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Several iPhone X Owners Experiencing 'Crackling' or 'Buzzing' Sounds From Earpiece Speaker

StevenPL said:
So I got a replacement. The speaker is noticeably better. Pretty much flawless. Here’s the kicker. The new phone displays a blue push or hue when tilted off axis (refer to apples statements regarding OLED TECH). The old phone with the speaker crackle displayed a magenta hue when off axis. Odd. The one with the blue hue when tilted off axis it a tiny bit warmer in color as well.

In addition, I compared the two ear piece speaker grates and noticed the one with all the distortion was smaller than the one without! The one with distortion is noticeably not as wide or thick as the one on the phone without distortion. My question here is...I thought apple stated Samsung is making all the displays. Shouldn’t they be the same? Why differences is hue/color push? Why difference is size of speaker grate? This may be causing not all sound to exit the speaker, thus diverting it back into the phone and causing bad audio.
Click to expand...


So the issue is with hardware, the speaker grill is too small and it pushes the air back causing the distortion at higher volumes. And when you say the speaker grill was smaller on the one with the distortion do you mean just the holes or the entire speaker grates assembly?
 
Can anyone else that got an exchange can confirm this? Because it's pretty hard to believe that Apple changed the hardware after production already started...
 
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My iPhone X green line gone worst. Anyone experienced this?
 

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Here's another thing that makes me think it's not hardware but software. I had to return iPhone X because of this issue and went back to my iPhone 6. After restoring my iPhone 6 using my X iCloud backup I'm noticing the exact same issue with my iPhone 6 speaker now. I don't recall this happening before to my iPhone 6 so it's either a bad setting that was passed upon restoring from my X backup, or my iPhone 6 always had this issue and I never noticed before. Which is very unlikely as I've had that phone since launch date.

StevenPL said:
So I got a replacement. The speaker is noticeably better. Pretty much flawless. Here’s the kicker. The new phone displays a blue push or hue when tilted off axis (refer to apples statements regarding OLED TECH). The old phone with the speaker crackle displayed a magenta hue when off axis. Odd. The one with the blue hue when tilted off axis it a tiny bit warmer in color as well.

In addition, I compared the two ear piece speaker grates and noticed the one with all the distortion was smaller than the one without! The one with distortion is noticeably not as wide or thick as the one on the phone without distortion. My question here is...I thought apple stated Samsung is making all the displays. Shouldn’t they be the same? Why differences is hue/color push? Why difference is size of speaker grate? This may be causing not all sound to exit the speaker, thus diverting it back into the phone and causing bad audio.
Click to expand...

... but then again. If this is true, maybe I'm wrong.
 
Last edited:
can anyone confirm if iOS 11.2 update fixed the issue on the iphone X Buzzing sound ?
 
kdagher said:
can anyone confirm if iOS 11.2 update fixed the issue on the iphone X Buzzing sound ?
Click to expand...
iOS 11.2 doesn't fix the issue. The distortion is still present while making phones calls on the speaker or when listening to piano music.
On my unit I can still hear it even at 50% volume but it's bearable if you lower the volume with 4-5 units from the max volume (you can still hear it if you put your ear close to the speaker). It's sounds like something is loose inside of the speaker or the membrane is vibrating like it's broken.
The issue is 100% with the hardware in the upper speaker and software can't do anything to fix the issue. When watching movies or trailer the sound is surprisingly good but it is not consistent through all the system. Ringtones are also causing distortion.
 
iOS 11.2 seems to fix the issue one for all. My „D“-Serial iPhone X hat it very lightly, but now with iOS 11.2B6 (GM) it’s completely gone
 
I received an iphone x from tmobile 3 days ago and it was manufactured between the 11 and 17 of November and the too speaker was terrible! I would say unbearable..i went to the apple store and they gave a new replacement which sounds better but still has the crackle on high volumes. So i believe all the claims about early production are just nonsense, both phones serials start with F
 
I received a call from apple today from a senior advisor. She assured me that this was a software issue and it was going to be fixed with a firmware update.
 
Rafaelpaezc said:
I received a call from apple today from a senior advisor. She assured me that this was a software issue and it was going to be fixed with a firmware update.
Click to expand...

Did she say what the issue is or when we can expect a fix? So far, this is the first I've heard of apple acknowledging there's an issue and promising a fix.

Anyone else hear this from them? I'm debating just returning my X as simply swapping for another won't guarantee the problem goes away.
 
antm22 said:
Did she say what the issue is or when we can expect a fix? So far, this is the first I've heard of apple acknowledging there's an issue and promising a fix.

Anyone else hear this from them? I'm debating just returning my X as simply swapping for another won't guarantee the problem goes away.
Click to expand...


She seemed not to know really where the actual issue is. She just said that the answer she got from the engineering department was that they are fully aware of the issue and they will provide a fix via software update ASAP. However, this could be just BS since i have received this type of answer before from Apple without nothing happening. Lets hope it is true and we will have this fix soon.
 
I bought another 256GB space gray IPhone X yesterday at an authorised reseller. The serial number started with an F letter. When on max volume the bottom and top speakers but especially the top one was resonating and vibrating a lot. Because of this the sound was not clear. When I listened to piano music it was very noticeable and also at the slow rise ringtone. Also I tried loudspeaker phone call and not always but sometimes I could hear it vibrate and resonate. Watched some YouTube videos and it seemed fine but when playing piano music on YouTube it’s there again. It’s like the phone is too loud for these speakers at max volume. But also when I turned down the volume like 3 bars it was noticeable. My iPhone 6 which is 3 years old also the bottom speakers resonate a little when I played the same piano music at max volume but on the IPhone X it’s more noticeable.
Anyway today I took it back got a refund.
I’m not sure anymore what to do. Because maybe all will be the same. I looked at the display model in the store sounds the same also serial number starts with F. I looked at some other resellers and they all were the same sounding phones. Serials all started with F.
I tried an iPhone 8 and the speakers were more clear. Of course I don’t expect the same quality from a phone as from a Hifi stereo speaker but all IPhone X I bought and tested just doesn’t sound good quality, it’s like it’s broken or something. At high volume there is too much vibration, I was holding the phone and can feel the vibration from the sound also on the back of the phone at the centre.
[doublepost=1512611299][/doublepost]
NagasakiGG said:
Yea, my first F phone was the horror tho
Click to expand...

What does the letter indicate before the serial number? Here in Australia all phones I checked had F starting serial numbers. All had bad quality speakers too.
 
robertkollar said:
I bought another 256GB space gray IPhone X yesterday at an authorised reseller. The serial number started with an F letter. When on max volume the bottom and top speakers but especially the top one was resonating and vibrating a lot. Because of this the sound was not clear. When I listened to piano music it was very noticeable and also at the slow rise ringtone. Also I tried loudspeaker phone call and not always but sometimes I could hear it vibrate and resonate. Watched some YouTube videos and it seemed fine but when playing piano music on YouTube it’s there again. It’s like the phone is too loud for these speakers at max volume. But also when I turned down the volume like 3 bars it was noticeable. My iPhone 6 which is 3 years old also the bottom speakers resonate a little when I played the same piano music at max volume but on the IPhone X it’s more noticeable.
Anyway today I took it back got a refund.
I’m not sure anymore what to do. Because maybe all will be the same. I looked at the display model in the store sounds the same also serial number starts with F. I looked at some other resellers and they all were the same sounding phones. Serials all started with F.
I tried an iPhone 8 and the speakers were more clear. Of course I don’t expect the same quality from a phone as from a Hifi stereo speaker but all IPhone X I bought and tested just doesn’t sound good quality, it’s like it’s broken or something. At high volume there is too much vibration, I was holding the phone and can feel the vibration from the sound also on the back of the phone at the centre.
[doublepost=1512611299][/doublepost]

What does the letter indicate before the serial number? Here in Australia all phones I checked had F starting serial numbers. All had bad quality speakers too.
Click to expand...

This is a widespreaded issue. I checked 2 display models with serial numbers starting with C and both have the issue. One was silver and the other grey. So the whole serial number, color and storage is just pure expeculation. I believe all iphone xs suffer from this issue. The people who say their is fine are either not sensitive or haven’t tested it properly.
 
So we have 2 options.
1.We don’t ever buy iPhone X because it has crap quality speakers
2.We buy it and accept that Apple released a product with design flaws and we paid top money for it and try to forget about it. Use it only on lower volumes.
 
MacRumors said:

I own 3 unit of Pad2 and 1 Macbook. This year (2017) all the devices mysteriously faced the same problem ie deteriorating sound. Initially there were crackling sound but then later the sound keep deteriorating and finally vanished! I strongly suspect there are manufacturing defect with the sound component of all the devices. I also own 1 iphone6 plus and 2 iphone7. So far they are still ok. I hope they won’t face the same fate. I have submitted a feedback to Apple but to date no reply yet. Pls help!

A limited but increasing number of iPhone X owners claim to be experiencing so-called "crackling" or "buzzing" sounds emanating from the device's front-facing earpiece speaker at high or max volumes.

iphone-x-earpiece-800x565.jpg

Over two dozen users have said they are affected in a MacRumors discussion topic about the matter, while similar reports have surfaced on Twitter and Reddit since the iPhone X launched just over a week ago.

On affected devices, the crackling sounds occur with any kind of audio playback, including phone calls, music, videos with sound, alarms, and ringtones. The issue doesn't appear to be limited to any specific iPhone X configuration or iOS version.

"Love the phone but I was wondering if anyone has had any issues with the speakers slightly sounding a little crackling whenever max volume," said one MacRumors forum member with the alias ShadowYYZ. "Noticeable on certain songs and even my ring tone which was bought from the iTunes Store."

For those unaware, the iPhone X's earpiece doubles as a speaker that combines with the traditional speaker at the bottom of the device to deliver stereo sound. Both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 series also have stereo speakers.

MacRumors hasn't been able to reproduce the issues described. Apple didn't immediately respond to our request for comment on the matter.

While the sounds could be the result of distortion, especially since they occur at higher volumes only, several users are convinced that there could be a bigger software or hardware issue affecting the earpiece.

"I listen to a lot of music on the speakers of the iPhone X and I noticed the slight crackle right away," replied another MacRumors forum member who goes by the username Benz63amg. "Since so many of us seem to experience this crackle then my assumption is that it's software related rather than hardware."

A few months ago, several iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus owners experienced a similar "static noise" issue with the earpiece during phone calls. Apple acknowledged the issue and fixed it in iOS 11.0.2.

Since the crackling sounds on iPhone X don't appear to be limited to phone calls, it's unclear if the issues are related.

Apple has been replacing affected iPhone X units free of charge, according to customers who contacted the company. Apple also appears to be collecting diagnostic information so that its engineers can investigate the matter, as it routinely does with any potential software or hardware issues.

Like the green lines affecting some iPhone X displays, this is an isolated issue affecting a very low percentage of the millions of devices being manufactured. The majority of iPhone X owners do not appear to be affected.

If you experience this problem, we recommend booking a Genius Bar appointment with the Apple Support app or contacting Apple via phone, email, online chat, or Twitter to have your iPhone X replaced. Apple is known for providing good customer service, and it is often genuinely helpful in these situations.

Article Link: Several iPhone X Owners Experiencing 'Crackling' or 'Buzzing' Sounds From Earpiece Speaker
Click to expand...
MacRumors said:



A limited but increasing number of iPhone X owners claim to be experiencing so-called "crackling" or "buzzing" sounds emanating from the device's front-facing earpiece speaker at high or max volumes.

iphone-x-earpiece-800x565.jpg

Over two dozen users have said they are affected in a MacRumors discussion topic about the matter, while similar reports have surfaced on Twitter and Reddit since the iPhone X launched just over a week ago.

On affected devices, the crackling sounds occur with any kind of audio playback, including phone calls, music, videos with sound, alarms, and ringtones. The issue doesn't appear to be limited to any specific iPhone X configuration or iOS version.

"Love the phone but I was wondering if anyone has had any issues with the speakers slightly sounding a little crackling whenever max volume," said one MacRumors forum member with the alias ShadowYYZ. "Noticeable on certain songs and even my ring tone which was bought from the iTunes Store."

For those unaware, the iPhone X's earpiece doubles as a speaker that combines with the traditional speaker at the bottom of the device to deliver stereo sound. Both the iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 series also have stereo speakers.

MacRumors hasn't been able to reproduce the issues described. Apple didn't immediately respond to our request for comment on the matter.

While the sounds could be the result of distortion, especially since they occur at higher volumes only, several users are convinced that there could be a bigger software or hardware issue affecting the earpiece.

"I listen to a lot of music on the speakers of the iPhone X and I noticed the slight crackle right away," replied another MacRumors forum member who goes by the username Benz63amg. "Since so many of us seem to experience this crackle then my assumption is that it's software related rather than hardware."

A few months ago, several iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus owners experienced a similar "static noise" issue with the earpiece during phone calls. Apple acknowledged the issue and fixed it in iOS 11.0.2.

Since the crackling sounds on iPhone X don't appear to be limited to phone calls, it's unclear if the issues are related.

Apple has been replacing affected iPhone X units free of charge, according to customers who contacted the company. Apple also appears to be collecting diagnostic information so that its engineers can investigate the matter, as it routinely does with any potential software or hardware issues.

Like the green lines affecting some iPhone X displays, this is an isolated issue affecting a very low percentage of the millions of devices being manufactured. The majority of iPhone X owners do not appear to be affected.

If you experience this problem, we recommend booking a Genius Bar appointment with the Apple Support app or contacting Apple via phone, email, online chat, or Twitter to have your iPhone X replaced. Apple is known for providing good customer service, and it is often genuinely helpful in these situations.

Article Link: Several iPhone X Owners Experiencing 'Crackling' or 'Buzzing' Sounds From Earpiece Speaker
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1512634314][/doublepost]I own 3 unit of iPad2 and 1 Macbook. This year (2017) all the devices mysteriously faced the same problem ie deteriorating sound. Initially there were crackling sound but then later the sound keep deteriorating and finally vanished! I strongly suspect there are manufacturing defect with the sound component of all the devices. I also own 1 iphone6 plus and 2 iphone7. So far they are still ok. I hope they won’t face the same fate. I have submitted a feedback to Apple but to date no reply yet. Pls help!
 
iOS 11.2 Beta 6 fixed that for me btw. How I can tell? I have tried mine and iPhone X from gf - same.
Downgraded mine to iOS 11.1.1 (due to potential jailbreak) horrible speaker
 
NagasakiGG said:
iOS 11.2 Beta 6 fixed that for me btw. How I can tell? I have tried mine and iPhone X from gf - same.
Downgraded mine to iOS 11.1.1 (due to potential jailbreak) horrible speaker
Click to expand...

11.2 beta 6? 11.2 was released already and i would say all of us still have the issue on ios 11.2.
 
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