has the known sounds issue, I had to ship off my APPs to be without them for a few days, and the bad one didn't get replaced or repaired but it does have the problem!! 😡

So frustrating! Apparently my Applecare+ Agreement means nothing in this situation?

I'm guessing my next step will be to wait until I am traveling near a large city with an Apple Store and see if I can have them check it out and hopefully give me a replacement at a store?? 🤷‍♂️
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Has anyone ever had this happen? Apple Service "returned" my mail-in repair for the sound issue after claiming there was no issue (the left one definitely had a problem). However, when I opened the FedEx box Friday, 21MAY, I found my engraved battery case and NO AirPods Pro inside it!!! My jaw hit the floor when my battery case was EMPTY! Apple Repair did not return my AirPods Pro to me!!

After 2 hours on the phone with Apple Support and multiple support personnel, the Apple Support Senior Adviser was finally authorized to setup a "DIY service" to send me replacement left and right ear buds. He submitted the replacement "repair" order 21 MAY but it has been stuck at "Part Shipment Pending" since 21 MAY. So, I have been without my AirPods Pro for 7 days and counting at this point. Really unhappy since I paid extra for Applecare+.

I contacted Apple Support today 25MAY to ask if there was any issue with processing the replacement AirPods Pro buds because Apple Store Online is showing the ability to deliver new ones in just 2 days. Apple Support contacted dispatch and said :"After checking with our dispatch team, the repair is on hold while we verify the your information. This usually happens when we need to validate shipping info or as part of a protective measure by the customer's credit card company for online orders (it can cause a slight delay in card authorization). "

There is no credit card involved as it is a no-charge replacement. I can't imagine it takes 4+ days to verify my address which they just sent my empty battery case to last week?

I feel like I'm not getting the full story here or getting the runaround. Either way, it's getting super frustrating and I'm starting to wonder why I even paid extra for Applecare+ with this kind of service. I will likely be very hesitant to do mail-in repair services again. I should have just driven the 7 hour round trip to a real Apple Store to have them checked out. Last year I needed my right ear bud replaced and they just did a hold on my credit card and sent me a new right ear bud and a box for me to return the bad one to them. That worked out great as I was not without the use of my AirPods Pro at all but this time the experience is totally the opposite!

What would you guys do at this point? The Apple Support Senior Advisor is suppose to call me back on 27MAY to make sure everything is good and was confident I would get the replacement ear buds in 1-3-days from 21MAY.
 
My set had crackling and intermittent loss of sound, and poor ANC. Had them since November 2019.

I took mine in to an Apple Store and they replaced both pods under Australian Consumer Law – They made no mention of the AirPods Pro replacement program at all. Took about 30 mins in total from the moment I walked in.

The genius plugged the AirPods Pro case to a MacBook via a special cable and did some tests in front of me. Then he took the AirPods out the back and tested the ANC. Came back with two boxes of replacement pods with tips.
 
I’ve had great service from Apple.
Phoned on bank holiday Monday as mine are over a year old.
Return box arrived on Wednesday, I had text on Thursday, arrived, being repaired, being dispatched.
They were delivered back to me Friday lunch, this is for a UK repair.
 
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I had great service from an Authorized Apple Service Provider. Took mine and my girlfriends Airpods pro because of the Rattlegate issue. The guy checked them and confirmed, and 30 minutes I walked out with 2 new sets of Airpods (and their respective tips).

No questions asked, the guy did confirm that Apple sent them vast inventory due to the replacement program. Hope it is completely fixed in this new models!
 
Apologies if this has been covered but have Apple actually fixed the overall issue or are they just constantly replacing / repairing as faults arise?

What makes me ask is I got mine in May 2020. Left went in January this year, right went in April - both were replaced. Now the replacement left has gone. My concern is that if there's no actual permanent fix the warranty will run out and I'll be left with expensive AirPods that are useless.
 
chiefdave said:
Apologies if this has been covered but have Apple actually fixed the overall issue or are they just constantly replacing / repairing as faults arise?

What makes me ask is I got mine in May 2020. Left went in January this year, right went in April - both were replaced. Now the replacement left has gone. My concern is that if there's no actual permanent fix the warranty will run out and I'll be left with expensive AirPods that are useless.
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In my experience the issues always return. So I think they're just swapping them.
 
I had no idea that the rattling was a defect. My ANC test no longer works. I'm in the US. Can I take it in to the Apple store or do I have to contact support via chat?
 
Elektrofone said:
In my experience the issues always return. So I think they're just swapping them.
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Weird that the Apple service program pages says it only affects AirPods manufactured before October 2020. I guess they're just refurbing them and sending them back out.

Worrying thing is that it says they'll only provide a service 'for 2 years after the first retail sale of the unit' so if they aren't actually fixing the issue after two years you've got a pair of very expensive AirPods that are useless.
 
Where I live there’s a state consumer protection law stating that if something is a “lemon,” which I would consider this to be if they never fix it and just try to run out the warranty, then I’m entitled to a replacement free of charge or a full refund within three years of purchase. I’ve never had to invoke it but might if this situation calls for it next year.
 
Update: Booked a Genius appointment instead and the tech ran a diagnostic and audio test. Ended up replacing both AirPods (previously R side had been replaced) and best of all at no cost even though it was out of warranty!

Thanks Apple!!!

I've open 3 support cases now with Apple US to mail in and return my AirPods Pro for service but never get the mail in parcel to return them and learnt after the 2nd support case that after 30 days the repair request is automatically closed.

What's the best way to escalate to Apple Support as I'm waiting on them to send out the mailer.
 
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Just to reassure everyone on this thread, so many people are having problems with AirPods Pro it is unbelievable.

It is the single worst Apple product I have ever bought, and I regret getting locked into the endless cycle of replacements...I will test the next "Pro" AirPods they release before the 14 day full refund limit!!

See more here:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/airpods-pro-microphone-scandal-edit-proof.2282717/

And 6,000 other people on Apple Support forums complaining here:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250813242?page=31

Hopefully we will never again have to be stuck in the cycle of infinitely returning the product/ infinite looping!!

Now at least we all know what to listen/look out for when we next purchase Apple headphones – before the 14 day full refund window expires.
 
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I'm looking into getting some AirPods Pro, but from John Lewis

IF I had this issue, would it be better taking the issue up with John Lewis or with Apple direct? Would just rather know before I buy where would be the best place to go as there's a high chance I get this problem
 
Nocturnal1 said:
I had no idea that the rattling was a defect. My ANC test no longer works. I'm in the US. Can I take it in to the Apple store or do I have to contact support via chat?
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I just made an appointment and went in and they tested and replaced both and got new tips.... 3 days ago and had mine since Nov 1 2019. I told them they sound like pure garbage. These replacements sound like night and day from my old ones. Everything is working better
 
Back from the Apple Store, both buds replaced for free after they confirmed the issue by some sort of diagnostic, which took an hour. Not bad seeing as these are 18 months old.
 
I have had my AirPods Pros for almost a year now, very lightly use them because I'm trying to prolong battery and use AirPods regular for more casual use.

Should this problem have reared its head by now? Or does it require lots of usage? is there a good song to test if it has rattle gate or is it THAT obvious?
 
Got my first replacement pair a month ago and they have been working perfectly since.

Where I live (EU) consumer laws dictate that retailers/manufacturers are only allowed to fix a product three times in total within the first two years of purchase. After that, you're entitled to chose either a completely new product with a new warranty or a full refund.

The odd thing here though, is that since the earpieces were just replaced while the charging case was not, I now have a separate warranty for the case and a separate warranty for the earpieces. So, technically, the earpieces I own now have never been fixed as they are completely new. Or, at least, that's how I understand it as I know for a fact that a retailer/manufacturer can't replace without providing a new warranty.

I have no idea what kind of laws apply if the product is just faulty by design and really can't get fixed, if there's a way out of the endless replacement cycle that a lot of other APP owners seem to be stuck in?

But seeing how poorly Bluetooth is handled on M1 minis and M1 iMacs, and what so many report about their APPs in here, I definitely feel that Apple products aren't quite as flawless in terms of quality as I used to think. And I'm almost 100% sure that my APPs will rattle again eventually.
 
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thadoggfather said:
I have had my AirPods Pros for almost a year now, very lightly use them because I'm trying to prolong battery and use AirPods regular for more casual use.

Should this problem have reared its head by now? Or does it require lots of usage? is there a good song to test if it has rattle gate or is it THAT obvious?
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I used mine for 2-6 hours about every other day or so for about a month before it kicked in.

If your set was produced on a date after October 2020(or September 2020, I don't remember) then they might not have the flaw.

However, some users on here claim that all of them, both pre and post October 2020 will develop the rattle sooner or later.

Maybe it's cheaper for Apple to just do replacements for the ones who send them in than actually making replacements that don't rattle? It almost seems like that's the case.
 
Definitely seems like they’re just replacing them as much as necessary for two years and hoping folks eventually break them themselves or buy the new version next year
 
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Went to the apple store for my 4TH pair to swap out. Was told apple totally fixed this problem. Went on my run this morning and they are popping worse than my last pair. I really hate this product.
 
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My Story:
Changed mine out at the beginning of the year after a year of ownership. Went through the long troubleshooting process with Apple via iMessage. Replaced one with a $95 hold on my Apple Card. Then the other one was starting to get a clicking noise a few weeks later. I actually bought replacement ear tips but they didn't work.
6 months later I'm starting to hear them at the beginning stages of rattling.

Verdict:
I believe the issue could be snapping mechanism which holds the ear tips or the way that the snapping ring part (black part) held into the casing. I run with these so every time my foot hits the ground, the impact wears the mechanism as these things are held firmly in my ears unlike the cheaper Air Pods, ran with those for two years. Over time it wears more and more and hence the clicking or rattling.

So yea, I believe the Air Pods Pro have a long term mechanical flaw and accelerates if you exercise or move around which many use them for. I think the only way it can be fixed is with a redesigned Air Pods Pro 2.
 
Pman17 said:
I believe the issue could be snapping mechanism which holds the ear tips or the way that the snapping ring part (black part) held into the casing. I run with these so every time my foot hits the ground, the impact wears the mechanism as these things are held firmly in my ears unlike the cheaper Air Pods, ran with those for two years. Over time it wears more and more and hence the clicking or rattling.

So yea, I believe the Air Pods Pro have a long term mechanical flaw and accelerates if you exercise or move around which many use them for. I think the only way it can be fixed is with a redesigned Air Pods Pro 2.
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Interesting theory, and I think you're on to something. However, I've had replacements develop the rattle within a week of very careful use (and not while I'm running). So, if it is a mechanical flaw, it can show up quite quickly.

I'm currently on my fifth or sixth pair. I've honestly lost count. They have the recessed grills, and they started to rattle some time ago. I didn't even bother trying to get them replaced. I simply gave up.
 
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