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Apple Quietly Extends AirPods Pro Repair Program That Addresses Crackling/Static
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I sent mine in and wasn’t thrilled with what I got back. My charging case looked brand new but the case I got back looked liked it had lived in someone’s pocket with a big set of keys. The AirPods looked clean at least, but Apple should really watch the quality control if they are going to return refurbished items.
Get them replaced again. I’ve had mine replaced twice, and the last time matches your timeframe.
Unfortunately I’ve also had one of them screwing up now for a couple months again so I’ll be up to three replacements for the right ear.
Had the same experience. Apple rep was like, you’ll have to pay. I was like how about that field campaign? Him: oooh never heard of that let me check. Me: listening to hold music totally unrelated to my Apple Music playlist. Him: we will send you a prepaid return box.
ps: it was exactly the same script when my watch 0 dislodged the display due to swelling battery. Apple: that’s never happened before. After some heavy complaining from me comparing this bad experience to the famous Sony Timer that breaks devices shortly after warranty expires, he made an “exception” to replace it a couple months out of order. Later I found out about the field campaign.
Apple has never explicitly said “we fixed the problem and everything sold after Oct 2020 will never have this problem again, so you’re out of luck“.
My second replaced pair was shipped to me after Oct 2020 but I had to get those replaced anyway after they screwed up the same way, and it was pretty easy to do so; I did it over chat.
If you have the crackling, you have the same problem as everyone; they’ll replace them. I’m guessing the Oct 2020 mention by them is more a PR move, hoping they had fixed it. But they haven’t. I need to get the right pod replaced a third time, in fact.
I think the problem is that one of the internal microphones sometimes gets loose. And this loose mic dangling around will cause the software to generate noice cancelling sound. This can be tested by disabling transparency and noice cancelling modes: for me that stopped the crackling.
Mic got loose once due to AirPod case getting very hot while being wirelessly charged overnight. My guess is that high temperature melted glue keeping the mic in place and I dropped one AirPod before glue had time to cool down.
My theory is it’s the snapping mechanism for the ear tips. To fix they would have to fix the mechanical design and change materials used like maybe a more wear resistant plastic. It’s best for them just to release a 2nd gen product and live with the issue on the first gen. I’ve had to replace both and starting to hear the issue again. I believe running accelerates the issue. They’re held in the ear by the tips so whenever your foot hits the ground the impact pulls on the pod and over time that snap gets stripped and dull to where it’s loose hence the clicking noise. But I may be wrong, could be something inside loose.
I’m on my 4th pair now. I really like them, but they break so quick! Somehow they seem unable to just fix issue 😐
Wrong. The issue is due to a loose mic which bumps about inside and freaks out the active noise cancellation or transparency functions.
Posting to ask the same thing as above. How do I work out when mine were manufactured and therefore need to be swapped?
Quiet the flawed product but Apple is still committed to the design without factory fixes.
By all means, feel some satisfaction (or relief) that Apple continue to offer support while other manufacturers might just ignore you, but Apple should have just addressed the flaw or ended production until they could either fix it or update it to a newer product.
Bose did the same thing with the QC30's - for years they just kept selling and replacing despite the neckband rubber always unbonding. For me, this reduces my trust in purchasing again or accepting a replacement if a company is prepared to keep giving me a product that has a known design flaw (and I really liked the QC30).
By all means, feel some satisfaction (or relief) that Apple continue to offer support while other manufacturers might just ignore you, but Apple should have just addressed the flaw or ended production until they could either fix it or update it to a newer product.
Bose did the same thing with the QC30's - for years they just kept selling and replacing despite the neckband rubber always unbonding. For me, this reduces my trust in purchasing again or accepting a replacement if a company is prepared to keep giving me a product that has a known design flaw (and I really liked the QC30).
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Previously I have had mine replaced via home delivery and each came in it's own, brown cardboard box. When you went into the store did they do the same or provide a completely new set, as if just newly purchased? Have booked in for at least one one of mine to be replaced, again.
So Apple keeps replacing faulty units with units that have the same defect/weakness that will lead to another replacement or two or three. So it’s probably best to wait for Gen 2 and hope they got it right this time. Some other companies would’ve recalled a product like that by now, but I guess Apple is really scared at the negative PR and stock impact a move like that would generate.