Crackling noise on Airpods pro gen 1

The service program is for a specific manufacturing defect which ended in October 2020. Your AirPods are after that date and are not subject to the recall.

See if there is any other assistance in If your AirPods Pro (1st generation) make crackling or static sounds - Apple Support

I did it today. The technician at the Apple Service provider diagnosed that both sides are damaged, and it costs €230 to replace them.

A new gen of AirPod Pro costs at the same place €299 with 2 years warranty.

I´ve been connected to the online Support, and they confirmed that the Program has expired, so I have to pay for the "repair".

Very frustrating. I was able to replace my buds under the exchange program that acknowledged the crackling issue. That was in 2022. Now it's 2024 and the exact same issue started again! Brought them to the Apple Store and ran diagnostics both buds came up failing with sound transparency and noise cancellation. The same issue! The store said my only option was repair at $180 without tax, or get new ones. I called customer care to see if there were any other options and they said they wouldn't cover the issue anymore. In effect telling me that the buds have a 2 year lifespan and that many other things could contribute to the crackling. Either way, way overpriced product of they need to be replaced every 2 years. Lame. Not what I would have expected from Apple, but I guess many of us have had the same experience.

I experienced the same thing. My Airpods Pro Gen 1 have a horrible crackling sound, went to the apple store and got them check out, they said both speakers were giving out. That my AirPods weren't covered under the program because they were manufactured in Jan 2021. That I could pay 180 for replacements but they wouldn't carry any warranty or $250 for a new pair.

This is ridiculous, I have a ton of Apple hardware and sadly now see that the quality of the products is no longer what it use to be. If they know that they manufactured low quality products they should at the very least replace them. I sold a pair of Bose in ear headphones when I switched to the Airpods, the now owner of those is still very happy with them and I had purchased 1 year before the AirPods Pro Gen 1 and my AirPods no longer work.

Very upset at apple for doing this.

Have had this exact problem on THREE pair. The first pair were covered under apple care. After you jump through hoops; software correct, right app….. I had the problem on three devices; IPAD, Mac Book and Apple TV. Replacement pair suffered the same fate and now my wife's AirPods are doing the same thing. Life expectancy appears to be 12 to 24 months. Be sure they will expire after the warranty and the November 2020 date is arbitrary. The second pair were made a month past the manufacturing date covered under the apple program. No discount credit or anything on replacement.

I am also having the exact same issue and I called Apple and said sorry we can’t replace them because they were manufactured 9 months after the defective units. Seems to me like they missed a few batches because many forums online have people saying they were told they do not qualify although they have this issue. So far 3 of my Apple devices have been involved in class action lawsuits so maybe they’ll take on the AirPod issue as well.

I have the exact same issue but since they are not part of “that batch” I need to pay for a “repair” (replaced buds). They are just over 2 years and it’s a known problem. Just like you I have spent x amount on Apple products and have been happy with the products and the service. However, after my last chat with them I have a bitter taste in my mouth. I’m not going to pay for that “repair” and my next buds will not be from Apple unless they change their mind which I don’t think will happen. Disappointed ☹️

Yes! Mine were replaced under the program in May 2023, but now the new ones are having the same problem. They clearly didn’t resolve the issue. And the warranty on the replacements is only 90 days so I am out of luck.  Why would they replace a product with a product that hasn’t fixed the issue? Unacceptable. Does anyone have favorites from another brand? I’m done.

Same thing happened to me. The static, crackling sound started so I went to the diagnostic center. They identified and confirmed the static through their ‘test’, but they said it is not eligible for replacement for apple has a list of serial numbers and mine was not in it even though i purchased before October 2020. They offered for a replacement which costs like a brand new one. Based on many people’s experience here, it sounds like they have a script prepared for this kind of issue. I tried cleaning the airpods but the static issue did not go away. Wasted 250$ for this defective product.

Same story that’s going around for everyone with a faulty Apple AirPods Pro (1stgen). Apple is refusing to admit that it has a batch of faulty high-priced product. I had bought 3 units at the same time, for my kids and myself, out of which two were “repaired” one time under Apple Care program. But just two months after the warranty ended all three units are having the same issue which their sound replacement program mentions. The GENIUS bar representative confirmed it as well but 🤷‍♂️ none were accepted for replacement. So much so for Apple Customer Care. 😡 Hugely disappointed.

• been an apple user since 1989!

Mine were November 2020 too, and apparently one week after October and they are terrible but of course due to the “terms” of the program I cannot get replacements.

I believe you are wrong, because the specific defect would have been identified and the manufacturing process rectified as part of the service program. Just because you think it is the same issue with a similar fault description does not make it the same cause. There are several cars which will crank when the key is turned but the engine will not start. Identical fault appearance but underlying causes may be different, (1) no fuel in tank, (2) water in fuel, (3) electronic fault in control module.

That is an absurd analogy. Apple hasn't said what the specific underlying cause was, or how exactly it was rectified in October of 2020. They just said very quietly (the program's page is buried) that they had a problem and arbitrarily drew a dateline in the sand to minimize the cost of making it right. Since there's no way for you to know the manufacturing date without just taking Apple's word for it, we're just at the mercy of a company that would be more than happy to have us say "oh well" and throw another $250 at a high margin, short-life product. Gross.

I took my defective Airpods in today and had the worst experience I've ever had with Apple. They took them in the back, tested them and agreed that yes, these are defective for all the reasons covered in the program, but they were "manufactured in November of 2020", one month to the day before they were purchased. So I was basically told that the only remedy was to double down and pay $180 for replacement buds which would immediately be out of warranty since the serial number is tied to the case, not the buds. Absolutely ridiculous. There is however a second remedy, which is to never buy Airpods again.

This company has changed. I've easily spent well over $20k on Apple products over the years and never had an issue getting help for issues with much more expensive and lower margin products, especially when the company had acknowledged manufacturing defects. I was more than happy to pay a premium for these products because the value of the customer service and support that had historically been unmatched. Apple is sadly just a money vacuum now.

I was told over the phone with their support that my Airpods were covered and to book an appointment with the Geniusbar. Booked it, travelled for hours waited only to be told that they were not covered. Honestly I have started to ditch their products but it will take me a while as i have foolishly gone so far in with them. Made me so angry as they didn't really care in the store and were not really helpful. The amount of money put their way only to be given what can be described as rubbish service. I've spend my money and wasted my time. I have logged a complaint but I'm sure I will not be getting compensated.