More Bluetooth madness: AirPods, input devices, and audio interference

[Brookzy]

What is it with macOS these last two or three years or so and screwing up the basics, like Bluetooth? Sierra 10.12.4 seemed to screw up Bluetooth for a lot of people, High Sierra 10.13 messed up media function keys (which is still barely fixed), and now 10.13.2 has screwed up my Bluetooth in spectacular fashion.

Setup: 2017 iMac with Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad 2, and some AirPods.

Action: Switch AirPods to the iMac from another device.

Expected outcome: Audio works normally.

Actual outcome: Audio skips and stutters, or doesn't work at all.

But here is the weird thing: turning off one other Bluetooth accessory will fix it! The audio will be stuttering, but if I turn off any one of the keyboard, mouse, or trackpad, audio immediately becomes perfect. Turn said device back on, and the stuttering returns.

What I've tried:

• Resetting the Bluetooth module
• Removing all paired devices (via the Bluetooth debug menu)
• Unpairing and re-pairing AirPods from iCloud-connected devices
• Replacing the Magic Trackpad 2 (I had a spare one)

Still happens.

Now, if I forfeit one of the devices, e.g. I have just the keyboard and trackpad, or just the keyboard and mouse - rather than all three - the issue goes away.

What could be causing this? Why can't I use three input peripherals? Can anyone else with the relevant devices perhaps try to reproduce the issue to see if it happens to them?

 

[vddobrev]

With my iMac 5K 2015 I have a similar peripherals, only no trackpad, and everything is working fine. But that is your observation too. Can you bring all 4 peripherals to an Apple store and try it one of the display iMacs?

 

[Brookzy]

I've had to resort to just giving up the mouse. Things work when there's just two input devices, rather than three.

I never thought the Mac would be neglected to the extent that I'd have to choose between a mouse or AirPods.