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iPhone X Owners Experience 'Crackling' or 'Buzzing' Sounds From Earpiece Speaker (macrumors.com)

MacRumors reports: 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. 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.
"The speakerphone for an $1100 phone should be at least as good as it was on the iPhone 6 and 7," complained one user, "but instead, it's crackly, edgy and buzzy."

"I believe we all knew the iPhone X would be highly scrutinized," writes Slashdot reader sqorbit, "but the reported problems appear to be stacking up."

63 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. That... by Type44Q · · Score: 4, Funny

    That... is the sound of courage.

    1. Re:That... by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

      You're listening wrong.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    2. Re: That... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      That's the sound of holding it wrong.

    3. Re:That... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That's funny, my $69 android phone works fine...

    4. Re:That... by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 2

      I fixed this issue by getting a brand new Galaxy S5 instead. It was about 1/5th the cost of an iPhone, and I can download an app to add some static and crackling noises on demand.

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    5. Re:That... by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      Maybe it's the new iNnitus feature?

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    6. Re:That... by goombah99 · · Score: 1

      I was under the impression this was old news and Apple had already issued a software upgrade for this?

      --
      Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
    7. Re:That... by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      That takes courage.

      And therefore a new set of headphones.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. Maybe by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

    Maybe it's a piece of dust.

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
    1. Re:Maybe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Bravo, sir.

      I eagerly await the posts from the apologists.

    2. Re:Maybe by kiviQr · · Score: 1

      pixie dust?

    3. Re:Maybe by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      pixie dust?

      It's Apple, so it's probably fairy dust.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
  3. Once again iPhone is behind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Blackberries had a buzz in the earpiece 10 years ago. They called it the Blackberry Buzz.

  4. Rich people with too much cash and freetime ... by Hal_Porter · · Score: 1, Troll

    ... buy expensive toy, expensive toy does not make them happy.

    They blame the company which made the toy.

    Hey it reminds me of a song

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

     

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
    1. Re:Rich people with too much cash and freetime ... by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1
      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    2. Re:Rich people with too much cash and freetime ... by Hal_Porter · · Score: 1

      Maybe the dawn of the $1000+ phone which is designed to be obsolete in a couple of years and need a bunch of dongles and/or new wireless headphones, a case and AppleCare to be viable means our society is in a Mobile Phone Event Horizon.

      --
      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
    3. Re:Rich people with too much cash and freetime ... by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 1

      Maybe the dawn of the $1000+ phone which is designed to be obsolete in a couple of years and need a bunch of dongles and/or new wireless headphones, a case and AppleCare to be viable means our society is in a Mobile Phone Event Horizon.

      If that were true, they would be getting a little cheaper with every new product.

      --
      I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
  5. Wise up!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You're listening to it wrong.

    1. Re: Wise up!! by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      That's actually correct. The real story here is that iPhone X users, at least in these cases, are too stupid to turn their volume down a notch when the audio distorts due to the speaker being slightly overdrive. While this isn't ideal at least it can be fixed with a simple volume down press. If the amps were set too low then they would complain the sound wasn't loud enough, and in that case no button press could solve the issue.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    2. Re: Wise up!! by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      People owning bluetooth headsets shouldn't be surprised it doesn't go loud enough.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    3. Re: Wise up!! by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      Yeah, no ... I wouldn't think that because I understand physics. Nobody is claiming "it doesn't go loud enough" ... they are saying it goes so loud you can saturate the speaker cones.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    4. Re: Wise up!! by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      If it can do that then it's a design flaw. Either Apple should have used better speakers that can handle the power, lower the maximum volume or use less powerful drivers.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    5. Re: Wise up!! by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      We understand ... you have no knowledge of audio engineering but like to pretend you do on Slashdot. Have fun!

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    6. Re: Wise up!! by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      So you are an audio engineer who says he gets that the problem might very well not be an engineering issue, but IsAlwaysAMoron is right when he says that Apple engineering is the problem? Are you sure you don't want to rethink that?

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    7. Re: Wise up!! by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1

      I was assuming he understood that he understood poor "specmanship" combined with "cost cutting" implies that this could be a manufacturing issue where the company that builds it used out of spec parts, but now that you point it out he does seem to be more clueless than I originally was giving him credit for.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  6. Just do the math by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 2

    the iPhone X should be at least as good as it was on the iPhone 6 and 7

    This is actually the ultimate hidden feature of the new phone: it's an X, that you replace with whatever number suits you. If you think the iPhone 6 was better, just apply "X = 5" to get immediately satisfied.

    --
    Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
  7. You get what you pay for by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I bought a Motorola 4G for less than $200 about 10 months ago. No crackling or buzzing yet. I'm sure that the new iphone is still superior. After all, Apple says that it is, and Apple would never mislead you for profit.

    1. Re:You get what you pay for by Hal_Porter · · Score: 2

      You have to wonder if 'you get what you pay for' is actually true.

      Consider. I buy a Motorola phone for $200. I don't expect much from it. The odds are I'm likely to be pleasantly surprised - even though it's cheap it's not actually not too bad. Especially if I'm replacing a phone that is a couple of years old. It might turn out to be a big step up. I feel like I got an unexpected bargain and I'm happy.

      The other option is I buy an iPhone X for $1000, plus some other stuff the people at the store managed to upsell me. AppleCare, some dongles, a pair of wireless headphones, a wireless charger and son on. My expectations are very high. The merest flaw and I'm really upset because I feel like I've been suckered, for some reason.

      I.e. it could well be that people who buy a $200 phone may end up unexpectedly happy as they overshoot their low expectations. People who buy a $1000+ phone may be unexpectedly sad as they undershoot their high expectations.

      I.e. the psychology of $1000+ phones is all wrong. Or, to put it another way, no phone is really worth $1000+.

      --
      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
    2. Re:You get what you pay for by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

      This makes me wonder if the OnePlus 5T crackles or buzzes.

      --
      Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
    3. Re:You get what you pay for by Hal_Porter · · Score: 1

      There's no need to be upset

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

      --
      echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  8. Over two dozen users affected! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Of the millions sold.

    1. Re:Over two dozen users affected! by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      Querying those millions - must've taken you forever.

    2. Re:Over two dozen users affected! by aix+tom · · Score: 1

      Especially if they can't hear you, because their phones are buzzing to loud....

    3. Re:Over two dozen users affected! by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Reported, not affected. Knowing the difference can elevate you out of the status of ignorant fool.

  9. Haste makes waste by QuietLagoon · · Score: 2

    It seems as if Apple has been in too much of a rush lately. The iPhone was pushed out too quickly. It should have been held back, like the Apple's home eavesdropper^H^H^H^H^H^H speaker.

    1. Re:Haste makes waste by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      Home eavesdropper ... snarf. If someone gave me something like an Echo as a Christmas present, I'd use it as a Yule log.

    2. Re:Haste makes waste by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

      You should have your keyboard checked.

      --
      Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
  10. Re:There are several problems with the iPhone X. by Opportunist · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Dig up Jobs. Even dead he's more competent than the Kook running it now.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  11. It just whirs by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    New apple slogan: It just whirs!

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  12. For $1000 by CRB9000 · · Score: 1

    For $1000 you can own one of the most advanced pieces of cr*p Apple ever foisted upon the herds of sheeple.

  13. The worm trying to get out? by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

    snap...crackle...buzz

  14. Some of the stories that seem to indicate problems by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Maybe you like Tim Cook as a person, but these Slashdot stories seem to me to be evidence he cannot lead Apple:

    Some iPhone X Displays Plagued By Mysterious 'Green Line of Death'

    Hackers Say They've Broken Face ID a Week After iPhone X Release

    The iPhone X you bought may soon be obsolete: Apple Could Launch Two New Full-Screen iPhones Next Year

    Some iPhone X Buyers Are Having Problems Activating Their Phones

    An iOS 11.1 Glitch Is Replacing Vowels

    App Developer Access To iPhone X Face Data Spooks Some Privacy Experts

    PSA: Apple's iPhone X Screen Repair Will Cost You $279

    With Camera Permission, iPhone Apps Can Surreptitiously Take Pictures and Videos

    iOS 11 'Is Still Just Buggy as Hell'.

    Apple Reduced Face ID Accuracy To Ease Production, Bloomberg Reports

    Qualcomm Seeks China iPhone Ban, Escalating Apple Legal Fight

    Apple is Really Bad At Design
    Quote from one of the comments: "For all his ability to pitch to the public, Steve Jobs took direct interest in the products his company sold, rather than just focus on managing the company and leaving the decisions to be hashed out by committees developing a consensus several levels below him. The result is what you see now in Apple products - a muddled mess of different ideas that just don't fit together right, and very little actual customer value." -- Steven Maurer

    There are more stories that seem to indicate insufficient management at Apple, but that's enough for now.

  15. Don't companies even check obvious stuff any more? by JustNiz · · Score: 1

    Not just Apple, but It seems clear that many companies are now doing less and less even basic testing of products before they just push them out.
    its not really surprising in itself, As long as they can get away with it, but the really wierd thing I keep seeing is how so many consumers keep coming up with (ususally quite lame) excuses to cover for the companies even blatantly screwing consumers. Its clear that there's some wierd Stockholm Syndrome-like thing happening amongst many consumers where they just don't want to ever face the actual truth.

  16. Overestimating by mr100percent · · Score: 2

    Well over 10 million iPhone Xâ(TM)s shipped, but since there were 24 posts on a forum it must be a systematic problem with the entire line (as the headline and article imply)? Come on.

    1. Re:Overestimating by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      On that forum, among the subset of users who a) scrutinize their device and b) care enough to post about it.

      Shit the number of times I've had a problem with a device and decided to post on some forum about it stands at zero, despite a very long list of devices I've RMA'd for various faults over the years.

      This is especially important for a company which offers a bar full of "geniuses" to solve your problem. Why the hell would you sit and post on a forum?

    2. Re:Overestimating by mr100percent · · Score: 1

      Generally those who post on the Apple forums are tech-savvy people. Not people like my parents for example, hence they are more likely than the rest to report a problem. But let's pretend for every post there's 100 others with the same problem who never said anything. Heck, make it 1000. So, 12,000 devices with faulty speakers in a batch of 10,000,000 first-run models? Somewhat lower than average for any device actually.

    3. Re:Overestimating by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Heck, make it 1000. So, 12,000 devices with faulty speakers in a batch of 10,000,000 first-run models? Somewhat lower than average for any device actually.

      And you dismiss 12000 customers as not a systematic problem? If you were running companies they'd never get that low to begin with. 12000 of the same issue is enough to bridge a variety of user related issues and points towards quality or design, and hence a problem that needs to be investigated.

      Mind you 12000 in the worlds most expensive and highest margin cell phone is ludicrous regardless of how many units are shipped.

    4. Re:Overestimating by mr100percent · · Score: 1

      They'd never get that low? Look at all the problems the Pixel phone has, they have a lot more than 12 complaints on their screen problems. Same with Samsung. Multiplying by 1000 is my attempt to be generous and give you benefit of the doubt, even so that would still only be a 00.12% failure rate, and since Apple is allowing everyone to swap their device at an Apple Store I don't think this is as big a deal as you claim.

  17. Hah! 11 stories are not enough! by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    Wow! In less than 30 minutes, my comment was modded down! I guess 11 stories about insufficient management at Apple are not enough. So, here is one more: The iPhone Is Guaranteed To Last Only One Year, Apple Argues In Court.

    1. Re: Hah! 11 stories are not enough! by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      As a user, I don't fucking care about the financial performance under Tim Cook. I don't want to buy a toy Mac with a castrated OS to browse fucking facebook, I want a real computer with a real OS.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
  18. Re: Btw: Use ^W :) by QuietLagoon · · Score: 1

    thx. :)

  19. Not repetition. We have not yet begun. by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    You can look at it differently. It is not repetition. As I said in my original comment, "Let's talk about what to do about the problems at Apple, rather than just talking about the technical problems." That has not yet begun, but it is extremely relevant to our lives.

    In my experience, people on Slashdot don't like talking or even thinking about management, but that would be helpful in our understanding of the work we do and of the world in general.

    One of the problems is that many Slashdot readers have not taught themselves much social ability. The comment above yours uses the word "idiot" 2 times.

    Let's get started. The problems at Apple are relevant.

  20. Stay logical. If you know, better teach us. by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    You said, "Absolutely no one would consider Slashdot a sound source of business advice about technology. No one."

    The 12 Slashdot stories to which I linked are summaries that link to many stories at other web sites about Apple not managing correctly. When there are many stories like that, the entire reputation of Apple is lowered.

    You also said, "Meanwhile Apple has built $260+ billion in cash on its books."

    I don't say I know all the answers. However, it appears to me that Apple has done extraordinarily well for 3 main reasons:

    1) The world has realized that mobile phones are extremely helpful in making our lives more efficient.

    2) The only big competitors use the Google Android operating system. Those competitors prevent updates to fix vulnerabilities. One story about that: Op-ed: It's time for Google to take responsibility for Android's security updates (May 15, 2017)

    In the past at least, anyone who buys an Android phone is, knowingly or not, buying a phone that is not secure, or will eventually be found not to be secure when vulnerabilies are discovered.

    Also, Google has arranged that Google Play apps automatically update themselves. That means the app providers can make changes that allow more control, or do other possibly destructive changes, without the mobile phone user being able to know why a phone is operating differently, or even know that it is operating differently.

    One of the stories: Fake WhatApp Update for Android Dodges Google Play Vetting Process (Nov. 6, 2017)

    3) Steve Jobs built Apple's present world popularity. Steve Jobs was extremely abusive in some ways, but good at making sure that Apple didn't release products with problems. Now that advantage has disappeared, apparently, judging from the 12 Slashdot stories to which I linked.

    When you disagree, don't call people "idiots", as you did 2 times. Stay logical. If you know better, show us how you know better.

    1. Re:Stay logical. If you know, better teach us. by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      As an Apple user I agree with your comments and your point of view.

      There's a reason I'm still running 10.9.5 on my mid-2010 Mac mini. The new macOS looks like a toy, pro features are removed or reduced and the OS-wide fonts looks like crap on regular monitors.

      The new Macs are more expensive than ever, no thanks to Tim Cook and the Canadian dollar exchange rate, the hardware is literally obsolete on the low-end Macs, the lack of usable ports on the new hardware is just plain insane.

      In short, Apple has peaked and is in decline. I do not care how much cash they have in the bank as it does not help me, the end user.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
  21. Re:Had the problem too. Solved it. by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 1

    There are plenty of hydrophobic fabrics which will breathe air for pressure equalization, but will hold out water up to 3 meters depth (well past IP67 rating). If it is because its sealed, then it's just bad design flat out.

    --
    Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
  22. At maximum volume by guruevi · · Score: 1

    Youâ(TM)re probably overdriving the speaker. With phones having to power over every other sound - like those people walking down the street with their phones on speaker - at some point you canâ(TM)t drive the coils in the speakers any harder and you get a buzzing or crackling sound at the peaks.

    Every amp has that âoeproblemâ if itâ(TM)s more powerful than the speaker it drives.

    Turn down your freaking phone, there is no reason to have your phone at maximum volume anywhere, hopefully the patch knocks the maximum volume down about 10dBm.

    --
    Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    1. Re:At maximum volume by MichaelSmith · · Score: 1

      In this day and age it shouldn't be possible to over drive a speaker. The audio driver software should know what the limitations are. It should detect and over driven speaker and back off.

    2. Re:At maximum volume by Misagon · · Score: 1

      It's actually the opposite. Cell phone speakers these days are so small that overdriving them is considered normal. The DSP in the audio codec/amplifier is supposed to compensate enough to avoid artefacts and to avoid damaging the speaker but it is walking a tight line.
      I was told this by engineers at Cirrus Logic, which makes audio chips for Apple and other cell phone manufacturers.

      --
      "We mustn't be caught by surprise by our own advancing technology" -- Aldous Huxley
    3. Re:At maximum volume by guruevi · · Score: 1

      Most speakers these days are overdriven, the DSP simply compresses the sound, which also results in a buzzing and crackling sound when you do it too much.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
  23. Sonic collection is now all over the USA by AHuxley · · Score: 1

    It just has to be some other nations fault with their new sonic spying.
    The sonic collection method has expanded from one US embassy to now include parts of the USA.
    With the loud noises, bizarre sounds, weird noises, odd sounds.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  24. Entropy by Brockmire · · Score: 1

    Apple heard about all these encryption problems due to lack of entropy, so they've decided to generate some noise to be super secure.

  25. Apple smart move by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

    Apple just said to the (remaining) fanbois "Hey, still there?? we got you!!"

    --
    Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
  26. There are 2 issues: Facts and what people think. by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 1

    What about Joshua Topolsky's article, Apple is really bad at design (Sept. 29, 2017) is not correct, in your opinion? What other stories to which I linked are not correct? Topolsky's article in 2013 also seems reasonable to me: The design of iOS 7: simply confusing (June 10, 2013)

    There are 2 issues: The underlying facts, and what people think. It is now easy to find articles that talk about Apple not managing well, about Apple being sloppy. Even if those articles are not grounded in reality, they have an effect on Apple's reputation. A socially-capable CEO who is knowledgeable about professional communication minimizes the problems that cause negative impressions. Steve Jobs did that.

    As I said before, Steve Jobs died on October 5, 2011, and was not managing long before that. Tim Cook officially became CEO of Apple on August 24, 2011. It seems that Apple's relationships with users have been insufficiently managed since Steve Jobs died.

    I don't consider myself an expert. The only Apple products I own are an iMac 24 and an iPod Mini.

    I'm amazed at the number of negative articles about Apple that I found on Slashdot that summarize many negative articles elsewhere.