iPhone 12 Pro Max Speakerphone cuts on out calls

Try going to settings >> accessibility >> audio/visual >> phone noise cancellation. Select this off. We did this on iPhone 12 with iOS 14.3 and it fixed the problem.

I've tested this on a few iPhone 12 models and it seems to be the case. A rugged thicker case causes the issue. Take it off and I bet the issue will subside.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252051229?answerId=254231427022#254231427022

Turn your phone upside down with the bottom facing up and unobstructed.

The problem is....

ITS USING THE WRONG MICROPHONE!! Please report this to Apple directly.

There are 3 microphones, bottom for regular calls, front near camera for videos and by the speaker near your ear on regular call. For speakerphone it should use this 3rd microphone (near ear) but it doesn’t. Apple support said it should use that mic and told me to take to the “genius” desk at Apple store. I have 3 12 pros all with same issue. Apple needs to fix the software!! Please repost until Apple sees, hears, tests and fixes. You can tell that all mics work by taking a video and covering the one on the front (by cameras) and the back. They try covering each independently. So, we know the mics work, just not on a speakerphone call. If you put the phone in a cradle (or hand) on speaker and there is anything near the mic on the bottom of the phone, it starts breaking up due to noise canceling and obstructions.

This helped me!! Yay! During conference calls I rested the phone in a little plastic device so I didn't need to hold it during the call. Today I tested it using the speaker phone but holding the phone rather than resting it in the plastic device - all clear to the receivers on the other end! I can't thank you enough for describing this issue and the resolution. Albeit it wasn't my pinky, just something that was blocking the microphone.

Now I can return the $500+ booster I was going to put on the roof of my house because I thought the signal was getting garbled. I do live in the mountains so that was reasonable thinking.

I'm still working with support on this, but I do have a couple of comments which may help some.

Instead of a factory rest, perhaps consider a settings reset that does not remove data.

There are differences in sounds between (1) clarity of sound followed by a sudden drop in volume - followed by volume returning for the person listening to you and (2) interference sound like paper followed by a drop in sound.

If one unknowingly moves one's little finger underneath the phone's lower edge to support it, you will not realise you have done this as it is an autonomic response to the weight and holding the phone securely, and it will possibly interfere causing scenario (2). This is different to holding the phone with fingers on the side only.

So, it may help to notice if at any stage one's fingers have moved. My nieces always use their little fingers to support the phone underneath, but they have cases that help to prevent the speaker and microphones being interfered with.

One can possibly test the phone using voicemail to oneself, and see if the sound of a finger underneath is the same as what the listener hears. As mentioned, there are two types of sounds - my nieces alerted me to this at a dinner this week.

My problem has been the sound cutting out without those interference sounds, as in scenario (1), but I can reproduce the interference followed by drop in sound if I put my finger below the phone. I am no specialist on the phone, but perhaps the iPhone 12 is more sensitive to the iPhone 11. When this is resolved, for me anyway, I'll update here again. May be a couple of weeks before that happens.

Just took my iPhone12 Max to the Genius Bar. This was how he fixed mines... (simple) He cleaned the front upper ‘receiver’ (the whole where your ear goes when you’re on the phone). He brushed it out really good. FIXED!

ITS USING THE WRONG MICROPHONE!!

There are 3 microphones, bottom for regular calls, front near camera for videos and by the speaker near your ear on regular call. For speakerphone it should use this 3rd microphone (near ear) but it doesn’t. Apple support said it should use that mic and told me to take to “genius” desk at Apple store. I have 3 12 pros all with same issue. Apple needs to fix the software!! Please repost until Apple sees, hears, tests and fixes.

That is incorrect.

ITS USING THE WRONG MICROPHONE!! Please report this to Apple directly.

There are 3 microphones, bottom for regular calls, front near camera for videos and by the speaker near your ear on regular call. For speakerphone it should use this 3rd microphone (near ear) but it doesn’t. Apple support said it should use that mic and told me to take to the “genius” desk at Apple store. I have 3 12 pros all with same issue. Apple needs to fix the software!! Please repost until Apple sees, hears, tests and fixes. You can tell that all mics work by taking a video and covering the one on the front (by cameras) and the back. They try covering each independently. So, we know the mics work, just not on a speakerphone call. If you put the phone in a cradle (or hand) on speaker and there is anything near the mic on the bottom of the phone, it starts breaking up due to noise canceling and obstructions.

Turn your phone upside down with the bottom facing up and unobstructed.

The problem is....

ITS USING THE WRONG MICROPHONE!! Please report this to Apple directly.

There are 3 microphones, bottom for regular calls, front near camera for videos and by the speaker near your ear on regular call. For speakerphone it should use this 3rd microphone (near ear) but it doesn’t. Apple support said it should use that mic and told me to take to the “genius” desk at Apple store. I have 3 12 pros all with same issue. Apple needs to fix the software!! Please repost until Apple sees, hears, tests and fixes. You can tell that all mics work by taking a video and covering the one on the front (by cameras) and the back. They try covering each independently. So, we know the mics work, just not on a speakerphone call. If you put the phone in a cradle (or hand) on speaker and there is anything near the mic on the bottom of the phone, it starts breaking up due to noise canceling and obstructions.

go to www.apple.com/feedback and let them know:

When using speakerphone it should use this 3rd microphone

(near ear) but it doesn’t. Apple support said it should use that mic and told

me to take to “genius” bar. Genius bar said I should call support. I have 4 12

pros all with same issue. If the iPhone is in a cradle that covers the bottom

mic, people can't hear all or many of the words. Solution: turn her phone over

but then no GPS etc. I have done extensive testing. The mic at the top DOES

function for example taking a video. At the apple store, they tried to tell me problem

due to noise canceling that turns off the top mic when bottom one is covered

but not true.  FYI My 6S+ works correctly. See: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252192115?answerId=254805459022#254805459022 

Please go to www.apple.com/feedback and let Apple know, they actually will read bug fix section:

When using speakerphone it should use this 3rd microphone

(near ear) but it doesn’t. Apple support said it should use that mic and told

me to take to “genius” bar. Genius bar said I should call support. I have 4 12

pros all with same issue. If the iPhone is in a cradle that covers the bottom

mic, people can't hear all or many of the words. Solution: turn her phone over

but then no GPS etc. I have done extensive testing. The mic at the top DOES

function for example taking a video. At the apple store, they tried to tell me problem

due to noise canceling that turns off the top mic when bottom one is covered

but not true.  FYI My 6S+ works correctly. See: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252192115?answerId=254805459022#254805459022 

I have the same problem with voice calls. Talked to Verizon tech and they suggested I turn off bluetooth. Seemed to work. As soon as I turned bluetooth on, I had problems with conversation cutting out. Problem is, I need bluetooth at home.

The only way to get them to listen is to submit feedback!!

go to www.apple.com/feedback and let them know:

When using speakerphone it should use this 3rd microphone

(near ear) but it doesn’t. Apple support said it should use that mic and told

me to take to “genius” bar. Genius bar said I should call support. I have 4 12

pros all with same issue. If the iPhone is in a cradle that covers the bottom

mic, people can't hear all or many of the words. Solution: turn her phone over

but then no GPS etc. I have done extensive testing. The mic at the top DOES

function for example taking a video. At the apple store, they tried to tell me problem

due to noise canceling that turns off the top mic when bottom one is covered

but not true.  FYI My 6S+ works correctly. See: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252192115?answerId=254805459022#254805459022 

The only way to get them to listen is to submit feedback!!

go to www.apple.com/feedback and let them know:

When using speakerphone it should use this 3rd microphone

(near ear) but it doesn’t. Apple support said it should use that mic and told

me to take to “genius” bar. Genius bar said I should call support. I have 4 12

pros all with same issue. If the iPhone is in a cradle that covers the bottom

mic, people can't hear all or many of the words. Solution: turn her phone over

but then no GPS etc. I have done extensive testing. The mic at the top DOES

function for example taking a video. At the apple store, they tried to tell me problem

due to noise canceling that turns off the top mic when bottom one is covered

but not true.  FYI My 6S+ works correctly. See: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252192115?answerId=254805459022#254805459022 

Have the same issue, but troubleshot and only happens when speaker volume is all the way up. If you turn down the volume a click or two, then it seems to stop the cutting out issue for the other person.