Happening on mine. Can't hear it unless I put my ear up to the speaker, but there's definitely white noise emitting when I 3D touch something. Curiously, the noise will continue to emit until I release my finger from the screen. Not sure why this is happening, but if I hadn't seen this thread, I would have never known.
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Why does 3D Touch enable the speakers briefly on iP7?
- Thread starter WilliamG
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That's odd. Mine doesn't continue the white noise. It's just on/off, no matter how long I hold down. Peculiar...
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My wife's AT&T 7 128GB silver, and my Sprint 128GB matte black iPhone 7 Plus - both identical in terms of sound from the speakers when 3D Touching. Both no issue when wired/wireless headsets are connected.
You're right, it is the speaker. I've tested on my iPhone 7 (iOS 10.0.2) and there is a very quiet white noise coming from the speaker for the duration where my finger is in contact with the screen in 3D Touch state. However, I believe this is normal. The speakers on iPhone have three states of operation:
1. Off - Power is cut to the speakers when they are not in use and not expected to be used, the speakers will be completely silent.
2. Ready - Power is being supplied to the speakers and they are ready to produce noise even if iPhone isn't playing any sounds yet.
3. In use - Power is being supplied to the speakers and sound is playing for whatever app you are using.
When you 3D Touch something, the speakers are placed into Ready state since the content you are previewing may have sound (e.g. videos). As soon as you let go, the speakers enter Off state to save power.
You can also observe this effect when you launch an app that usually has sound, but enable Silent Mode. The speakers will still produce the same quiet white noise for the entire duration which the app is running.
In fact, this is something that affects all speakers. If you power on a set of external PC speakers and don't plug them into anything, the same thing happens since they are constantly in a "ready" state.
1. Off - Power is cut to the speakers when they are not in use and not expected to be used, the speakers will be completely silent.
2. Ready - Power is being supplied to the speakers and they are ready to produce noise even if iPhone isn't playing any sounds yet.
3. In use - Power is being supplied to the speakers and sound is playing for whatever app you are using.
When you 3D Touch something, the speakers are placed into Ready state since the content you are previewing may have sound (e.g. videos). As soon as you let go, the speakers enter Off state to save power.
You can also observe this effect when you launch an app that usually has sound, but enable Silent Mode. The speakers will still produce the same quiet white noise for the entire duration which the app is running.
In fact, this is something that affects all speakers. If you power on a set of external PC speakers and don't plug them into anything, the same thing happens since they are constantly in a "ready" state.
The speakers might be a lot quieter, to the point where the white noise is more difficult to detect. Or it might just work in a completely different way and I'm wrong.
Well I'm going to hope an iOS patch fixes it. It definitely doesn't seem normal to me at all, and the 6s line doesn't do it (I even stuffed the phone against my ear to be sure). There's really no reason for the speakers to come on when 3D Touch is called upon. It's not necessary, and microscopically tiny as it may be - has a negative effect on battery life.
I'd bring it to Apple's attention.
A number of things with this new phone which need ironing out.
Right. Like the multitasking animation on the 7 Plus (why do the windows bounce down briefly when you double press the Home button?). Just a bunch of weirdnesses I'm surprised to see. And they're still there on the 10.1 beta, too.
You're probably thinking about the amplifier turning off. Speakers don't turn on/off, they are powered by the sound signal.
An alternative explanation could be that the wiring leading to the speakers picks up the moving magnetic field from the magnet in the taptic engine due to faulty wire positioning or shielding in some phones. That wouldn't explain the few reports of hearing the sound all the time that the screen is kept pressed, though.
Yes that was interesting to hear the report of it happening the entire time the 3D Touch is enabled. Mine and my wife's devices definitely only give the split-second "TISSSS!" sound when 3D Touch is enabled, no matter how long the screen is held. And again, it doesn't happen at all with earphones plugged in, or with a connected BT headset. Wouldn't that rule out faulty wiring or shielding?
Not if the wires that go to the speaker are the ones too close to the Taptic engine.
Have you found a solution to this? My iPhone 7 plus 128gb has the same issue - very loud hissing noise with 3d touch or using the speakers.
The 7 series has known audio IC issues. Perhaps this is just another manifestation of its impending failure. When it happens (and the key word here is "when" not "if") you'll no longer be able to make phone calls. Enjoy the 7 while it works and be glad that this little sound is the only issue you're experiencing...so far