AirPods Pros making crackling static noises

In addition to popping and crackling, I hear buzzing that makes these airpods unusable. Clearly this product was released prematurely based on the tremendous number of complaints. I suspect that this is occurring on all airpods, but only a few percent of the users are reporting it. By the nature of the problem, the issue is with the circuitry not software. I'm not sure if Apple has an "over the air update" capability with the BLE chip that they chose. I presume that if they did and could fix this with software, they would have pushed out a new firmware version. No doubt this will be fixed in the next version of the product - so much for that $250.

My right airpod earbud makes static when I talk/sing along while listening to my music if I remain quiet they work fine. Unfortunately I like to sing along. Any suggestions other than to stop enjoying the moment?

I've already tried all the suggestions that have been recommended.

I had this same issue with the crackling/static sound on my left AirPod. You can hear it best on voice calls. With music on it's hard to tell. Even with no audio on, just having the AirPods in my ear and moving heard left and right or slightly touching the AirPod you would hear the crackling/static noises. I tired blowing into the AirPod, tried resetting, tried with and without the tips, tried different tips, and nothing helped. At first I just thought maybe it was my ear, but after finding this post, I figured it wasn't just me. Had my wife test it and it does the same for her as well.

I ended up calling Apple Support yesterday around noon and they ended up sending me two replacement AirPods for each the left and right and received it already today at 1 PM! Tested out the replacement AirPods and they work great! No crackling or static noises at all!

If you're having this issue, best thing to do is to contact Apple Support. You'll have to pay $90/AirPod as a deposit, but as long as you ship back the old AirPods, you will get your deposit back. It even comes in a nice package with an easy return labeling.

Replacement arrived one day after I called. Means they know there’s a weak hardware component in the noise cancelling apparatus. No issues now. You can waste all the time you want pairing, repairing, shutting off and on, putting in case, cleaning the external mesh. Bottom line: the external noise sensors have coronavirus....

It should be unless they think you’ve deliberately caused the damage...

I used the Support App and arranged a replacement... they put a pending transaction on your credit card to cover the cost of the replacement item... if you return the faulty part in 10 days the credit card transaction is cancelled (so it doesn’t cost anything).

Postage is all prepaid by Apple, I was even able to arrange for the courier (UPS) to come to my house and take the faulty one.

I did the same. My left was fine and so I asked for replacement right. The next day the left started doing it so then Had to call again to get a replacement left.

I have a theory about this. By all accounts the original noice cancelling in the original firmware had a stronger effect. This was made weaker (let more noise in) with firmware updates. I think that with the original firmware the stronger NC caused a failure in hardware. I noticed that with NC on when I pushed the AirPod pro in pushing on the grille section that it squealed LOUD. I think this caused the failure.

thoughts?

I have exactly the same problem. I went to the apple shop and got it replaced however the same issue happened again after two months of use. When this happened light tough on the top, speaking with lower tone will cause the right earphone to have crackling noise. Only happens when in noise cancelling or transparency mode. Did you end up have this issue addressed?

I just simply called Apple and they immediately sent a replacement which works fine. It’s clearly a known issue. I got the replacement within a day by fedex, and it came with a return label and pack to send back the faulty unit. I suspect future updates to the hardware will correct unless it’s a firmware issue.

Simply, Apple should not have taken the step to release and sell a product to its customers for profit, knowing that it was faulty in the 1st place.

The only thing that amazes me more than apple taking advantage of their customers ... is how compliant and non aggressive their costumers are. After spending their hard earned money for a luxury item like a $250 headphones... everyone just sits with their arms crossed or head down in dispar. like a kid who got bullied and got their money taken by the bully, but sad because he knows he didn’t have the balls to stand up for himself. So basically, apple knows that they can sell you anything they want and you all just going to bend backwards. Just a bunch of babies.,.

I have the same issue in the right ear only in my AirPod Pro’s. Bought them back in Sept/Oct of 19 and just started crackling/ popping in the right ear only 2-3 weeks ago.

It happens when paired to iPhone, work Dell Laptop, Peloton Bike, transparency mode, noise cancelling, or off. Makes the noise when just in my ear from moving around, chewing, or from the slight bounce walking.

Tried unpairing, pairing, reset, etc. No change.

Did a chat with apple support today and they are sending a replacement right AirPod.

I had this problem when connected to my iPhone 11 Pro Max, but always only in the same part of my apartment. I assumed it was an issue with so much metal interfering with the connection. Before trying a forget, reset and repair sequence I connected them to my iPad Pro 2020 and voila... problem gone. Ive since done the reset sequence which only ever worked temporarily for my powerbeats pro, but I’m just gonna keep them connected to my ipad while in that area of my home. For those of you still suffering from this problem, forget the airpods connection, reset the airpods to factory default, then do a network reset on your iphone and all other mobile devices using the same icloud account. Ive had the problem occur with airpods 1, Powerbeats pro, and now airpods pro, and this method always fixes it at least until an ios or firmware update. Hope this helps

Apple knows exactly which serial numbers are affected and are not proactively replacing them (which is what e.g. Toyota would do). In my territory I have to go through the hassle of dealing with service centres- had they had any sense they would have just get it done.

Same problems here, brand new set with latest firmware May 2020. Clicking in the left, crackling/hissing in the right, if noise cancelation is on. (inc transparency mode). What the ****??? How are Apple still selling these expensive headphones with a fundamental fault that they’ve known about for months?

With all due respect, these measures might make a difference to some, but this seems to be an inherent hardware flaw For many on this forum. Including me.

given that multiple people are saying that replacements have the issue is there is a real concern that we have wasted £250 on a defective product.

the advice given by Apple is frankly laughable. I hope that my replacements don’t have the issue and the problem is limited to a certain production run. But that is starting to feel unlikely

I am having the same issue.

I have just been in contact with Support and they asked a very interesting question that actually hadn’t occurred to me...

They asked if it happens with any other device that I have paired them with.

I use them with my iPhone 11 Pro, iPad Pro and my MacBook Pro.

The issue only happens with my iPhone...

I have not read all 14 pages of this thread so apologies if this has been covered before, but has anyone found this is only happening with their iPhone?