Unclear robotic voice on iPhone 13 Max Pro phone call

So I posted already about experiencing the same issues as everyone else. But I want to give an update because I found the problem for my phone. I have an iPhone 11 Pro Max on Verizon. What I noticed was that the problem wasn’t happening when I was on my car speaker phone or simply talking on speaker. It was only happening when I had my AirPod Pros connected. So once I realized that, I have given it a few tests to ensure that that was the issue. And sure enough if I am not connected to my AirPod pros than the distortion and breaking up does not happen. So now I realize that the problem is not the phone but the AirPod Pros when they are connected. Still annoying, because the AirPod pros work fine listening to music but for some reason they distort every phone conversation. Sounding as if there’s interference or as if I have a bad signal. So it’s very weird. These are my third AirPod pros because something has always been wrong with them. So I’m assuming Apple sent me a refurbished pair and that may be the issue. But everyone in my family who uses regular AirPods do not have this problem. Hope this helps someone maybe narrow down the issue.

Yes that’s exactly it.

I have been onto ee - and although no error showing - they reset the network settings and told me to do same on the handsets affected and force the phones onto 4G calling only so I turned off WiFi calling and WiFi assist. This didn’t have any effect but then I updated to iOS 17 and first call was clear 🤞 it stays that way it’s only been 1 day. Try this see if it helps you.

Hello bpinmel,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. We understand that there are some audio issues on your phone calls.

Does this happen with a particular contact or multiple? Does it happen on Wi-Fi or cellular? That might help isolate when and where this occurs.

Updating your carrier settings may help. Use the guidance from Manually update your carrier settings on your iPhone or iPad for guidance.

If you experience this when connected to Wi-Fi, try disabling/enabling Wi-Fi calling to see if that makes a difference - Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling.

Have a great day!

Our issue has resolved, sorry to say that I can't be sure as to what exactly did it. It's a long and convoluted story. At least two or three calls to ATT. They boosted the signal on a nearby tower after not finding anything wrong with either of our phones. I told them that the problem occurred no matter where we are so that could not be the issue. Called Apple support, they sent us to an Apple Store - 200 mile roundtrip. Everything supposedly was OK, wiped the phones to factory reset and sent us on our way. Made a couple of calls and the problem was back for both phones. Called and texted ATT again. More "diagnostic checks", no obvious issues. made a couple of calls, the issue returned on both phones. Called Apple again, support person said we needed new phones. Another 200 mile round trip to the Apple Store. They ran a much more thorough check, antennas and all. No problems and wouldn't replace the phones. Said the phone support shouldn't have said what that the phones would be replaced.They gave me a store phone to call ATT. On the phone for an hour and a half reprovisioning phone. The support person found a few identifier mismatches between the iPhone Pro Max and ATT, the iPhone 13 identifiers were fine. Drove home, issue started again. Went to the local ATT store and gave them holy ****. Turns out on that day the provisioning servers were acting up. They tech checked the phone it it looked like it had been reprovisioned several times, possibly during those sessions with ATT prior to our Apple Store visits. Also learned a nearby cell tower on a university library that was being readied for demolition had been torn down and not replaced yet. Three days later I made a call ... it worked. The new tower is installed and we haven't had any issue with either phone since. An Apple employee did mention that they had seen the issue before and it was not carrier specific.

OK I turned off find my phone and I have not had the problem since I did that this is day two will see if it continues

I have this issue too on iOS 15.5, everyone keeps telling me I sound robotic.

Hanging up and making the phone call via whatsapp or fb messenger fixes this issue.

It's a shame my iPhone doesnt do a very good job at making phone calls.

They told me it is the carrier. I have AT&T and we have had the same plan for 17 years. We have 4 lines and I am the only person with the issue. It did not start until I bought an IPhone 13 mini. They all have older phones. It had to be the phone. If not we would all 4 have the issue.

So after dealing with this for about a year and a half, I’ve tried everything besides getting a new phone or switching carriers. The robotic sound happens to me while using AirPods, connected via Bluetooth to my car or my Roku, but also while using speakerphone. It never occurs while just using the phone normally with the “handset”. It happens via wifi or cellular, so there’s no difference unfortunately. I have a 13 Pro Max.

I’ve spent endless amounts of hours over the last year and a half on the phone and via text with Apple trying a ton of troubleshooting. I also went to my nearest Apple Store (which is 40 minutes away) and spent the entire day there troubleshooting. They couldn’t fix it and wanted me to send my phone in (for up to 3 weeks, lol!!!) to see IF they could fix it with no effort in giving me a backup method to use a different phone. Since I run 2 businesses from home, it is not feasible for me to be phoneless and I had to refuse to try that option.

So one thing that I do have is dual sim. I have my regular sim and an added eSim. The issue will occur on both phone numbers. Does anyone/everyone else use dual Sim by chance?

My boyfriend and I bought the same model phones at the same time and his phone has been fine all along. I’ve read reports of other people getting new phones or going to a new carrier and the problem continues.

I wonder if our phone numbers have something to do with the issue… somehow? I don’t know how things work in the backend to know if this might be the problem but… That would be the only common thing left I would think. The phone number is corrupting things… Maybe…? Or it’s a faulty Bluetooth thing…? I don’t know. I just want to fix this! It’s super unprofessional during a sales call for my two tech-based companies when my phone keeps going robotic and the customer can’t hear me. :(

At this point, I’ve given up and hope that time heals the problem (someone finally figures it out). No hands-free for me unfortunately!

This happens with mine, my husband’s and my moms phone 2 XS+ and 1 XR

we have to hang up and call each other back. It has ruined so many very important phone conversations including 1 interview.

It has resolved with the update and also with me being able to finally upgrade to 15.

I don’t know if their problem is the same as mine but it doesn’t matter who I call where I am at WiFi call or cellular call it still happens my carrier has replaced my phone and everyone I get has the same issue I am up-to-date on updates and I am getting very frustrated I’m ready to get rid of my iPhone 12 Pro Max my husband has an iPhone SE but we haven’t done the latest updates on his and he’s not having a problem so maybe it is some thing in Apple’s latest update that is causing this problem

I had my device for 47 days and before this device I had a 12pro max in which I never had issues. I have been having same issues since the day two after purchasing the phone. We have two other 13pros at home all of them are with the same carrier and they don’t have the robotic feedback issues. I went back and fourth to Apple store and carrier and by the time I wanted my device to be replaced Apple said that the replacement time (the 15days which Apple gives us) had finished. I had multiple issues like call drops, robotic feedback, bad internet on cellular and ect., but nothing was resolved initially. They performed diagnostics multiple times, they said it will be gone if they re-flash the software, they did re-flash the software but nothing was fixed with it. When they re-flash the software Apple technician (that’s what they call themselves) said that I should configure my device as new so I had to setup the phone as new and had to download all the apps again and setup my Home Screen again, it is a inconvenience and I lost my back in the process. After all these steps the issues with robotic feedback was still there. I had a call with their experts and she mentioned the device will not be replaced even though there is a manufacturer defect after the 15days, then why should Apple sell the defective devices. The root cause for the issue from Apple expert was the environmental conditions.. I was like oh come on.. still they don’t replace the device which was purchased 45days back because that’s the policy of Apple. They set an appointment for repair service and I went to the store and store clerk asks me to explain the issue from the start again. They said they cannot replace it because I am in contract with tmobile (which was completely wrong, because I purchased the device from Apple unlocked and there is no contact with T-Mobile) I explained the same thing they said if T-mobile confirms that there is no contract they will replace it right away. I sat there for 35mins waiting for T-Mobile to answer my call and then they confirmed there is no contract and I gave the evidence to store manager who promised to replace the device. Now, after wasting my time, she says, ‘oh, I said I will try to replace but didn’t say I will replace’ she changed her words on my face. Now, other clerks comes in they are trying to convince me to get it repaired not to replace, I was like come on bro chill, it’s my money and I have the defective device why should I get it repaired instead to replaced when I have the warranty. They argued for an hour and I was really fed up with them so I gave my phone to repair. I got the device yesterday and so far no drop call or robotic feedback. Apple, please hire employees who knows how to treat their customers. Terrible service and no empathy at all. I would never recommend this Brand to anyone and I literally replaced the other three devices at home to Samsung s22plus and ultra. I am not going to use this piece of garbage as well, waste of money and energy. I was not expecting this from Apple service.

I have an iPhone 13 Max Pro. Has had all the same robotic distortion problems on random calls as everyone else. It is not a carrier/service provider issue. It is an Apple issue. Doesn't matter where I call from. Doesn't matter if I am on earphone, speaker phone or car audio. Doesn't matter if I call a cell phone or a landline. Doesn't matter if WIFI-calling is in or not. An apple service agent ran diagnostics but could not find or replicate the problem. Very frustrating as this is used primarily for business. Embarrassing, and I do explain when I phone back that the problem is the Apple iPhone 13 I bought. I will keep checking this forum and maybe one day a solution will be found. For now, I will suffer through to the end of my contract and decide where I will get my next business phone.

This just started happening for me. I find using FaceTime audio works. I also don’t have much of this issue in TEAMs, but it still does happen. I also use my phone for work. We need a solve!!

I have purchased an iPhone 13 mini about a month ago and have the same issue. I have been going back-and-forth with my serviced and AppleCare and no one is able to fix this issue. It has been going on for one month now and it is very stressful especially when I use my phone for my work. I have to constantly hang up and call the person back and often it happens many times during one call. I have been told that there should be a fix, but there isn’t any so far. This is very frustrating, what am I supposed to do about this?