Bluetooth Calls on iPhone 13 Pro Sound Poor After A Few Minutes

Yes please tell them about the bitrate.

Anyone who has access to an Android phone and a pair of Bluetooth earbuds or airpods can test it themselves.

When I record 10sec voice memo on Android the file size is approx 360 kByte. (Which makes sense since I've set it to 256kbits/s)

When I record 10sec voice memo on iOS the file size is approx 160 kByte.(-->128kbits/s)

Both files have the same format: mpeg-4-audio

It looks like there is some processing being applied to the recording .. maybe a low-pass filter, since the highs ( and mids) are muffled

Please keep us updated on the progress with your advisor.

There is no dumb question:)

Yes this problem is related also to phone calls. (iMessage, WhatsApp voice message...)

Basically everything where you use your Bluetooth microphone to talk (earbuds, car etc) since the problem is the transmission between Bluetooth mic and iPhone.

I just used the voice memo app as an example since it's easier to verify the bitrate.

I tested the phone this morning by making a voice memo recording with both sets of my AirPods, one ear at a time and no problem with the sound. I might clarify, the problems I'm having with the sound quality are inconsistent. Sometimes it happens 4 or more times in a single phone call, other times I can go all day or a few days without it happening. It's always 10-30 seconds or I switch to speaker and it stops, switch back to bluetooth and it's still doing it. I'm at the end of my test period using the phone with Bluetooth turned off and only using speaker or handset and it hasn't done it. I would think that would show it's not the carrier, but like I said sometimes it goes a few days without a problem, like yesterday. The Senior Advisor is going to call me back today in about an hour. I think all she can do at this point is escalate it to Engineering from what she said. All I know is I'm really tired of this. Surely they know others are having the same problems, they need to get it fixed!

Good luck. I have had my 13 pro replaced once, reset 3 times, jumped through every hoop the senior advisor has me do including using someone else's AirPods and let them use mine. I still have the same problems, cuts out while talking on any bluetooth devices. Music plays fine, only on phone calls. Even went to the provider Verizon as they asked me to and it tested with a different SIM card with a different phone number. I've spent hours on the phone with Apple, I don't know how much longer I can handle this POS phone.

After another hour and a half phone call with a senior tech advisor no resolution. I gave her the suggestions about bit rate and that another advisor thought it was an old app on my phone. Her response was that she is VERY confident in her abilities and at this point it wouldn't make sense to start on another investigation based on opinion. They have had me jumping through hoops for 2 months now, replaced the phone, pointed to the carrier and made me test with a different SIM card and different ph number. Last night after asking her to file a complaint she said everything we have done has ruled out all possibilities, according to her it's not the phone, not the carrier and not software. Now she says everything points to being an environmental issue. So now it's interference of some kind with another device, the weather, the type of house I'm in, my location, mountains...anything but Apple's fault and basically out of their control. I call BS and I told her so. I said if it's not the software then why do they come out with updates?? Oh, to fix issues, hmmm. Well, fix this issue Apple I'm over it. It has the problem of scrambled, garbled intermittent noises with 2 different sets of AirPods and my car. At one point she actually asked me to take my car to Toyota and have them reset the bluetooth pairings on the stereo, is she nuts?? She told me even if she escalates it to Engineering it is not to get a resolution but rather to let them know it's happening....WHAT???? Also pointed out she has spent hours on the phone with me which is not typical for a senior advisor and I said good for you, you work for Apple it's your job and you are paid to do so, I have spent the same hours and it is NOT my job and I am NOT getting paid to troubleshoot. After she started calling me Miss Angela I have come to the conclusion she is full of herself and thinks she knows everything but yet hasn't been able to offer a solution. I am going to write to the CEO of Apple, at this point I don't know where to go with it. I don't want an Android and they refuse to replace my phone again. I have had Apple phones since the first one came out and never an issue like this. I am so disappointed in Apple. If anybody knows how to get this fixed please let me know

Do you have a Series 2 watch by any chance? I got a new watch and the problem went away except the Bluetooth switches off and on in the car sometimes. The garbled and choppy sound is no longer a problem

I have an iPhone 13 mini with airpods pro. Same garbled audio issue after speaking fine for some time. The issue remains for a few minutes and then the call becomes fine again! Same issue with my Bose Quiet Control 29s as well as my Car bluetooth! I am on the latest iOS release but still the issue persists!

Same happens to me and also since I switch to the iphone 13 pro. It happens when using airpods pro and also with my car. Please fix this.

I also have the 13 pro....

used many different headsets.

Experiencing same poor audio playback issues on 13 Pro, as previous

SAMSUNG NOTE10 user, I instantly distinguished audio qualities on both devices,

using same headphone B&O H4 and in car audio.

Audio sound on iPhone 13 pro is dreadful despite all EQ settings, absolutely

terrible audio quality.

I am having the EXACT same problem......When the iPhone 13 PM rings the first time it is loud and normal. However,

as I pick it up it drastically lowers the sound and most of the time I can't hear the other party. I have an appointment tomorrow on 12/06/2021 for a Genius to look at it-----but here's some thing weird----my iPhone 12 Pro Max---SAME THING! Sound like its software. When I first got my iPhone 12 ProMax it did NOT do this.......I will report back!

PDUBSMCA

Has anyone been able to resolve this issue? This issue occurred for me 3 times yesterday when I on 3 different calls (2 in the car using car Bluetooth and once at home using AirPods). This is negatively impacting my work. I spoke with an Apple rep yesterday who was not able to find any errors through diagnostic tests and told me my next step is to bring it into a Genius Bar where they may have to replace the phone. I have not yet tried to wipe/reset my phone due to all my work and other configurations set up but may do that soon to see if it fixes the Bluetooth issues.

I have the same problem too with an iPhone 13. No matter what Bluetooth headset I use the sound will start to cut out that I can’t hear the other person and they say I keep cutting out as well. This is so frustrating.

I have this same issue. Started in October after receiving my iPhone 13 Pro. After 4 trips to the Genius bar, 2 new pairs of Airpods (including Gen 3) and multiple phone calls, Apple replaced my phone on 12/16 and STILL the same issues. I have tried everything, reset the phone twice, they replaced the SIM, took the phone off 5G, and now a complete replacement phone and NOTHING! They said they can't do anything else for me at this point. I never had these issues with my previous iPhones and this is the first time I've ever upgraded when a phone is first released. They said I can downgrade to a previous iPhone but I won't get back the money from Verizon I had towards a trade in. Super frustrating!

That's great work, lots of people will be grateful. Thanks and I hope Apple takes this serious.. insane that in 13 versions, this never happened before (not that I can find atleast). Keep us posted, thanks in advance.