Apple Ends Service Programs for Sound Issues on Original AirPods Pro and iPhone 12 and 12 Pro

[vergil1202]

The crackling issue is a design flaw caused by dust or other contamination on the noise cancelling microphone meshes. Therefore, people with less earwax who use their AirPods in very sterile environments only are less prone to experience the issue.

Had mine replaced 3 times. Even the third pair developed the issue a year ago. Apple refused to replace them again so I used them without NC until the left earbuds membrane failed completely just recently.

 

[Lydecker]

Oh, so this is why my iPhone 12 Pro earpiece hasn’t been working in multiple years. Wish I knew this back when it first failed.🤷‍♂️

 

[Timpetus]

Crackling issue happened to me with mine, but got them replaced quickly and easily and they've worked fine since then. I upgraded to the APP2s but still have the originals as a backup in case I forget them - the older ones hang out in my backpack so I'll always have them with me when I go to work.

 

[alexanderwolf]

oh, thats disappointing. I took my first gen airpods pro in to an apple store to get them looked at maybe 4-5 months ago (with thr crackling issue on only one side). They said all i could do is pay something like $100+ to fix them or else buy new ones. It seems like they should have still been replacing them. It’s annoying since I barely only ever used them. In the past year or two I would when I’d be on a car ride once or maybe twice a month. It’s more dissapointing when the apple store employee could see the litany of apple devices I have registered to my account, including several products that are the newest you can purchase. That doesn’t seem to matter for much of anything anymore I guess.

 

[9Jooey]

I've been using this service for about a year and a half since I bought it. Both earbuds were replaced and worked perfectly until iOS 26 came along. Now that annoying high-pitched whine is back again.

 

[alexanderwolf]

I've been using this service for about a year and a half since I bought it. Both earbuds were replaced and worked perfectly until iOS 26 came along. Now that annoying high-pitched whine is back again.

That is such a bummer. I was surprised apple wanted to charge me pretty much as much to fix them a couple months ago as it would cost to simply buy new ones. If the product yield is constantly producing lemons, it could have been nice to simply receive a coupon to purchase a new pair. Alas! I love my Sonos Ace headphones for home use. Now I am going to have to do some research for a cheap but decent sounding AirPods alternative for when I’m in can rides. Granted, I’m fully aware that this would fall under the banner of “first world problems,” before anyone reminds me.