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Many iPhone SE Users Experiencing Bluetooth Phone Call Audio Issues [Fixed]
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This issue is not isolated to the SE model. I've been havingthis issue with my iPhone 6 since the last iOS update. This seems to be a software issue.
Same here, As of 9.3 my iphone 6S Bluetooth has all but stopped working for GPS voice navigation. Still works fine for streaming music.
One has to wonder how many changes are made in the afflicted subsystem, since it is possible but less likely that not touching BT's code but altering code of functions that interface with BT would cause such issues.
My incoming audio with Bluetooth on my SE really sucks. The outgoing audio, however, sounds "perfect" according to everyone who has answered my calls. And like most others, I had no audio problems with my iPhone 4.
I just got off the phone with an Apple tech and she was aware of the problem. She suggested a soft reset that actually worked. What you do is hold the home button down and the power button down until you see the little Apple logo. Release the buttons immediately, do not keep holding down buttons. That was it.
Never mind, it didn't work. When Apple tech called back i thought the audio worked better but in the real world on a live call it still sucked.
I just got off the phone with an Apple tech and she was aware of the problem. She suggested a soft reset that actually worked. What you do is hold the home button down and the power button down until you see the little Apple logo. Release the buttons immediately, do not keep holding down buttons. That was it.
Never mind, it didn't work. When Apple tech called back i thought the audio worked better but in the real world on a live call it still sucked.
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Me too. The Parrot bluetooth link into my car's optical fibre (MOST) audio system worked just fine with my previous UK account iPhone 5 and with the iPhone 5S I still have on my French account but the incoming sound quality is horrible on the SE. It sounds like a British Rail announcement from 30 years ago - "horkle horkle the train leaving from platform horkle at squawk squwak o'clock" etc etc or like the person calling you is talking through 20 metres of steel drainpipe. I hope Apple sort this soon.
Horkle, Horkle, love it! Got a good laugh this morning!!
well apple uk don't seem to admit there is a problem , been on to support for 30 mins and the result was 'contact the car manufacturer its a problem with their stereo' thanks 'senior advisor Veronica' would not admit fault... ! would you like to do a restore to see if it fixes the issue' thanks apple fricking helpful..
I just got off the phone with an Apple tech and she was aware of the problem. She suggested a soft reset that actually worked. What you do is hold the home button down and the power button down until you see the little Apple logo. Release the buttons immediately, do not keep holding down buttons. That was it.
Never mind, it didn't work. When Apple tech called back i thought the audio worked better but in the real world on a live call it still sucked.
Never mind, it didn't work. When Apple tech called back i thought the audio worked better but in the real world on a live call it still sucked.
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I tried the "soft reset" that Craig5355 suggested. It did not solve the Bluetooth audio problem on my Philips headset, but I've had no problems with the audio in my Nissan LEAF.
Interesting. I just tried mine today in my Nissan Leaf and I am getting distorted calls with it, whereas music is fine
You may have missed previous context for the joke that 'holding it wrong' came from.
It's not just SE. I have an Iphone 6S Plus and Beats headphones from Apple that cost about $200. Initially the headphones worked perfectly on phone calls. I was able to chat with my parents while doing chores. A few months later, same IPhone, same headphones, same connection to my parents and it was absolute crap just as described in the article. I had to hang up and fiddle with the Bluetooth connection and still could not get it to work when I called them back.
I haven't tried the headphones on a call since, because my parents don't have the patience to deal with me experimenting with my headphones on their time.
The headphones still work fine for music. My iPhone usually pairs fine with the Bluetooth speakers we have around the house. I don't have anything in my very old car to try testing the Bluetooth on.
[doublepost=1461709150][/doublepost]At the Apple Genius bar today and they offered to swap for a new one, but the new one had the same problem. Then the tech tried his own 6s- same problem- and then took it to the experts in back and returned with the report that all models they connect to blue tooth devices are having the same issue now. Hope they find a fix before my return period is up.
Having the same problem with iPhone 5 and genius bar said today that they are now noticing this problem with all models.
Specifically, dozens of users in the Apple Support Communities and MacRumors discussion forums claim to be experiencing distorted, staticky, or inaudible phone calls when using an iPhone SE over Bluetooth. Many of those affected noted that their previous iPhone model had "crystal clear" audio quality.
MacRumors reader HickDead recently posted a forum topic to share his experience:Based on crowdsourced information, the issue appears to affect all iPhone SE models running iOS 9.3 or 9.3.1, regardless of carrier or model, in the U.S., Australia, Canada, Germany, Sweden, U.K., and possibly elsewhere. The first iOS 9.3.2 beta does not appear to resolve the problem.
The issue does not appear to be isolated to any particular carmaker, as customers have reported identical issues with vehicles sold by Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and many other makes and models.
It remains unknown if the problem is rooted in software or hardware, but a number of affected customers have attempted basic troubleshooting without success, including restoring the iPhone SE, resetting network settings, un-pairing and re-pairing Bluetooth, toggling cellular data, and changing SIM cards.
Some users that contacted Apple support by phone claim to have been escalated to higher-level iOS advisors that asked for log files. At least a few customers received confirmation that Apple engineers are aware of the Bluetooth issues internally and are working on a fix, but the timeline remains unclear.
Apple Support Communities user Ross_H_D posted this message on April 9:This type of problem is not unprecedented. In early October 2014, some users experienced trouble pairing their devices to their car audio systems over Bluetooth after upgrading to iOS 8 or purchasing a new iPhone 6 or 6 Plus. The problems appeared to be fixed when Apple released iOS 8.1 later that month.
(Thanks, Jon!)
Article Link: Many iPhone SE Users Experiencing Bluetooth Phone Call Audio Issues
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I've been using fresh restored iPhone 5s and iPhone SE (both running iOS 9.3.1) to update two freshly restored Apple Watches from Watch OS 2.0.1 to Watch OS 2.2 via the watch app on iPhone.
The iPhone 5s took 2hr 5mins
The iPhone SE took 2hr 34mins
This tested transferring 700MB of data over to each watch via bluetooth and then has to wait for the watch to install that update.
Seems to be something fundamentally wrong with bluetooth on the iPhone SE. Hopefully software fixable or Apple have one hell of a recall on their hands.
The iPhone 5s took 2hr 5mins
The iPhone SE took 2hr 34mins
This tested transferring 700MB of data over to each watch via bluetooth and then has to wait for the watch to install that update.
Seems to be something fundamentally wrong with bluetooth on the iPhone SE. Hopefully software fixable or Apple have one hell of a recall on their hands.
I too had a number of sessions with two levels of Apple Tech. Tried everything they suggested other than a total reinstall as a new phone, as past experience says that has only one result - wasting my time. The other thing they wanted was to get the firmware updated on my Parrot bluetooth link, even though I told them that Parrot had assured me that there was no update which affected connection with the iPhone SE phone but only Android phones. The car has to go to a Parrot dealer for any update to be installed, which is a three hour round trip to my nearest one. Why are Apple so reluctant to admit they know they have a problem, when you talk to them. Only on my third phone call, did they admit they had had other reports of this issue, even though I told them of this thread.
As I am in France for the next few months and the phone I want to connect to the car is my older 5S, I will just keep my fingers crossed that this gets sorted in an OS update.
As I am in France for the next few months and the phone I want to connect to the car is my older 5S, I will just keep my fingers crossed that this gets sorted in an OS update.
I'm quite shocked that Apple haven't yet hired most of you, since you seem to know what Apple need to be doing in almost every single facet of their business, and seem to have the answer to all problems, 365 days a year. With such insight, each of you would surely already have been snapped up by another company, being put to work so hard that you'd not have had time to spend more than ten mins on a forum before dropping off to sleep with exhaustion.
Your multiple visionary skills are extremely valuable, so what are you doing loitering on forums, handing out your valuable advice free of charge?
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I don't know how you do it, being so cheery and uplifting, but thank you - you're a real inspiration and a fresh breath of oxygen.
Unlike your snarky reply (Smiling emoji notwithstanding.)
Why do you find it necessary to reject or sarcastically refute what are reasonable criticisms and logical consequence (fire management that doesn't bring home a solution to a long standing problem)?
In our family, we have been seeing frustratingly intermittent BT problems on our several iPhone 6 devices, with connectivity issues to Apple watches, MFi hearing aids, BT headsets, car audio systems.
None of these performance lapses reflect the apple robustness we have grown to love and expect.
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iPhone SE is the same in thickness as iPhone 5S, yet I NEVER ha issues with bluetooth connectivity with 5S.
I picked my SE yesterday and already replaced it with another brand new unit - bluetooth is unusable. Not just for phone calls but for music streaming as well. The music is constantly interrupted and distorted, ESPECIALLY when I press the home button to look at the screen.
Awful.
I am replacing it with a new unit again. If not helpful, I am done with SE...
Unfortunately.
It's a software issue. Replacing hardware to fix a software issue is redundant. Return device and wait till apple issue the 9.3.2 update officially or install public beta - it takes 5 mins, doesn't void your warranty and is quicker than returning & swapping out the device !!!
Yeah, I worded that unusually poor. The SE has low power bluetooth because it is the current standard. Low power BlueTooth exists to give more powerful thinner phones (not the SE) longer battery life. The SE probably does not need to use low power bluetooth, but it does because all of Apple current devices do, work or not.
That's my experience too. I've got an iPhone 6, and I've had Bluetooth phone audio drop a few times, and the phone audio sounds tinny, as does Siri. Music audio is great.