So after 2 hrs of haggling with apple, they finally replaced my 256GB SG X. First phone serial started with C new phone serial starts with D.
I went up to the apple store yesterday (because my 7+ was not responding to touch and would not respond to voice (no input sound) when in a phone call).
They told me I had to schedule another appointment for my X (tmrw) which is today.
So I went back up to the store today.
After putting the phone on a diagnostics stand,and running all the tests ( in the book) it passed and was told it was considered normal to have the crackling speakers (ear piece).
I also told them that the phone was having FaceIDand battery life issues. It took multiple times (failures) for faceID to unlock the phone.
Battery life would only last, 5-6 hours (100-18%)(Look at my other thread for that info)
The person told me the standard apple protocol (that they tell everyone else, i've seen come and go from the genius bar.)
that it was a SOFTWARE problem and to go backhome and restore the phone to factory settings and "it will be fine".
Problem is I already, clean restored the phone multiple times and have had these 3 problemssince I got it on day one.
After being told multiple times "that they can not replicate these issues" and "they will not replace the phone." and it these issues was "unheard of".
After 1 hr and 1/2 or so of more haggling, the person helping me finally brought a L2 Genius.
I over heard him saying, that its known and its a "developing problem" and being "investigated" internally by Apple.
She then found internal articles of the "ongoing investigation" about the crackling speaker.
New replacement with serial that starts with D, has the same crackling speaker issue but FaceID works great on this phone.
I will report back, into see if my battery issues are fixed with the replacement.
So we will see if apple releases an iOS update to "FIX" this problem.
I honestly think its a hardware problem every phone ive tested at the store had the same crackling speaker. (all phones on display, serial number started with C.)