Apple Customers Sue Over Unfixed AirPods Pro Crackling Issue

[mikebenton]

I have the same issue. My only option was to make an appointment for the Apple Store about an hour away. I'm not going to spend 2 hours driving and who knows how long sitting in the store. I told them it was easier to just return them. AirPods are a great concept, but I've always had issues with them. Connecting/Disconnecting, falling out of my ears, and right away with my new AirPod Pro 2's....crackling. Never had any issues with my Beats Powerbeats Pro though. 🤷

 

[vantelimus]

“The complaint says that customers would not have purchased the AirPods Pro or would have paid less had Apple made the flaw clear.”

If you accept the crackling if you’ll get a discount, you aren’t a serious complainant. You are just some joker looking for a settlement.

Apple has a pretty good return policy. If you buy a product and it doesn’t work as advertised, return it for a full refund. Buy another if you think it is just a unit-level defect. If the second unit has problems, return it for a full refund and wait for version 2 or buy something from a different vendor.

Try not to get sucked into repair programs. When my AVP developed the audio problem, I returned it for a full refund and bought a new one. The alternative was to wait a week to get back a possibly defective unit jury rigged to work until the end of warranty.

 

[JCCL]

my 1's sucked with this and they told me there was nothing there could do for me so now I sold them and got the 2's

That showed them..... (and just teasing, I did the same thing)

 

[thegambit]

I had this issue, took them back outside of the warranty window and they gave me a new pair. Two months later, the new pair started doing it.

 

[JCCL]

“The complaint says that customers would not have purchased the AirPods Pro or would have paid less had Apple made the flaw clear.”

If you accept the crackling if you’ll get a discount, you aren’t a serious complainant. You are just some joker looking for a settlement.

Apple has a pretty good return policy. If you buy a product and it doesn’t work as advertised, return it for a full refund. Buy another if you think it is just a unit-level defect. If the second unit has problems, return it for a full refund and wait for version 2 or buy something from a different vendor.

Try not to get sucked into repair programs. When my AVP developed the audio problem, I returned it for a full refund and bought a new one. The alternative was to wait a week to get back a possibly defective unit jury rigged to work until the end of warranty.

They worked fine for weeks and month, the issue wasn't immediately apparent. Typically, when this happened, users were beyond the return period.

 

[Mr. Incandenza]

My replacements eventually did this again and I was basically forced to upgrade to the Pro 2's. I've been loving them (volume on the stem, better quality all around) but I'm mad my old ones basically got turned into e-waste.

A tip for anybody suffering from this issue, turning all the noise cancelling/transparency modes off makes them usable without driving you insane. But you're turning off some of the main reasons you bought the headphones in the first place.

 

[Steve jobs iphone]

Sign me up because my replacement gen 1 left ear bud started cracking a couple weeks ago.

 

[soopah256]

I had to exchange both earbuds at different times. Then the replacements started having the same issue, but since it was out of the program period, I was only offered a $79 replacement.

I've been thinking of getting the AirPods Pro 2 for over a year now, but haven't pulled the trigger. Hopefully this lawsuit will pan out.

 

[dannyyankou]

They replaced mine 3 times for free with this issue, and these people bringing the lawsuit could’ve done the same. You get a fresh new pair of AirPods with a new battery, and the second you hear a crackle, bring it in.

 

[waffffffle]

I have this issue. I bought the original AirPods Pro when they came out in 2019. Experienced crackling in the right ear in 2020 and they replaced it under warranty. Experienced crackling in the left year in 2023 and they refused claiming they were too old to cover. I would like Apple to be forced to replace all of the defective ones.

 

[victorvictoria]

Funny, I've had the AirPods Pro 1st gen for five years now, and never had this problem. However, the noise cancelling feature is useless. Wish they'd fix that. I have a pair of Sony wh1000xm4 and that's how it SHOULD work.

 

[jz0309]

I got mine in June 2021 and have never experienced this, I guess I’m lucky?

 

[jeffbbs]

One of mine had the similar issue. I was able to replace it during the warranty period. But it broke again after the warranty expired. I ended up throwing the pair away.

 

[WilliApple]

Had my Pro's replaced once before my AppleCare+ ended, and I can kinda hear crackling...
I want to wait for the Pro's 3 before I upgrade.

 

[heyjoe23]

I had my Airpods Pro 1 start this earlier this year. I chatted with online Apple Support and they said to go into the Apple Store an hour away which I did. The Apple Genius said they could not replace it. They suggested that I buy the new version and use the old version when I mow my lawn etc. Ridiculous!

 

[Frosties]

I haven't had that problem with 1st Pros but my 2nd gen Pros are unusable outside while biking or running. The microphones let through so much wind noise that I barely hear any music below 70% of volume.
Apple refused to replace them because allegedly everything is fine with them.
Now I'm back to my old EarPods whenever I'm running or biking.

Try changing noise canceling mode, could be that.

 

[coolfactor]

Just reband them as AirCrackle Pros, and say they are working correctly. Come on Apple.

 

[Dr.Lee]

Courage.

 

[sw1tcher]

I have gen 1 pros and haven't had any problems

I've never had an issue with mine. 1 or 2.

Funny, I've had the AirPods Pro 1st gen for five years now, and never had this problem.

I got mine in June 2021 and have never experienced this, I guess I’m lucky?

Well, in that case....

"We are aware that a small number of users were having issues with their third-generation butterfly keyboard 1st gen AirPods Pro and for that we are sorry. The vast majority of Mac notebook AirPods Pro customers are having a positive experience with the new keyboard earbuds."

 

[derdante]

I sent mine in the last week of warranty and they only replaced one for some reason. They did something to the other to temporarily get rid of the problem but it returned a couple of weeks thereafter. Got the Airpods Pro 2 but it stinks that I can essentially just throw the old ones in the trash even though they are fully functional outside of the crackling issue.

 

[Richu]

A trio of Apple customers this month filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, accusing the Cupertino company of violating California consumer protection laws and false advertising for continuing to sell AirPods Pro models that had ongoing issues with crackling or static sounds.

A few months after the AirPods Pro came out in October 2019, buyers began to complain about crackling, rattling, popping, and static-like noises affecting the AirPods Pro. The sound seemed to show up when something caused an earbud to move or vibrate, such as walking or running.

Apple tried to fix the problem with software updates, but the company ultimately launched an AirPods Pro repair program in October 2020. Customers with affected AirPods Pro were able to bring them to Apple for a fix or a replacement, but unfortunately, many customers found that their replacement AirPods Pro also suffered from the same issue.

As a result, Apple is now facing a class action lawsuit, with the plaintiffs requesting "relief" due to the defective nature of the AirPods Pro. The complaint says that customers would not have purchased the AirPods Pro or would have paid less had Apple made the flaw clear.

Apple is also being accused of false advertising for highlighting features like "superior sound quality" and "pure, incredibly clear sound" when knowing there was an issue with crackling and static.

The court will need to decide if the arguments made here hold up, and whether the case deserves class action certification.

Article Link: Apple Customers Sue Over Unfixed AirPods Pro Crackling Issue

I like apple products but this was the worst one by far for me. Crackling noise and broken sound early on. Felt like they were good for one month. Not exactly worth the premium, expected higher quality.

 

[Shifts]

Count me in. Mine crackle and pop. Apple replaced them for free. The replacements started crackling within a few months. They refused to replace them again.

I have exactly the same experience.

 

[minik]

I had my AirPods Pro (original) failed before and it's covered under Quality Program (E1), so no charge to me. As soon as they announced the 2nd generation, I went to BestBuy and traded-in the dodgy pair. Since then I have three 2nd gen AirPods Pro and none of them failed so far.

I can understand this filing. Not to mention, Apple updated the firmware and most of the time without any actual documentation. Sometimes the ANC weren't as good with the new firmware.

 

[Chazak]

"Would have paid less" if they had known! Lawyer speak for "I know this (the lawsuit, not the defect) is basically a scam, but let’s make a play for Apple's money." No one would them if they knew they were defective. Apple admitted the problem was real and took steps to fix them. We all pay for lawyers' greed and the consumer elect version of ambulance chasing.

 

[TechieTaco]

I feel so validated! I’ve been dealing with this for almost 2 years with both my original Pro’s and the replacement. I almost bought the new Pro 2’s because they were on sale, but my fear was they would end up doing the same thing.