iPhone 17 Pro Max top speaker crackling at high volume, even after iOS 26.1 update

Hey everyone,

I’ve got an iPhone 17 Pro Max, and since the day I bought it, the top speaker has been crackling or buzzing at high volumes — especially when playing mid-to-high frequencies (like vocals or certain instruments).

I’ve already updated to iOS 20.1, but unfortunately, it didn’t fix the issue. I’m wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same problem and whether the update made any difference for you.

Has anyone contacted Apple Support or visited an Apple Store about this? If so, what did they say — is it a hardware issue or something software-related?

Unfortunately, I’m currently in a country where there are no Apple Centers, so I can’t get an official diagnostic myself.

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience!

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: iPhone 17 Pro Max — top speaker crackling at high volume, even after iOS 20.1 update. Anyone else?