Q: Light ticking or crackling from iPhone 4S earpiece when on a call

I have also this issue... i can speak with other people but this noise is annoying and it also happens when using siri when im trying to say something to "it" ...

Theory I'm hearing now is that it is wifi interference, I haven't tried yet, but some have said turning off wifi will eliminate the interference.

its impossible... by me its happening also if wifi is disabled... is it possible that every iphone 4S has this issue?...

My replacement iPhone 4S does not have this issue anymore, so I'm convinced it is a hardware issue with a particular batch of phones.  I would definitely arrange to swap it for another.  Unfortunately my replacement has an annoying rattle sound when it gently shake it or put it down.  The screen looks better though.  I'm sure my original 4S didn't rattle.  Not sure whether to get another replacement....

I'm on O2 in the UK.  My iphone 4 has never been a problem - for any reason.  My iphone 4S is not as good.  I get the same 'static' style interference - but only when using my earphones.  I'm on my second phone and it's the same.  The interferrence seems to kick-in after 3 mins on a call.  It is so bad I have trouble with a conversation and usually have to call back.  On a long conversation I've done this 3 or 4 times, its the only way.  Then it will take maybe 5 mins before it starts again.

Someone once told me never to buy a phone from the 'first batch' as they always have a fault of one kind or another!!!  Seems they were right.

Same problem here in Greece.

Just bought mine on Saturday and I had to swap it after a couple of days due to random signal loss (had to restart the phone to register with my network again). Now the new piece has this annoying noice coming out from the earpiece when placing calls (which is not constant). INTERSTINGLY i tried making a call using mobileVOIP app and the noice disappeared! In my case the issue is "visible" only when I use native GSM function...

Cant really tell if i am willing to take the risk and swap for a new one... Who knows what issue the new one might bring along... I'll probably wait for the iPhone 5

Feedback to APPLE: average batch of phones! Really disappointed...

An update. I finally bit the bullet and made the Genius Bar appointment. They swapped out my phone (Black 16GB ATT - ordered on first day of availability) with a new one. This one hasn't exhibited any of the problem so far.

One interesting note: the model I got from the Genius Bar was different that the model I originally had. New Model No is MC922LL (I don't have the old number handy). I don't know if this is the model number to the unlocked versions they are selling (would seem to make sense since carrying a stock in-store for repair/replacement for all carriers would seem pointless) or if this is an updated version.

Having the same issue.  Heading to the store tomorrow for a replacement.  Lame

Received my black 16g iphone 4s(VERIZON) this past Wednesday. Within 5 minutes

received a call but could not hear the person talking, only a crackling sound of their

voice. Tried it several times, all with same results. Called Verizon on Thursday and

spoke with their Apple Geek: ran a restore of system through iTunes, and a network

restart through them. The crackling audio continued. Could only make or receive calls with

speaker phone. Verizon called me last night, and told me to go to the store I purchased it, since the wait for replacement was 6 weeks! If I went to the store it might be sooner. The same wait at the store,

and it takes me 40 minutes to get to the store. Very disappointed in Apple and Verizon(with their

poor replacement time).

I had the same issue. They replace my 4S but has the same issue. Back to the 3GS until apple release a software update.

Same problem as well. I have the 64GB. I hope is not a hardware problem, because will be hard to get a replacement here in Greece.

And I know another person that has the same problem with an iPhone 4s (16GB) as well.

If it is a hardware issue then they will have to replace a lot of phones (hundreds of thousand or even more).

Same issue here in Spain, really disappointed. It seems like an interference when the 3G is running. I never heard it when I switch off the cellular data. Anybody knows if it's a hard or soft issue?

Kepin,

I don't believe anyone knows for sure if it's hardware or software related but ALL iPhone 4S models are effected on ALL carriers.

I suggest you move on to another manufacturer for your smartphone needs and see what issues the iPhone 5 brings....

The iPhone 4 and 4S has been Apples BIGGEST black eye EVER!

Its a Hardware issue.. It is interference from faulty design or Cheap components. You can not fix Signal interference through software update. That's what is going on in most cases.

You can tell Signal interference from any other static because of its constant Pulses, or ticking, if you will. It has been a while since I initially posted about this problem but have Since did quite a bit of Troubleshooting and have determined it is Signal Interference from the CELLULAR DATA Transmissions to the Network. Similar to the GSM interference you get though external speakers that your phone is sitting close to when you receive a call.

Now this is not a GSM problem in this case as it reaches all carriers, but is an example for people who know that sound. It has a different pattern than the Usual GSM interference we are all used to because it is DATA Transmission and not strictly VOICE transmission, So there is a slightly different ticking sound which caused me to misdiagnose the problem as being interference from the processor or other component inside the phone.

For one, it is annoying, but is not to the extreme as some people are posting on here. I think there are people experiencing something far worse than the problem that this post was intended for. In that case, I'm sure a replacement phone will fix those issues.

But for the light ticking, it is just a DATA Transmission interference in the handset earpiece Speaker, and as someone mentioned above, does not show up when Cellular Data is Turned OFF on the phone.

This interference is not reaching the Loud speaker or speaker phone speaker, or in the headset. If it is, then there is another problem than that mentioned in this forum.

I agree it is annoying and disappointing to say the Least, But maybe in 6 months or so when the suppliers exhaust their inventory of the faulty components or Apple fixes the problem, it will disappear.

I had an iPhone 4 from the First batch and the Proximity sensors in those first phones were not working correctly and the Home button stopped working half of the time. I got a replacement a few months before my warranty was up so I could get the latest Batch of phones and It worked Great.

Just Hoping this will be the same situation!

But for the people Always waiting for a SOFTWARE Patch to fix Hardware issues, such as, Death Grip - iP4, Battery - iP4S, Proximity Sensor - iP4, (All these were addressed with a Software Patch that might have fixed 1% of the phones but no one I ever knew.)

keep waiting because it is Impossible, Apple updates are like a Placebo, it makes people feel better but doesn't actually fix anything.

Same issue here. This thing is reaaaally annoying !!!! I paid so much for that ? / Iphone 4s 16gb - M-Tel carrier /