iPhone 4s, echo when using apple headset during a call

Skype works fine :) - Vodafone Germany same echo issue I hear myself talking :(

This doesn't work--in fact putting speaker on and off can create the issue--sometimes. This is a nasty unacceptable, intermittent bug and is making my phone useless for business calls--AND WORSE--when you call customer service, they act like they have never heard of the issue. Only found out I wasn't crazy by going to the web...AWFUL!!!

I had an echo issue. People that i called heard the their own voice, echo. I went to apple store rhey flashed the iphone, reloaded it back up - it didnt help. Then they replaced the iphone, still didnt help . I found the problem myself . It was external battery that you slide on iphone that was making that stupid Echo. ISSUE FIXED. I hope this post will help some of you out there.good luck!!!

dude I dont know about the battery fix you performed. I never used an external battery as I believe most people with the issue havent either. Aint got nothing to due with an external battery. But good luck with that!! All I can say is the Apple folks know this is an issue world wide and they wont admit or acknowledge it. **** shame too cuz I will never buy an apple product again unless they do. (returned mine to verizon). All I can say is thumbs up for the folks that returned this piece of crap and shame on the ones that didn't cuz they are stuck with their little toy now!

In response to RafalFromNJ: No idea what you mean by 'external battery'. Can you explain? I've never used any external battery. Most people with this problem I'm sure are not using an external battery either.

It is appalling that Apple have not fixed this and that they continue to force their employees to pretend they've never heard of the issue (after a couple of minutes in the store, they feel ashamed of themselves in my experience). This is happening worldwide (I'm writing this from the UK).

It is normal. All iPhone 4s echo, test any out there, and you'll see. What most people complain about is a totally diffrent echo problem that happens only sometimes. But people who have higher standards, will notice that 4s echo is something that no other apple phone has had. The extent of the problem is unclear, except when you are using headphones, then it is most clear (and it will be echoing 10 out of 10 times... If you have not noticed it, it is because you have not looked for it). Apple has not even recognized the problem, hence why they lose thousands of dollars by replacing so many phones over and over again. Funny thing is, if you use the headphones with skype, there is no problem (so the problem is for sure software), but it looks like there won't be any updates for it either. And there is no word that the insanly delayed 5.0.2 or 5.1 (or whatever the **** it will be called) even touches on the issue. If it will, it will probably fix the issue that can be fixed by enabling speaker. On the other hand, If everyone was using headphones and had sensative ears, then they would fix it... But that is not the case and therefore the complaint is not big enough. In some ways apple is just broken as a company that refuses to change some aspects of itself due to pride, and undemanding customers. It is shameful to have a smartphone that feeds back your voice into the speaker. It is just blunt ignorance, while the genuis bar guys who know even less keep replacing your phones for no reason.

This isn't anything to do with having "high standards" and having "sensitive ears". I have a congenital bisensinaural hearing impairment of moderately severe to severe nature (if you were to pit it in percentages, 85% loss in left ear, 65% loss in right ear) and I depend on hearing aids just to have a face-to-face conversation with people (even then I have a hard time understanding folks though I hear them just fine), let alone be able to work. I rely on devices that have good volume and clear modulation, which are STILL far and few in between and often expensive (insurance almost never covers anything hearing-related).

I have been interested in iOS devices because they have several features for people with disabilities such as me. The iPhone 4S-my first iPhone (I've had an iPad for almost 2 years) was reported to be significantly louder than the 4, so I thought to check it out. Phones go through rigorous testing with me, with and without wearing my hearing aids (as well as with and without their Bluetooth connectivity). In the Sprint Store, I found the volume to be satisfactory in all cases except for when placing the phone up to my ear while wearing a hearing aid (that is, assuming I didn't have/not using the aid's Bluetooth connecting device hanging down from around my neck), which requires special positioning so the solution for that is to use the speaker. I bought the iPhone 4S.

Well after I got home (1.5 hours/75 miles north of the store, which is the closest to me), I began to notice the voice feedback loop echo. VERY annoying and making it very difficult for me to understand the person I'm talking to. This occurs in all cases, including using plug-in wired earphones, my hearing aids with and without their Bluetooth connectivity and both speakers on the phone. Strange that this was not present at the store, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it. I tried different things to no avail. My research has yielded that this is a commonplace problem and certainly one I've rarely encountered in cell phones or cordless phones in the past. Still, I kept trying to work my way around it and hope that a fix could be had, including tips from other owners and Apple/Sprint, plus replacing my iPhone with a new one twice (from different stores...went to the nearest Apple Store in Portland, on the other side of the mountains 3.5 hours/100 miles away...which proves to me it isn't a "bad batch" problem). Sadly, the 14 day return period went by quickly during which I had hoped to resolve the issue vs the driving distances trips (I don't go that far JUST for one thing only) vs work schedule, etc.

The problem persists, though SOME calls aren't nearly as bad as others, fortunately. Oddly enough. I've never had anyone complain to me that THEY were hearing echoes during calls, but they haven't mentioned it perhaps thinking it was related to their equipment or the connection. I LOVE the iPhone 4S (I gave my HTC EVO 4G-which never once had an echo or voice feedback loop echo issue-to my sister) for its many cool and handy features, as well as being in the same ecosystem as my iPad. However, I'm sorely disappointed in the call quality-which is actually quite good-because of this issue. I love Apple and my experience with the company and its staff has been top-notch. But, to be honest, for them to continue ACTING like the problem is something that doesn't exist is disingenuous. "We're now aware of this and are working on it"-at the least-would be acceptable.

This is my 2nd iPhone. I had the iPhone 3g and now the iPhone 4s.

I too am experiencing the "echo" issue as well. While in the car, I plug the iphone into the stereo connection (so I can listen to my music).

When a call comes in, I answer the phone and use the speakers of the car and mic on the iphone. This worked awesome with the iPone 3g. Now with the iPhone 4s, when I answer a call, the caller states "I hear a really bad echo". Also, when they speak almost every other word is getting cut out. It's almost as if the "noise gate" on the microphone isn't engaging, creating a loop in the audio.

To test this I made a call to someone and I scratched the microphone, I could hear my scratching as loud as day through the speakers. If I press "MUTE" while the other person is speaking, they don't hear the echo any more.

I created a trouble ticket, the apple rep stated this is the FIRST they've heard of this problem. They told me to backup/wipe the phone. I did this and the problem still persists.

I'm getting a little frustrated at Apple's inability to acknowledge bugs and at least state they they are working on the issue, rather "pretending" it doesn't exist.

I hope there is a fix for this on the horizon.

I think everyone who has reported this issue including myself has been intentionally snubbed by Apple and it is obvious. Even CNET has acknowledged that there have been numerous consumer complaints about this echo issue on the 4S. As I mentioned before, I returned my Iphone 4S without going through all the BS that a lot of other people have had to go through as it it was obvious that I would be stuck with a defective product had I held onto it past the return date. The verizon staff also seemed to be well trained on playing dumb with this issue as well. Especially since I bought my phone 2 weeks before xmas when sales were red hot and in high demand. My guess is that as long as the 4S is in high demand. The echo issue will remain mute. The only way this issue will ever be addressed by Apple is if the news/media informs the public. If anyone can figure out how to make that happen.....well thumbs up to ya!!! Until then Samsung or HTC will need to bring these idiots to their knees with new technolgy and better product. Apple can only live off of a legacy for so long before they too fail!!

PROBLEM SOLVED (for my 4S phone):

Like you I had the Echo issue. In fact I had stopped using the earbuds completely and just relied on the speakerphone. I finally stopped complaining and gave the Genius Bar a try. The tech re-installed the Phone's firmware and since that time (three weeks now and over 38 hours of earbud talk time) not a single echo issue. I strongly recommend giving this a try. BTW, the phone voice call quality is really below average on all IPhones. A friend of mine is an engineer with one of the major carriers who told me that the IPhone consistently ranks as the worst performing phone on their network. I would agree. However, as far as an internet/email/multi-media device, it is the best. Just want to put it into perspective with why we all put up with issues like this. Hope this fix works for some or all of you.

Hi All -

I too have this problem and Apple support is unresponsive and LAME.

Case created: January 27, 2012

Case ID: 285438408

I purchased the 4S 22 days ago.

They want me to return the iPhone to them for repair. Total BS!

Why should I be inconvenienced when it is Apple's faulty product.

They tried to strong arm me into Apple Care. Again Total BS!

They should advance replace my 4S at no cost to me.

I wonder if a NEW 4S will ALSO have this annoying echo/hypersensitive mic?

Just needed to share and document my dissatisfaction with Apple publically.

Let's hope Apple steps up and corrects this problem SOON.

- Verohomie

BTW, the speaker phone trick doesn't help my echo/hypersensitive mic.

In response to D_4s: reinstalling the firmware does not help, as many users on these pages and elsewhere consistently report. I'm glad you no longer have this annoying issue, but it has nothing to do with a reset, I'm afraid.

Plus, many of us experience a problem in which the person we are talking to hears an echo (regardless of any headset, earbuds, etc that I am using or not using). This problem has the low-tech fix of enabling speakerphone and my end for the echo to disappear - as has also been extensively reported here.

There is no solution, to my knowledge, to this widely and globally reported problem. Incidentally, Apple store staff worldwide continue to be instructed to pretend that "they've never heard of that before". Playing dumb like this will take them places, I'm sure.

Interestingly, a message recently posted by a user called "hhung516" to this thread was calling for support in turning this problem (and cover-up, as the user put it) into a recall. The message was removed from this discussion. It makes you wonder.

This is an endemic problem--and Apple is trying (pretty effectively) to cover it up. Where are the techie journalists when we need them.. Suggest everyone go --not to the Apple store--but to their service provider--Verizon/ATT whomever--and complain LOUDLY and tell all your friends. The service providers have more clout-- and you need to go to the retail locations--customer service can't help--but they do know it's a device issue.

Let's see if this message is deleted..

Now they're removing our posts if they don't like them? Wow Apple! That's a new low. And here I was wondering if they read these posts. I guess I know the answer.

I've had this phone for 4 months already and still not a word about fixing this problem. By the way, when I called customer service (2 months ago) they said they knew about the problem and that it is being worked on.