iPhone 5 bad call voice quality

Hi,
I got the same problem with my iPhone 5. I'm living in France. And it's so frustating when you can't hear the person on the other line and all you can do is try to guess what he is saying... I already returned my first iPhone 5 and they gave me a new one but that didn't change anything at all, I still got the same problem. They told me if I still got the same problem I shoud change the nano SIM. I did but it didn't change anything either... I don't know what to do. We can only hope that apple fixes the problem, I suppose. Well, I'm still hoping ...

I just received huge news from Apple Ireland: 'your iPhone5 call quality issue is real, the next iOS version will solve it.' They could not say when the new iOS version will be released. Later today they will ask 'Apple engineers' if the call quality issue can be resolved -immediately- by installing iOS 6.1b2. This is a version that can be downloaded from Apple by becoming a developer. I will update on this via Twitter (@icallquality).

Let's hope this fixes the issue. I have been asked by Apple to replace my iphone 5 for the 4th time and try Sim card number 3 (all within 3 weeks) and I am reluctant this will change anything and I feel like waiting for the software update at this point before I decide to just call it all quits. Disappointing after a long, happy run with the 3GS.

I have noticed something with my troubleshooting. 2 things - If I hold my phone with the inside of my hand against the back of the phone (like a person would normally do) I will get the muffled call and interference, etc. If I hold the phone with only my fingertips (not comfortable) around the frame of the phone and keep the inside of my hand far away from making any contact with the back of the iphone 5, the call is much better, especially for the other party. I have a hard case on my phone and this seems to be a problem even when the case is removed.

I have also noticed that when I play an MP3 (purchased directly from Itunes) on my phone with the speaker, you can move your hand towards and away from the back of the phone and make the volume increase and decrease without even touching the phone. I'm wondering if the software update will fix this and if this is at all related. I see more posts are showing up with iphone 5 speaker problems too. Also I notice any songs (I purchased from Itunes) when played on the speaker sound terrible, especially if there is a signifigant electric bass guitar presence in the song. I have also tested the speaker while on hold with the Apple store and they put their 'on hold music' for you to listen to. I tried this from a landline and the hold music sounds perfect. From my iphone (lying on my desk with speaker on), the music is full of static and sounds like a radio station that is not tuned. This could be related to the troubleshooting problem above I noted with the back of the phone touching anything (hand, top of desk etc). I tried this within seconds of each other so the same song was streaming during the test.

Fingers crossed this all gets fixed soon!

Hi there,

Apple just removed my last post because:

"Recently you posted in Apple Support Communities a question regarding the Beta 3 beta available to Software Developers. Please be aware that Apple Support Communities forums are for released product support and Developers get support via the Apple Developer Connection.

Your post, "Re: iPhone 5 bad call voice quality," was removed as it deals with pre-release software.

We are eager to see more of the great apps you and other Developers continue to produce."

Well...

01. I was not asking a question.

02. I am not a developer.

03. Most important (this time I will use more conform words): The problem we are encountering here does not seem to be solved by the solution @johannesbouwmeester was posting before :-)

Regards

kcn

@kcn81

Well since this will be my last iPhone (I've previously owned the original, 3GS, 4 and 4S, despite all their issues, restrictions and the abomination that is iTunes) I can confirm that for me, the fading effect (not had the "robotic" issue) is resolved in b2 and b3.

However, that does not excuse Apple's apparent ignorance and arrogance on this issue and unfortunately b3 is not available to the general public resulting in the "geniuses" still recommending multiple phone replacements to colleagues, friends and family. An insanely awful situation.

I know so many people with this issues it’s not even funny and can’t believe they regard the loss of face as worse than admitting an issue and releasing a fix!

I don't have the robotic issue either, but I seem to have the same problem as others and it manifests itself when I am on a phone conference in which other members are on the other end with several talking around a speaker phone. Invariably there will be a couple around the mic on the other end that are further away, or talk low. Now, usually (with various Blackberries I used for the last 5 years in this use case) you just can't hear those people well, or you would have to increase the volume of the phone to hear them. But you could hear that they were talking. It was not broken up, not choppy.

Now, with the iPhone 5, lower volume talkers get chopped up. You hear them for a second or so, then don't for a second or so, and it repeats, and when you don't hear them you hear silence.

If I ask others to get closer to the mic and speak up, it helps, but for the most part since switching to the iPhone 5 I have become a nuisance on the phone when conferencing with others, and I have missed a lot of the conversations I am in.

So, I do think it is faulty white-noise detection as others have suggested, and I think it is insane that this didn't get caught in QA.

The fading is exactly the issue I had that seems to be resolved in b2/b3. However I still have a few people reporting I sound "muffled" and also seem to have an echo on some calls and others sometimes fail to connect, but these I suspect are other faults. As for QA... Aggh! I think it's pretty obvious there was practically none done.

I just found out that the 'sound dropping in and out/fading' definitely is a software issue: Switching on the setting 'Hearing Aid' seems to solve the problem: Settings > General > Accessibility > Hearing Aids (Bluetooth must be switched on for this option to appear, but you can switch it off again after activating the 'Hearing Aid'). Unfortunately, this workaround does not work when using earphones.

@ johannesbouwmeester

This is only a temp fix, just like the home/on/off button for 5 sec's, reset network settings, factory default via Itunes.

Check my posts on:

R_odec

Re: iPhone 5 bad call voice quality

Dec 1, 2012 11:47 AM

R_odec

Re: iPhone 5 bad call voice quality

Nov 30, 2012 6:46 AM

R_odec

Re: iPhone 5 bad call voice quality

Nov 30, 2012 3:32 AM

I'm having the same issue. I have an Iphone 5 with Sprint and every time I call, the person on the other end sounds robotic and very low. So low I can hardly hear them! It's sad because the Iphone 5 is perfect otherwise 😟

Hi there,

here at the Apfeltalk-Board, a user designed a form, so we can collect many many users that are annoyed with the problems discussed here. Maybe this can change something, when provider and Apple repeatedly say that there is no know problem.

Here is the Link: http://iphone.dominik.de -> You will have to use the "Eintragen" Section on top of the page.

Regards

kcn

Is there an English version or translation?

kcn81 Germany

Hi there,

here at the Apfeltalk-Board, a user designed a form, so we can collect many many users that are annoyed with the problems discussed here. Maybe this can change something, when provider and Apple repeatedly say that there is no know problem.

Here is the Link: http://iphone.dominik.de -> You will have to use the "Eintragen" Section on top of the page.

Regards

kcn

I now used my replaced iPhone 5 for 2.5 weeks. Yesterday I had a call at home and the problem was there.

I tried to disable the wifi and data connection, the call was still very bad. What helped a little bit was go to Settings > General > Accessibility > and turn on Hearing Aids.

I hope Apple fixes this issue fast because I don't wont to go back to the shop for changing the phone again, it's a waiste of energy and time.

Hello chobe2,

unfortunately not (yet). I could talk to Dominik and ask, so we can translate the most important Parts. Anyway it should not be too hard, to figure out what you have to type into the boxes.

At the end you will receive an e-mail with a link that you have to confirm, so your entry will be shown in the list.

I hope a lot of you will participate!

Here is the Link again: http://iphone.dominik.de -> You will have to use the "Eintragen" Section on top of the page.

More help needed?

Regard

kcn

Hi all,

tonight I want to make a english-version of my website http://iphone.dominik.de

When it is online, I write here...

Best regards from germany

Dominik