iPhone 13 Pro Hard to hear caller?

[Shifts]

Have had an increasing issue lately, where on some phone calls, it is almost impossible to hear the other caller if not using the speaker phone.

It is so bad that I wonder if my phone is simply broken. But it is not happening on every call. Maximising the volume makes no discernible difference.

Saw on Reddit that this seems to be an issue also for other users, but as Reddit is Reddit, I wanted to ask here for your experience.

How a widespread issue is this? Is it software or hardware malfunctioning?

Have had iPhone 3GS, 5, 8, 13 Pro, and can't remember if this has ever been an issue before my current model.

 

[Andeddu]

Try playing music or a video and listen through your ear piece speaker to see if the volume is loud enough. If it sounds fine then it’ll be a software issue rather than a hardware one.

 

[Shifts]

Hmm, didn't think about that to be honest. Good simple test. Also didn't reflect on the fact that when on speaker phone, both speakers are transmitting the sound. The ear piece speaker is definitely lower in volume compared to the other one (left one lower, right one normal).

There we have it, but it is still weird it is such a difference between calls, and not consistent.

Question if others struggle with this still stands!

 

[valinda]

I have a 13 pro. Not having that problem. Did you power phone completely off, and back on again. Sometimes that fixes problems.

 

[Shifts]

Yup, have done that. Not reinstalled everything, and rather buy a new phone than resetting.

My guess is that it is hardware, even if it is intermittent.