Q: iPhone SE Bluetooth issues

I have the same issue with Bluetooth inbound calls in car and also headset. According to my testing I am getting this problem only when I receive a call from an Android phone. iPhones and landline calls are ok. I passed this information to Apple. Same problem with three SE phones already.

Is there any Apple or user updates on this issue as I have the same problems as reported ? .....severe audio distortion with Iphone SE linked with both 2015 Subaru Outback and 2016 Kia Optima. Our other Iphone 6s does not have any Bluetooth distortion. Last forum discussion was April 6th and here we are at May 15th.

Folks, this phone is a DUD. I've been dealing with this for almost two months. Multiple trips back to the Apple Store, three lunch hours wasted, on my 2nd SE. I've tried everything. No, I'm not going to load Beta software on my phone to get "A little better" performance. Apple denies everything and plays dumb - having to explain this over, and over. As of today, 15 May, there is no fix, no acknowledgement, and no forecast of when it will be fixed. Tomorrow I will return my 2nd one and even if I have to pay the extra $150 to get a 6 back, it's what I'll do. But God as my witness - it'll be the LAST $150 I ever spend on an Apple phone.

I doubt its software because no other device is reporting this. I know some swear by software, but that doesn't make sense.

Hi DanielM9140,

please check if you have the same problem with call coming from landline or Apple phones or it is just limited to Android phones.

Hi Kdanok, no audio distortion with direct calls (non-bluetooth) coming from landlines, Apple or Android phones. Just thru car Bluetooth. I need to check if this problem occurs when using  bluetooth earpiece and external speaker.

Agreed, although it still can be either hardware or software.  It's unfortunate that the self-proclaimed Bluetooth Beta Experts here who declared the problem solved may have convinced people to keep their SE's past their return window.  Those same experts said a month ago that "all signs pointed" to the fix being released in a week.  What people on this board should know is that these Experts have no inside information, they know nothing, they like to see themselves in print, and that any beta feature, quirk, or even "fix" is not guaranteed to be in a final release version.  Absent an official announcement from Apple as to the nature of the problem and the actual fix for it my advice is to return your SE while you can if you're not happy with its performance.  

Totally agree mreg376. Those "Insiders" don't know crap and many people probably still have paperweights at this point. Luckily for me, I bought mine and made such an argument that the store manager waived the 14 day deal totally. So I will take mine back tomorrow regardless and put this mess behind me.

I See why Apple stock is sliding; their QA/QC isn't up to par. I'd advise everyone else to join me and return theirs NOW, if they still can. This phone has been a flop. Sad, because it had real potential.

I meant using Bluetooth in car or headset, see if you have the same issue with landline or apple phone call. I experience this issue with my SE phone only with calls coming from Android phones.

So over 50 pages of this BS, and not even an acknowledgement from Apple that the problem exists.

While some are reporting that a mysterious beta version of iOS (that we're not even allowed to talk about) may mask the issue, I think this is a hardware issue. The fact that the SE is also pretty much unavailable for pick up anywhere (at least there are zero SE's available within 50 miles of me), only leads me to conclude that this is hardware, and Apple is frantically trying to produce new SE units with different bluetooth hardware.

For those self-proclaimed experts that rant about how Bluetooth is not a protocol, a standard or what else it may or may not be: who really cares?  What matters is that the SE has useless Bluetooth, and that Apple is dropping the ball big time on this one.  The worst is the lying though, that Apple's staff keep denying and keep saying that they "never heard of this issue before".

I have been following this thread since I commented very early on (many, many emails worth)... (Ford Fiesta 2014 BT issue) and I have so many mixed emotion while following. When I hear of a B*ta fix, yay! When people are still concerned it's a hardware issue...arg! I'm hopeful it's not hardware. But now hearing that SEs are not available, or on back order, or whatever, that's concerning. IF it was hardware, and they would be fixing the new phones coming out (not even sure if that's possible), then what of the rest of us who are stuck with the SEs with BT issues? When I called about this early on Apple "hadn't heard of this," but then they double checked their email and "earlier that day they were sent an email about it" and that person just so happened to see that email as he was on the phone with me. Why the silence from Apple, honestly? Is there a reason? If it's a simple update then great, but, spending so much money on a phone that doesn't perform as a fully functional, above all else, phone, is frustrating and nerve racking.

No BT expert but someone who likes the phone and doesn't  have time or inclination to visit the Apple Store to be fed BS so I tried the beta OS and I can now use BT phone (BT music was always OK) then I come on here and inform others there is a fix.

I think you are exactly right. I live in DC and you can't find these anywhere around here. Washington DC people! Out, none to be had anywhere. A month ago I had to drive 25 miles to get the one I have. They've exchanged mine once because the had 1 left for exchange - it wasn't even brand new in a sealed box.

Today I posted this article to my Facebook encouraging all 200 friends to share. All I want Apple to do is give me back an iPhone 6 and not charge me another $150, but they won't do it. I've been willing to take a refurbished one even, but nope, they won't budge. Instead, they exchanged this once. Terrible leadership if store mangers aren't empowered enough to make a $150 decision for a $50 billion dollar company.

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/149452/20160413/apple-iphone-se-users-report-b luetooth-audio-quality-issues.htm

Apple is aware of the problem. Talked to a second Senior Tech and he confirmed  the issue and said their engineers were working on it. Said that it might be software or a Bluetooth chip. If determined to be a faulty chip, there may be a recall. He advised me against installing the beta as that can cause other problems and is not supported. DeAling with Verizon was futile. They replaced mine with a refurbished SE that performed worse than the original so I returned the replacement. Only other option was to ask for permission to allow me to upgrade to a 6 at a cost of 3x of what I was paying per month....with no option of a return. If I had wanted a larger phone, I would have bought it originally at A lower price. I'm sticking with Apple folks... and waiting for return call that was promised today.

Okay folks - I'm out. Apple made it right, allowing me, after all this crap, to finally exchange for a 6 at no cost to me. I was persistent and respectful always during the course of almost 45 days. They reluctantly did it. One observation though. I stood in the store for 30 minutes explaining again to yet another manager my problem. As they were getting me taken care of, another customer came in and asked salespeople who heard my story, about the "IPhone SE BT issue." With a straight face, the "Genius" said "No, we haven't." Shook my head. This will be my last iPhone.

Well that's good, you got a older less spec'd phone for the same price, you should be happy

You could've got a 5s off ebay or craigslist for $200