Echo on speaker calls iphone 11

William, you're an experienced user and a high-level contributor to these forums, but the software upgrade you keep recommending has been shown to not provide a solution to what I believe is a serious hardware design flaw.

• You wrote "If it were a hardware issue a replacement phone would fix it," but the logic of that statement is flawed - if the issue is a hardware design issue, a replacement phone will replicate the problem, not fix it - which is exactly what it has done, for dozens of users, both those I've spoken to myself and many others on various forums. Virtually everyone I know who purchased and is trying to use the 11 has described this problem to me. I dont know about the Plus.

• You wrote "iOS 13.3.1 fixed this issue for almost everyone." - well, good for them, but when all of our clients, colleagues and friends have been encouraged to upgrade their software to solve this very serious issue, the upgrade DID NOT FIX IT.

This is especially frustrating because of Apple's longstanding pattern of denying a hardware flaw and then finally their engineers come out with a fix in a later model, but they refuse to acknowledge the problem.

Thank you, William, for this clarification, it's helpful. I don't mean to sound like a jerk about this, and I apologize if I'm coming off a bit testy, but it's been a frustrating experience and some of us have been getting the runaround from Apple and on forums.

To reiterate:

• The issues I've been describing are taking place on iPhone 11's. No Max's among them, but some are Pros.

• The issues I've been describing are taking place on iPhones running Apple's most up-to-date version of IOS, which was 13.3.1, but now I have sent word out to clients, friends and colleagues to immediately upgrade to 13.4, which has just been released, in hopes that this might help. Fingers crossed

• I dont agree with the supposition that if it's a hardware defect, no one's phone would work, as there are plenty of examples throughout Apple's history of variables amongst batches of manufactured devices - these can be based on location, exact part specs, minor engineering changes over time, etc

• I can understand why you might feel strongly, having had a software upgrade fully alleviate a serious problem that had rendered your iPhone 11 Pro Max unusable. But others are not experiencing the solution - that doesn't make the rest of us obstinate, crazy, or incapable of managing a simple software upgrade

• Put simply, that solution is NOT WORKING for some users.

• Let's all cross fingers that IOS 13.4 brings answers

In this absolutely unprecedented world crisis, more than ever, we are all depending on intercommunication via mobile devices as the lifelines for our businesses and personal lives. Let's hope Apple can find a way to make sure that spending $700.00 to $1,000.00 on a mobile device doesn't result in one where one can't have a simple conversation.

Thanks

It's quite probable that case design is one of the sound-reflective surfaces that is exacerbating this problem, but the problem is NOT a iphone case issue alone.

If it were, there would be a simple way to test it:

1. Remove the phone case
2. See if the problem persists

... which it does in several anecdotal tests we have run here.

We have had some succcesses by altering the position used to hold the phone - echoes off the surface of a hand holding the phone at the base seem to be a factor, or echoes from laying the phone flat on a surface (likely two of the more common methods of speaking on a smartphone).

One solution has been to manually hold the phone elevated in the air with the bottom of the phone pointed skyward, and speaking into it that way. Far from a utilitarian solution.

The closest I have found to a more practical solution has already been posted here - to manually close all other apps while on the phone. In several of our tests, this has resolved the problem.

This is just my opinion, but I am convinced this is an inherent design flaw built into the 11 (non-Pro) series.

Some may find it helpful to look back through this lengthy thread for at least -some- ideas.

It's unfortunate that an Apple Specialist saw fit to mark this thread as "SOLVED" — it's not. Far from it.

This is a longstanding issue with the iPhone 11s. It does have something to do with echo/feedback when the phone is in proximity to a hand holding it, or a surface it's resting on or against. The issue is intermittent, meaning it doesn't always happen, and does not seem to apply to every iPhone 11, either. I dont know if its a hardware or software issue.

It is very frustrating for those experiencing it. So far, Apple has not acknowledged the issue. Several posts here from knowledgeable sources have maintained that software updates would solve the problem, but so far, at least in our experience, they have not.

In short:

• It does not appear to be a Verizon or carrier-related issue
• Some iPhone cases, particularly those where a part of the case crosses over the bottom of the phone near the speakers, seem to exacerbate the problem
• Some have had success (as a short-term workaround) by quitting every other app and using the phone app only
• Some have had success conducting conversations holding the iphone upside down, in other words so that the bottom speakers point skyward (thus, nothing to echo off of)

Happy hunting! Please re-post if you find any solutions, or if you find the problem has gone away, and if so, report any steps you know of.

Thanks!

At the risk of repeating an earlier post, I'll reiterate points from an earlier reply to this long, long thread about a frustrating and long-standing problem with the 11's. This is my experience only - your mileage may vary:

• Posts indicating the source of the problem is your iPhone case are in most cases not correct
• This is a built-in, design flaw that plagues the 11s. I do not know if the problem occurs on the 11 Pro's.
• The only helpful solution I was able to find was this.
• Open up the iPhone
• Make sure you're running the most updated version of iOS (Settings > General > Software Update)
• Settings > General > Reset
• Go to Network Settings and make a note of your existing settings - you're going to reset them
• Confirm you want to Reset Network Settings
• In some cases, this has alleviated the echo issue
• In other cases where this has not worked, the problem can be alleviated with these workarounds:
• Keep the base of the phone away from other surfaces, such as the palm of your hand, clothing
• Don't rest the phone on hard surfaces
• The best results have been to hold the phone upside down, pointing the microphone and speakers toward the sky (yes, that's a bit ridiculous, but it does seem to alleviate the problem in some cases)
• Hope this is a help!

Hello Apple Community

I can only hear my own voice echo when the other part’s iPhone 11 have a case on and is blocked either by something like a phone holder for a car or by a hand (ex. the palm blocking the buttom of the phone) or so. As soon as the phone is lifted from the holder it stops. I have now tried changing the position in the holder to see if it helps, when the speaker isn’t partially blocked by the same thing that partially block the mic, as seen in the attached image.

and now repositioned:

only the mic is partially blocked. The other end isn’t in contact with the speaker anymore. It is also possible to cut one of the arms off. Phone will still be stabilized.

Hi I’m living in Holland. I have the same problem. I called in today and they asked a lot of things. They tested a lot of things with an analyse etc. Now they told me to come tomorrow to the apple store. They will take it in for reparation.

I told them many people are having this problem but they said they don’t know anything about this. Actually they said that I was the first one. So my advice will be contact them so that we can show them it’s a bigger problem.

I called and talked to them and took my phone into the Genius Bar as well. They said they hadn’t had any problems either. I changed my case and now it doesn’t happen unless I my phone is in a stand that partially covers the speakers on the bottom of the phone or I accidentally cover part of the speakers with my hand. Then it still has the feedback issue. I think it’s a design flaw with the speakers. All the diagnostics said my phone was fine. But like I said issue still exists a if speakers are obstructed in any way. Different cases make a huge difference. Might try a new case. I had to try several cases. Would be interested in hearing what they say when you take it in

Out of curiosity is the case you ended up using one of those where the entire bottom of the frame of the phone is exposed?

All if the new apple ones are done like this for the 11’s so I’m wondering if they know there’s an issue because before, all used to cover the full frame of the phone with just little cutouts for the speakers.

We have same problem. It is not the case, does it with or without. We have Sprint and the techs could not fix it. They said phone was defective. We received a brand new one and it does the same thing. Very upset with these new phones. Should have kept out 6plus. We had not issues other than they would not hold a charge anymore

My wife and I also have the speaker phone echo problem. We both have iPhone 11 Pro Max phones. When we use the speaker phone on either of our phones, the person we are speaking with, hears their voice echoed. This happens with our phone cases on or off of the phones. It happens regardless of which way the phone is pointed. It seems better if we turn the volume down to the lowest setting, but then we cannot hear our caller’s voice. In short, the speaker phone feature is unusable. Upgraded to iOS 13.2.2 this morning but the problem remains. We did not have this problem with our iPhone 6+ or IPhone 7+ phones. I’m really regretting purchasing the 11 Pro Max!

Becoming a little disgusted with my voice echoing back at me when I talk to my girlfriend. We just bought new I phone 11’s and on speaker I hear my voice repeat what I’m saying as soon as I speak I hear my conversation repeated.She also has the same issue on her iPhone 11.We had iPhone 6s before.Not much problem with the 6s

I understand that the iPhone 11 has stereo speakers and a sensitive mic. I can understand a reverberation occurring when on speaker the mic is picking up the conversation and somehow it’s repeating my words back. I think maybe by turning down the speaker it may correct the sensitive mics reception and reduce the echo.

Wow! I have the problem too! It's s bad, I left my iPhone 11 in the box now and just use my iPhone 8S again. I have tried 3 times to use the iPhone 11 and activated it, yes THREE times. I have better things to do.

All echo and feedback by the people I'm talking to and Bluetooth sounds like a helicopter to them too.

They need to recall these phones and give us new ones.

Wow! I have the problem too! It's s bad, I left my iPhone 11 in the box now and just use my iPhone 8S again. I have tried 3 times to use the iPhone 11 and activated it, yes THREE times. I have better things to do.

All echo and feedback by the people I'm talking to and Bluetooth sounds like a helicopter to them too.

They need to recall these phones and give us new ones.