iPhone 13 pro Speaker Sound Issue

I was reading through a bunch of other troubleshooting articles and just saw something somewhere that triggered the idea to try this. I honestly can’t even remember at this point, but I tried changing a few other settings but this is the one that fixed it. I’m glad it worked for you!

It means that your phone won’t go on 5g and instead will default to 4g/LTE. It’s such a bizarre bug. Hopefully someone from Apple sees this and can get a fix out. It’s pretty disappointing that Apple couldn’t figure this out when it’s been a common issue for more than 6 months.

It is, indeed, a bizarre bug! I am so glad you figured it out! Thank you! I am okay with connecting with 4G. As long as I have phone service, I am okay with it. I suspect, however, that Apple will experience connectivity problems in the near future if they don't fix this bug.

Thanks again!

July 2022 just bought iPhone 13 and the issue must still be prevalent because the speaker on FaceTime cuts in and out to the person I’m taking to. The speakers just sound horrible and low quality as well. Not happy with my purchase. Likely taking it back. Shame on Apple.

I have an iphone 13 (not pro) and have had this problem since the beginning. I've worked out that it is only when on speaker phone - which I use a lot! I've figured out when talking on speaker to my husband, if he is making a background noise while talking to me that's when my voice cuts out for him. If he is in a quiet place then it doesn't cut my voice out. So now since it appears Apple hasn't figured this out or care, we need to figure out how to fix this ourselves or just not use speaker phone - which having spent nearly $2k on this phone is not an acceptable option.

I have also read all the comments in this forum. I've tried all the suggestions on this forum.

APPLE - the problem is the phone trying to correct the background noise of the caller vs hearing the speakers voice. How do we fix this???

How did you get on with the change to 4G. I have tried this and it didn't work. I think the reason the person thought it worked was actually to do with any background noise being made by the caller..... see my previous reply ....

I have an iphone 13 (not pro) and have had this problem since the beginning. I've worked out that it is only when on speaker phone - which I use a lot! I've figured out when talking on speaker to my husband, if he is making a background noise while talking to me that's when my voice cuts out for him. If he is in a quiet place then it doesn't cut my voice out. So now since it appears Apple hasn't figured this out or care, we need to figure out how to fix this ourselves or just not use speaker phone - which having spent nearly $2k on this phone is not an acceptable option.

I have also read all the comments in this forum. I've tried all the suggestions on this forum.

APPLE - the problem is the phone trying to correct the background noise of the caller vs hearing the speakers voice. How do we fix this???

Wow! I can't believe there are five pages on this issue without even the slightest hint at the right solution.

I spoke to a Senior Advisor at Apple when the same issue surfaced for me. The answer he gave me seems

to have done the trick.

There is more than one mic on the iPhone 13. In fact, there are three. The one at the bottom, next to the speakers, is the

microphone that you use when you are holding the phone up to your mouth (which makes sense because

it is closest to your mouth when holding the phone). The second one is in the notch at the top of the phone on the front.

According to this Senior Advisor, when in Speaker phone mode, the microphone that is in use is the one on the BACK

and at the TOP of the phone (next to the camera lenses). If you set the phone down on its back you are smothering or muffling that microphone. The same problem occurs if you are holding the phone in a way where your hand or finger covers over that area. It seems logical since if you are teleconferencing, then the microphone should be on the same side as the video lenses, not on the opposite side, right?

Look, this Senior Advisor could be a pathological liar but I no longer get any complaints of a muffled or hard-to hear voice. He was also the ONLY Senior Advisor who was able to correctly diagnose and assist me with a complicated problem that required reinstalling the Monterey OS. And yet AT&T is the first Google link on this query and gets it totally wrong! Evidently, the Apple specs do not even mention the mic in the camera system!

Will someone at Apple please verify this? Which of the microphones is the one that is activated in speaker phone mode?

I believe I have the answer but would appreciate some validation. You don't want us looking foolish speaking into the wrong microphone, do you?

This is very interesting, and I will give this a try.

I did not know about the third mic at the top front of the phone, it seems logically like THAT would be the best one to use in speakerphone mode, especially in an auto hands free mode. Why you would be using the mic on the backside of the phone I don’t get, except to record something happening in front of you.

I was told and read online that the microphone on the back was to detect ambient noise.

I am the ATT tech who posted what I discovered, and it did improve this very frustrating problem at least for me.

it does seem like a noise canceling issue and they removed the option to turn off noise canceling.

I wouldn’t even consider a 14 till I see a solution, I use speakerphone in the car a lot…

Hi, it still makes no sense to me, I don’t set my phone down, I hold it up as if I’m speaking into it (habit). Plus the person I call “can” hear me for the first 3 or 4 minutes, then it starts to cut out. According to this explanation, I should be cutting out immediately, correct?

Also, this is NOT happening to everyone with a 13, (and some 12’s, there are threads about it) it’s just a small percentage, yet we all have the microphones located in the same place, so how does that make sense? As you’ll see in these threads many people have taken them in and all the techs act as if it’s a situation they’ve never encountered before not as if it’s a known issue.

I moved my SIM card to my old iPhone 8 a couple of months ago and I’m not even using my 13, I got so sick of this.

I’m glad this is working for you, how long has it been? Other people have come up with solutions that “worked” and then return to these threads to say it’s happening again. I really hope that yours continues to work, but I’m honestly skeptical at this point, but thanks for sharing.

And my understanding is that Apple doesn’t read these forums so you’re shouting into the wilderness.

I have had the same issue since i bought this phone in January- I have had the phone replaced TWICE- same issue so obviously there is an issues with the model. Although Apple had not owned it. They look at me like I have a third eye when i try to discuss it.

All i can say is buyer beware! Do NOT buy Apple phones !! I pray the 14 doesn't have the issue

I had another Apple Senior Advisor acknowledge yesterday that a.) there are three Mics on the iPhone 13; b.) that when the phone is placed face down, the rear microphone (in the camera lens section) is activated; and c.) (get this), the bottom microphone trades roles with the rear mic to handle noise cancellation. If Apple is guilty of anything, (and I'm not saying they aren't), it's being too clever by half. Depending on how you hold the phone or set it down, the microphone functionality can change for each of the three mics, or at least two of the three. Hoping iOS 16 might simplify a thing or two!

Iam facing the speaker issue since one year… i went to dubai mall branch and they gave me new phone… but the issue is still exists… there must be something wrong with this type of phone… i went again and again and iam not getting any support… i need to refund my money

This is happening to me too. Every time I use the speakerphone everyone says my voice cuts in and out and it’s difficult to hear me on the phone. I regret trading in my iPhone 10. Same with my other friend who also has the 13 pro max. Unable to have a proper conversation with out one person saying “ I can’t hear you, what did you say?, is it your phone or mine? I only heard the first couple words or something’s wrong with your speaker phone” it’s frustrating indeed.

I have the same issue on my 13 pro max iphone when enabling the loudspeaker function when talking with people. They say they can't hear me. I experience the same issue when connecting my JBL WAVE300TWS airpods.

This makes it impossible to f.ex look up important info from mail, notes etc when talking to people. Extremely annoying!

Everyone with this problem, including me, needs to let Apple know directly by giving them feedback. They don't monitor these forums. Feedback - iPhone - Apple I just left them feedback.

There is no option in the audio/visual settings to turn off noise cancelling on the iPhone 13 Pro Max.