iPhone 17 pro max speaker “The phone speaker is very weak

"iPhone 17 pro max speaker 'The phone speaker is very weak: The phone speaker is very weak on iPhone 17 pro max compared to 16 pro max much better sound "

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Troubleshooting iPhone Audio:

A. Define "Weak":

How you you define "weak", when it comes to iPhone sound? Does it seem there is not enough bass, nor treble?

B. Report this to Apple:

Do your Part: Provide Apple with feedback on this, letting them know about this issue, and you point of view.  Apple may not get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive on this, the more they will know what is occurring, and what bug fixes to include in updates to come. Apple will know nothing of your issues, if you do report them to them.

1. Go Here: Feedback - iPhone - Apple
2. Select: "Performance" for the "Feedback Type"
3. Comment: that this all began after installing an update. Include the URL of this thread.
4. Proceed from there as necessary

C. A Few Links that May Help:

• If you Hear No Sound or Distorted Sound from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch Speaker - Apple Support

• If the Microphones on your iPhone aren't Working - Apple Support



• Control Audio Playback on AirPods with iPhone - Apple Support

• Adjust Audio and Visual Settings on iPhone - Apple Support

• Adjust the Volume on iPhone - Apple Support

• Volume Output: If you Can't Hear a Person on a Call or Voicemail or if the Sound isn't Clear on your iPhone - Apple Support

• Volume Input: if your Microphone isn’t Working or People Can’t Hear you While you’re on a Call -Apple Support

Go into settings.

Scroll down to Sound And Haptics.

Scroll down to Volume Limit.

Adjust the allowable volume limit.

I think it's preset at 60%

I hope this helps you.

“Same concern, maxed volume, speaker and in call / media playback is noticeably lower than 15 pro max.: i hope this gets fixed in a software update.”

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Try what I’ve provided in my reply to the OP.

Report this to Apple:

Do your Part: Provide Apple with feedback on this, letting them know about this issue.  Apple may not get back to you directly, but the more feedback they receive on this, the more they will know what is occurring, and what bug fixes to include in updates to come.

1. Go Here: Feedback - iPhone - Apple
2. Select: "Bug Report" for the "Feedback Type"
3. Comment: on how this is different. Include the URL of this thread.
4. Proceed from there as necessary

I'm having a similar issue. The volume and overall sound feels very muffled on my 17 Pro. It's much harder to hear certain notifications like texts on my 17 Pro compared to my 16e on the same volume. I don't know if this is a software thing or whether the full aluminum build of the 17 Pro muffles the sound more than the 16e.

The iPhone 17 Pro-Max feels like there is something seriously wrong with the speakers.

The left side physically reverberates while the right side does nothing. Tinny sound with no base. Higher volume makes it worse.

My 16 Pro-Max was much better. Tempted to go back unless there is a fix.

“My audio is tinny and hurts my ears as well- during calls. Doesn’t make a difference if speaker or internal or Bluetooth all sounds terrible. Call quality is the worst I’ve seen yet”

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Then do your part, and report this to Apple.

Here is the feedback I sent to Apple. I have had several iPhones over the last 20 years. They have always had stunningly good sound coming from the built in speakers. I “upgraded” to iPhone 17 Pro Max a couple of months ago. The sound of the 17 series phone is a serious “downgrade”. It sounds simply terrible and distorted compared to any predecessor. I surely hope this is a software issue that will be fixed immediately. If it is a hardware issue, then shame on Apple for failing miserably. Music is a huge part of my life and I do not want to look elsewhere beyond Apple for a good phone sound experience, but I surely will if Apple does not bring back the wonderful standard they they set prior to iPhone 17 release. 

“I hope this is not true. I love the iPhone 16: Max Pro for the music only. I have not received the Iphone 17 Max Pro yet. It is costly.”

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iPhone Sound Issues:

There’s plenty of bugs reported after the release of a device and the operating system. So, expect bugs if you use it without any updates having been released. And, if it comes to it, I’d recommend looking into purchasing AppleCare for a costly device: View Coverage - AppleCare & Warranty

My husband just called (11/6/25) from the 17 Pro & it sounds horribly distorted. It sounds as tho there is something covering the speaker but its also loud at the same time; its the oddest sound I've ever heard on a mobile phone. This is unacceptable. We have our lives with Apple but I think its time to find another solution.

I came searching the Internet to find someone with the same problem my husband just got the new 17 Pro Max and the quality is the worst I’ve ever heard when it comes to a phone call. You can hear like this volume is not low. It’s just like you can’t understand anything that he’s saying so I’m glad someone else is having this issue and it’s not only me. Did they do anything to fix it? Did they tell you how to fix it?

SAH448 wrote:

The iPhone 17 Pro-Max feels like there is something seriously wrong with the speakers.

The left side physically reverberates while the right side does nothing. Tinny sound with no base. Higher volume makes it worse.

What did Apple say when you had them evaluate it for you?

viciousvinyl wrote:

My audio is tinny and hurts my ears as well- during calls. Doesn’t make a difference if speaker or internal or Bluetooth all sounds terrible. Call quality is the worst I’ve seen yet

What did Apple say when you had them evaluate the phone?

I just got I phone pro max and disappointed with its sound out put. I called Apple care support and they ran the diagnostic test and it passed the test. I couldn’t get resolution. I was told to go to apple care support center which is very far. It is not matching volume of my husband’s I phone 11. I am thinking of returning my new phone if it can’t be fixed. I am an apple product lover and disappointed very much at their quality of product. Apple needs to address this issue ASAP. I will see if this can be fixed or return it.

Same concern, maxed volume, speaker and in call / media playback is noticeably lower than 15 pro max.

i hope this gets fixed in a software update.

I hope this is not true. I love the iPhone 16 Max Pro for the music only. I have not received the Iphone 17 Max Pro yet. It is costly.