IPhone 12 Pro Sound Quality

What is the reason behind Apple dumbing down speaker and sound quality in general on the iPhone 12 Pro? I have a hard time getting full optimal sound in all aspects. A clear visual example is when I have my earpods in, it can be so hard to hear the person when I am on the phone. Those same airpods, I have used on my previous iPhoneXS and had to turn them down when listening to music and speaking on the phone. On my current upgraded iPhone 12 Pro, which i have swapped out the 3rd time now, the sound is maxed and it’s still a diminished sound. This is so frustrating tbh.