On the iPhone 5/5s, can you hear the other person properly when they are lying down?

Hi this is definitely an issue with my iphone 5s as well. As soon as i lie down in bed the other person cannot hear me clearly. The voice is significantly muffled. I have tested this several times and have swapped for a new phone but the pro lem persists. I an going to try a third brand new handset and if the problem still exists will cancel my 24 month mobile plan asap!

Yes I am facing the same problem.

When the phone is upside-down, other person is not able to hear me clearly.

I have been facing this problem consistently. My voice appears distant or muffled to the person at the other end when i lie down and talk, specifically when my phone's microphone is more towards ceiling. I have got my phone replaced of this issue but the issue exists in new piece as well to a lesser extend although. I am not sure if its iPhone 5s production issue or what!!

It's definitely a software issue because the issue does not occur when laying down on Skype calls. This issue has existed for at least four years through all the software and hardware upgrades. So Skype gets it right on the iOS platform and apple cannot or doesn't find this issue important enough to address.

Once again...you aren't addressing Apple when you post on this forum.

Please submit your feature request to Apple at this link: http://www.apple.com/feedback

I have this exact same problem. At first I thought it must be a bad iPhone 5s so I sent it back for a new one. The new one had the same problem. It is inexcusable that a cell phone doesn't even work well as a phone, much less all the other gadgets. Sorry, Apple. This will be my last iPhone.

tomwk wrote:

I have this exact same problem. At first I thought it must be a bad iPhone 5s so I sent it back for a new one. The new one had the same problem. It is inexcusable that a cell phone doesn't even work well as a phone, much less all the other gadgets. Sorry, Apple. This will be my last iPhone.

There's nothing inherent about the iPhone that prevents the microphone from working properly, regardless of the orientation of the iPhone.

Test the issue with the Voice Memo app. If you can play back your recorded voice properly, then it's not the device.

This is the only thread I've ever seen that reports this issue, and only six people have reported the issue. It seems to be a very 'unique' set of circumstances. And with only six reports in a year and half or so, that's not a lot of incidences.

Not true. A lot of people don't participate in fora. I have the same issue. I know a lot of people who have the same issue. It is not 'six people in a year and a half'. More likely 'six people (+one) who have spoken/written about it'.

The issue is very annoying as I can't receive calls while bedridden. I need a phone that works in the hospital, when I am in bed sick, when I am asleep and get a call from my aging parents in the middle of the night... This is not a trivial issue.

msmapple wrote:

The issue is very annoying as I can't receive calls while bedridden. I need a phone that works in the hospital, when I am in bed sick, when I am asleep and get a call from my aging parents in the middle of the night... This is not a trivial issue.

The phone works fine while lying down. I use it while reclining quite often. The problem is that, while lying flat in bed, people have tendency to hold the phone so that the microphone is down near their neck rather than closer to their mouth. Gravity in action. Adjust the postition of the phone so that the center line goes from your ear to the corner of your mouth. It will be fine.

You will probably be more comfortable using some sort of headset, though, especially if you're going to be on a long conversation. You can also use the phone on speaker.

This issue is not about people "tendency to hold the phone". The product is poorly designed. I had the iPhone 6 with no problem The whole time I had it (over a year). Got the 6s and it had the problem from first day, replaced it within the week and the second 6s had the problem as well. This problem seems to happen every second model Apple releases. I replaced the 4s and the 5s 3 or so times each because of it.

When I lie down and talk at certain angles (like holding to to my right ear) then it doesnt work and people on the other side can only hear very very muffled sound. This happens on some iPhones but not others. It is a serious design fault that needs to be fixed. People should be able to lie down and talk to other people. It is ridiculous that sometimes some versions of the phones don't have this problem and then later versions the problem reemerges. I have probably swapped over 7 phones (and will swap over another today) because of it which comes out of apples pocket. An otherwise 10/10 product becomes a 5/10.

MightyRowan wrote:

This issue is not about people "tendency to hold the phone". The product is poorly designed. I had the iPhone 6 with no problem The whole time I had it (over a year). Got the 6s and it had the problem from first day,

As you have a different phone than anyone else in the thread (the 6S hadn't been released when this thread was last active), you may have a different problem.