We have two iPhones in the house and I can confirm that one of them is considerably louder than the other. Both are synced to Macs and were bought on the same day (launch day).
Maybe this issue can be fixed with a software update, but why would two iPhones running the same software be so different? Which makes me believe it is more of a hardware issue that could be fixed with software calibration.
I also noticed that the screen contrast it better on the one with the bad speaker (mine). The other one looks a little washed out. Most probably different parts from different manufacturers were used for the speakers and screens.
The problem is that the firmware has to accomodate different hardware specs and there might not be a way for a firmware update to distinguish between the two different versions of speakers. If the volume levels are increased through a firmware update iPhones with speakers that are loud enough now might become seriously distorted.
Maybe the only way to have it fixed for sure is to send it in and have the speakers swopped out.
I will agree, the iPhones volume is quite minimal. I cannot hear anyone speaking if there is any kind of noise. My old phone the RAZR was too loud, and using the iPhone for calling is quite weak. I find it funny that the volume level has 16 possible levels of increments. A feature that is meaningless, in my opinion. Especially when the sound between the increments is barely even noticeable. This is an issue that should of been thoughtout when the iPod feature is utilized in a phone.
This is not helpful. I was at lunch in LA with 3 business associates all of whom had pda phones. I was the only one unable to hold a conversation with my iphone. I returned it. 3rd phone same problem. Apple escalated my case yet could not give me a timeframe for a firmware or software fix. I loved all other aspects of the phone. I will buy it again when they fix it. Or perhaps something better will arrive on the scene. Good luck to those of you waiting for a fix. I hope it comes soon.
I got my iPhone the day after they went on sale. I notice that my volume was nearly inaudible and couldn't understand how anyone could hear the phone on speakerphone mode. I took it back to Apple store and compared the speakerphone to others on display and it was worlds of different. I had to hold my new phone external speaker (next to the mic on the bottom) next to my ear to hear it. The apple store agreed that volume was an issue. They told me that it was a iPhone problem and I was given a new phone which works fine. I can hear the other person on speaker and chat no problem. Not sure if it's hardware or software, but the new phone is much better. I'm guessing it is a hardware issue as they would not have given me a new phone. Better exchange before 1-year warranty runs out.
I really hate to do this but unless Apple fixes this with an update in the next 2 days, I'm going to return it before my 14 days is up. What good is a phone you cant hear?
I had a situation today where 3 Apple Store employees essentially denied the problem even existed "I never heard of that problem" one of them said! The "genius" mentioned the "plastic" and a "restore" as possible options to fix the problem. So if a restore fixes the problem (temporarily anyway for some - including me) then a firmware fix should fix it permanently for all. Let's just hope Apple is addressing this and these folks in the Apple store are not as clueless as they seemed.
I knew that I wasn't going crazy. Those are the same steps I took and got the same results. Restored, then a day later the volume became and stayed low again. This is very frustrating. I traveled to an Apple store in Indianapolis (from Kentucky) to purchase my phone. I feel like a fool...especially since there has been no fix or acknowledgment.
Im Baaaack... I stated some stuff earlier in this post on the volume.. Well I went to the MKE wisconsin apple store for an appt with the genius... They tried the phone out and could not hear me talking to them,, the store was somewhat crowded.. The second Genius (I would have used a different metaphor) said, yeah thats how the phone is,,, the volume is just fine. BS. Anyway, the original Genius went into the 'back room' (reminicint of a used car salesman' and came back to tell me that 'engineering' is aware of the problem and is working on a 'fix'. He offered to send the phone in but then said it probably would not do anygood. SO he logged my complaint in, as I wanted to get a refund then and there... But left with the hope, apple is going to fix it on the next update via firmware. Not a good outcome for part of my Saturday Morning investment in time. Apple should pay us for debugging the thing. Anyway, thats where it stand people. I did manage to discuss my problem and likes of the phone with a dozen or so prospective customers, so Im sure they were glad to see me leave the store as opposed to demonstrating the issue on my iphone to prospective buyers. My wife called me on her razor and we put on quite the demo. (: - P))
Good luck all.. the problem aint going away anytime soon.
The reset/restore worked for me too for a short time.
I doubt Apple will or can ever admit to some of the problems we know as obvious. Just imagine the press if Apple come out tomorrow that the iPhone has known volume problems. Even more so if its hardware and cant be fixed with an update.
I am sure that "if" it is a software issue they do know by now and are working on it. The battery fully charge indicator mysteriously fixed itself after the last update so I can see some more hidden unannounced fixes included in future updates.
My volume is too low as well - although strangely I was on a conference call the other day and one of the people on the call was incredibly loud - so I know the receiver CAN be loud - this gives me hope that it will be a software fix.
There's little doubt they know about it. Even if a small proportion of those posting comments here also posted on the feeback/iPhone page, they can't have failed to see the issue also being reported in the press in general, and have benefited from feedback from some of the staff participants here, and even possibly from L4/5 members of Apple Discussions asking moderators to pass the issue upwards.
However, as those of us who know Apple from years of dealing with the company will know, they neither acknowledge these kinds of issues, nor make any announcements about fixing them. Instead, they tend to do one or other (and sometimes both) of publishing a knowledgebase article describing what are sometimes rather facile troubleshooting steps (but which does at least give a clue that they know there's a notable problem) and/or releasing a fix, sometimes without any description of what the fix does.
It's worth bearing in mind that however frustrating for users, 6 weeks is not much time for a corporate body to retrieve feedback, analyze the problem and then produce a fix that actually resolves the problem, so the fact it hasn't happened yet - at least for everyone - is no more surprising than that Apple haven't said anything. I think the first update proved (to them if not us) that pushing a series of security and bug fixes via iTunes to an active and eager user base actually works, so at least we all know the infrastructure is there to enable an update to be issued as and when it's ready. It's more 'when' than 'if' for something like this, because even if Apple weren't minded to resolve this for the US market, there are other markets they appear interested in selling into where poor speaker volume is a matter of fitness for purpose and where consumers would have far more right under protective law to return items for refund, no restocking charge allowed.
