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Sign me up also... I took them into the store, and they denied me because I was passed the three-year mark since purchase. I have noticed it was fixed for a short time, then iOS 18 betas brought it back. Only happens during pairing/connecting when I place them in my ears now, not as constant as before though.
I can’t understand that three years went by before it was a problem.
 
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I've experienced this a few times, but I just wriggle it around in my ear a bit and it stops. It's never been a major issue in my case.
 
Still have my AirPods Pro 1st Gen. It's still working just fine. I don't have any issues with it at all. Just not going to buy another one. I have a Sony W4 headphones that I use a lot. Being born with a severe hearing impairment, the Sony headphone or anything similar is what I need anyway. Need something that loud and powerful. Also better battery life.
 
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I had my first gen pros replaced once. They eventually developed the issue again, but by that point the batteries were also dying. I bough the gen 2 pros and they have been great. So whatever the old issue was appears to be fixed.
 
They should be sued over the statements of “pure, incredibly clear” sound which is factually incorrect

How can lossy compressed sound be more pure than sound which has not been lossy compressed? It is very un-pure compared to the audio from the headphone jack they robbed us of

I’ll be seeing you in court, apple
You do realize that the only one who will benefit from this is the lawyers...right? If "you" win you'll get a $50 Apple gift card.
 
I have the same problem. Only the left one, and Apple want 99€ to replace that AirPod. I paid over 250€ for the AirPods Pro. Will never buy Apple AirPods or pros again. They’re less than three years old.
 
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As anecdotal as this may be... I have bought every new pair of AirPod's Pro that have come out and not once have I experienced this issue with any. Understanding that this issue is specific to the 1st generation, I had not experienced this once in the 3+ years I used them until the 2nd generation Pro's released. Again, this is just personal experience before some of you come after me for sharing.
 
Mine still do this after getting replaced with the program. I never use them anymore because the program ended, or at least ended for them. It's unbearable, you can't walk or move at all with them, and sometimes the white noise and crackling is so loud it hurts my ears and gives me temporary hearing loss. Used for a week then bought cheapo JBLs and never buying AirPods again after this. Absolute trash product and a complete write-off and what makes it worse is that €279 is a complete rip off, even if they work well.

Everyone apart from 1 person I know with Gen 1s has the same problem so it's not "a small amount of users". I also think they limited it to "certain AirPods Pro produced before whatever date" which is untrue because even those made later do it. Many just purchased the Gen 2 but I'm not rewarding a trash product with a repeat purchase.
 
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I hope the users win! I've had no success getting them repaired/replaced free of cost. Apple keeps saying it is not their problem. Was forced to buy a new pair as the repairs were not worth the price.
 
Good! Mine died after the extended warranty was up. I still have them in a box somewhere, though. Maybe I can exchange them.
 
I had a couple of pairs that I rotated sending back to Apple for the crackling. They eventually refused the replacements and started charging me. I hope Apple goes down hard on this one.
 
My autistic son uses these with noise cancelling and accessibility relaxing sounds but no actual music. They failed at 13 months old and Apple refused to replace them as supposedly not in the serial number range of affected ones. The most they would offer was a 10% discount on a new pair.
 
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My day one AirPod Pros were replaced under the program after two years. Now three years later I’m still using those replacements.

Funny thing, I swore I heard the crackling again a few weeks ago while walking.

Oh well, I’m pretty happy with five years of use. I might just get another year. Extension of the program would be great but otherwise I’ll upgrade to gen 2 when they die.
 
I had this happen to me.. I had no idea there was even a program. Sucks that they stick by the 3 year limit. I just live chatted and they are sticking to their guns. I would have had the conversation sooner if I knew about the program. Ill let my rep know ill be joining the class action lawsuit.
 
I too hope that they win. My 1st Gen AirPod Pros were purchased November 2021 so they didn't qualify for the replacement program but they have both developed crackling and feedback whining noises. I took them to the Apple Store and they confirmed that they were faulty, but that they didn't qualify. Replacing them would be ~$80 per ear bud.

I don't expect much, just a set or working AirPod Pros.
 
You do realize that the only one who will benefit from this is the lawyers...right? If "you" win you'll get a $50 Apple gift card.
I wouldn’t care if I never got a single cent out of them. Apple has disrespected audio and music for as long as they’ve been active in that sector of the business - something else they’ve been sued over, by the original Apple corporation.
It would please me greatly just to see this disrespect legally recognized and shamed
 
Wow! I've had similar issues with mine; didn't realize how widespread it was. I like Apple products, and these were great for the first year or so, but they are barely usable at this point. :(
 
Same thing for me. Ended up just buying AirPods 4. I'm holding on to my AirPods Pro just to see if anything happens with this case.
 
They should also sue for the appalling battery life on AirPods whilst they are at it. Truly the worst of all wireless earbuds i've tried.
 
My AirPods Pro (1st Gen) have the crackling ssue, more noticeable with ANC on. Just holding on for Gen 3.
 
I think I am on my 5th pair of AirPods Pro’s and I was only able to exchange them again, 4 years after purchasing, because i complained about them crackling again just within the 3 year window. I had no access to an official Apple Store for almost a year and had to live with the crackling for all that time. I now have a new pair that is fine so far but some started crackling again just after the 90 day window Of return. I got them replaced again and again with faulty headphones. I really hope mine stay fine now. And i hope they win with that lawsuit. This truly was an exhausting customer service experience with Apple.
 
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My first pair of Pro 2’s - developed a high pitched squeak on the left bud , had Apple Care and they replaced them but still had to pay £25 for the privilege !
 
it is pretty bad. I've had 3 replacements. 3rd replacement is now crackling and it's no longer part of the service program

I eventually bought the 2nd gen and it's been fixed so far.
Same here. My APP1 (2nd replacement) just started to crackle as well, ending up buying APP2. I'm happy with my APP2 so far, but would have just been as happy keeping the gen 1 as well. Won't mind getting a check if the plaintiff wins the case though...
 
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My AirPods Pro were affected by this issue and nobody told be about the repair / replacement program. By the time I found out about it, Apple allowed me to go through the entire customer service route, had me go to the Apple Store and wait for my appointment, only to tell me that I missed out on the program and it would cost $90 EACH to have them repaired. They also said, "You might as well just buy the new ones. Here, let me show them to you." I was FURIOUS. I ended up just throwing them away. They were unusable even with noise cancelation turned off. The whole experience felt like a slap to the face.
 
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