1 hr ago
iPhone 18 Pro Users Report Crackling Despite Latest iOS Update
Some iPhone 18 Pro owners say their phones make tiny popping or crackling sounds.
The noise seems to come mostly from the speaker used for phone calls.
It can happen during calls, when opening apps, or when the keyboard appears.
It may also happen after changing brightness or switching Aeroplane Mode.
One person said turning off keyboard sounds stopped it.
Apple released an update called iOS 27.0.1 on September 28.
That update fixed other problems but did not mention this speaker noise.
Apple has not said whether the problem is caused by the phone’s hardware or its software.
Owners of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max report faint ticks, pops, and intermittent crackling from the earpiece speaker.
Users hear the noise during calls, app use, scrolling, keyboard appearances, notifications, and other actions.
Some reports link the sound to changing screen brightness or toggling Aeroplane Mode, while disabling keyboard clicks helped one user.
Apple’s iOS 27.0.1 update, released September 28, does not list a fix for the speaker issue.
The cause remains unknown, and replacement phones have reportedly shown the same behavior for some users.
- Who
- Users of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with reports discussed by MacRumors.
- What
- Owners report faint ticking, popping, or intermittent crackling from the earpiece speaker.
- Where
- On affected iPhone 18 Pro models, with complaints posted on the MacRumors forum.
- When
- Reports continued after Apple released iOS 27.0.1 on September 28.
- Why
- The cause is not known; some users suspect an iOS audio or routing issue, while Apple has not confirmed whether it is hardware- or software-related.
Software Issue Suspected
Hardware Defect Unconfirmed
Possible cause
Software Issue Suspected
Some users suspect the noise results from an iOS-related audio or routing problem, and one user said disabling keyboard clicks stopped it.
Hardware Defect Unconfirmed
Apple has not confirmed that the issue is software-related and has not ruled out a hardware defect.
Replacement phones
Software Issue Suspected
Reports that replacement devices show the same behavior may support the possibility of a software-related issue affecting multiple phones.
Hardware Defect Unconfirmed
The same reports do not establish a definite cause, and Apple has not confirmed whether replacement hardware is involved.
Key facts
- Affected models
- iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
- Reported sound
- Faint ticks, pops, and intermittent crackling
- Likely source
- Mainly the earpiece speaker
- Reported triggers
- Calls, app use, keyboard appearances, notifications, scrolling, brightness changes, and Aeroplane Mode toggles
- Latest update
- iOS 27.0.1, released September 28
- Update status
- The release notes do not list a fix for the speaker issue
- Cause
- Unconfirmed; users have suspected an iOS-related audio or routing problem
Sources
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