First generation AirPods. iPhone 11 Pro Max. No connection issues with iPhone X or Apple TV, other devices.
Upon connecting to iPhone 11 Pro Max, get the "Signs" movie sounds, crackling-like sounds in both AirPods. After about 2 minutes of talking with them connected it slowly self-corrects. How bizarre is that?! However, it comes back. Almost seems like interference from another signal in the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Just really weird.
NOTE: Playback of music or videos or Podcasts? NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER. Just phone calls... Seems something may be wrong with shielding inside the iPhone itself - again - and interference issue with the RF chipset perhaps?...
You got it. This is exactly what I have happen. 11 Pro.
I have spent 6+ hours at the Apple store over the last two weeks. I worked with the store manager and another tech - they all verified they heard the sounds.
They connected a set of Powerbeats Pro headphones to my 11 Pro. Those did it, too. First gen AirPods - known good - also did it. Second gen - multiple sets - same issue. They went in the back and pulled out a brand new 11 Pro - connected all the same devices - all crackled - so it’s the phone and/or firmware. We connected a Bluetooth speaker with mic - no issues. It does not crackle over Bluetooth in my car, either. We determined it is anything with a W1 or H1 chip. They swapped my SIM into another iPhone (an 8 I think) and the same AirPods and Powerbeats Pro did not crackle on that phone.
The case has been escalated multiple times. The last trip out, the manager told me they have had other reports of similar issues with CarPlay and AirPods.
I was transferred to a senior advisor via Apple phone support and they ran a sysdiagnose and are analyzing logs with the engineers.
On top of these issues, my phone drops calls constantly. It breaks up, drops calls, calls also go silent periodically and I can’t hear and they can’t hear me (but no drop). My X had maybe 2-3 dropped calls in 2 years.
This phone is an absolute dumpster fire. I can’t make phone calls but hey, I have a sweet new digital camera, so at least I have that going for me.