iPhone 18 Pro Owners Report Speaker Crackling Issue
Users of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max report crackling, ticking, or popping sounds from the earpiece speaker. Apple has not acknowledged the problem.
Multiple iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max owners are reporting an unusual crackling sound coming from their phones' speakers. The noise is described variously as a crackle, faint tick, pop, or random clicking, and it mainly affects the earpiece speaker rather than the bottom speaker.
According to user reports, the sound is not consistent across devices. Some hear it constantly, while others notice it during app use, scrolling, notifications, keyboard pop-up, or cellular calls. Turning Airplane mode on and off is said to trigger the sound, as is quickly adjusting screen brightness.
Some affected users have returned their new iPhones and received replacement units that exhibit the same issue. The iOS 27.0.1 update, which Apple recently pushed to fix a bug that caused the phones to restart when Face ID authentication failed, did not resolve the crackling.
Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this month, running iOS 27. The company has not acknowledged the speaker problem. The reports were first highlighted by gsmarena.com.
Quick answers
What is the iPhone 18 Pro speaker issue?
Users report a crackling, ticking, popping, or clicking sound coming mainly from the earpiece speaker.
Did iOS 27.0.1 fix the crackling sound?
No. The iOS 27.0.1 update did not resolve the issue, according to user reports.
Has Apple acknowledged the problem?
No. Apple has not acknowledged the speaker issue.