iPad Air 2 is making a popping noise!

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iPad Air 2 is making a popping noise!

I just bought an iPad Air 2 and there is an arcing pop sound. It sounds and feels like it is electrical and coming from inside. I reviewed the tear down of the iPad Air 2 and the sound is coming exactly where the Ram and processor are. Well there is Ram on either side of the processor. All the same it is coming from that area. I noticed on Macrumors it is a common event regarding these iPads. So maybe it is just part of how it woks? I would think there should be no noise associated with SSD and Apple's processors! Some folks are saying it is the speakers but I hear it when the sound is muted and even if it were not speakers you would still hear a static popping noise in the earbuds based on the basics on how earbuds work. There is an electric current that causes vibrations which is interpreted as music. So if there was a static discharge in the iPad the Earbuds would pick it up. If the speakers were on mute and the sound came from them well same principle as the earbuds.

My point is after reading several posts does anyone have any fresh ideas as to what it is and is Apple acknowledging the issue? I have presents to take back if this is an unsolved case that Apple is denying.

iPad Air, iOS 8.1.1, iPad Air 2

Posted on Nov 24, 2014 12:05 PM

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Answer 1

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Tom70

Level 1

5 points

Nov 24, 2014 5:11 PM in response to iCronos

There is an active discussion here: iPad air 2 pop noise

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Answer 2

iCronos Author

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Nov 24, 2014 6:15 PM in response to Tom70

Thanks Tom70, I was looking at all the threads and viewers of this on going problem. Apple denied the issue when I returned my iPA2 even after I showed them all of the community threads... So I wonder why there are over 20,000 viewers and over seven threads regarding this issue, including the on going discussion on Macrumors and Apple employees and Apple Care deny there are any reports of this problem?

I have been punching apple keyboards for over 30 years and seen a lot of interesting changes over those years and I have to say not responding to such a huge problem, as internal arcing in the iPads, could lead to a lot of hazards, including shocking people, starting fires etc..

Tom70, I read some of the posts in your thread and there seems to be either two different issues or some folks are misunderstanding this issue as being a speaker issue and I can assure you this is not a speaker problem this is an electric arc caused by bad connections of several internal components. In addition, I noticed the iPA2 was glitchy, the screen would flicker and sometimes the screen would not respond to my touch. This version had a new screen concept that was supposed to be more sensitive to the touch. Also, the arcing sound is coming from the area of the processor and two RAM chips. My friend's iPA2 had the exact same problem.

He is my IT specialist that works on my companies tech. He believes the issue is with fast production on the first few months of the iPA2. Apple did mention, before they released the iPA2, that they were having production issues and this maybe a reflection of that. I would recommend waiting until after the Apple Watch comes out before buying one again. They probably will have a fix by then... Right now it is a gamble.

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Answer 3

Nov 27, 2014 9:31 AM in response to iCronos

I Am calling this as a software issue. Apple has this issue on some MacBooks too. It is the initialization of the speaker hardware. I use a small software utility on my Mac Pro called "AntiPop" to prevent the speaker hardware from turning off which prevents the issue. I bet this gets fixed in a software update. I think the speaker hardware gets powered off by firmware to save battery. When it turns on again you hear the pop. That is my best guess. I will wait until a few software updates before I start the return multiple iPads game. You will most likely get one with the same issue as it is most likely software bug. I am willing to bet anyone who thinks they got a "good" one is going to eventually hear it. I have only heard it when no other sound is on the iPad and I click something that needs sound, it then wakes up the speaker hatdeare causing the pop. The software fix will probably shorten battery life but I will leave that up to apples engineers to figure out. Be patient everyone, if it is software, it will get fixed, if it is hardware, you are better off waiting a few months to see if newer iPad Air 2 are having the issues still....

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Answer 4

jilwilly

Level 1

9 points

Nov 27, 2014 11:38 AM in response to iCronos

I also had this problem.Apple had me send it in,told me they couldn't duplicate the problem to fix it, and sent it back. Today the screen started freezing up and when I tried restarting it...well,it won't! I have lost my trust in apple!

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Answer 5

iCronos Author

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Nov 29, 2014 5:48 AM in response to jilwilly

I know Apple has their own A8X processors...

Apple is being pretty closed lipped about this. I love "it is a software issue". Any SSD, processor, RAM, driven device should never just POP or make a crack sound. When you put a voltage meter on it it spikes overtime it pops. I was having screen issues too. Not responding to the touch, flashing or flickering screen, blank screen after waking it, and it would sometimes freeze.

I bought my first one online, then I returned it to a store for an exchange, same issues so I finally returned it for a refund. Every time I took it back the staff and Apple Care told me they have not heard about this issue. The strange thing is my son returned his iPad Air 2 the same day to the same store for the same issue and that store said the same thing. "They were not aware of this problem". In addition my friend had the same problem and he returned his for a refund too. Apple denied the issue too. Software, wow, it is a production issue with the hardware, that is why some are fine and others are not. By the way they recalled the RAM in those MacBook's fore mentioned in an earlier reply. They had the same issue with the 2012 MacBook Air and first they said it was software then they recalled the RAM in those too. Their is a website devoted to the issue and it tests your MacBook Air to see if you have the Ram that they recalled.

I know Apple has their own A8X processors but...

The New Nexus 9 is doing the same thing and it has the Intel Snap Dragon mobile chip and two GB of Ram as well. Intel has gone public and stated they were having problems with their mobile processors. Does not sound like software to me.

I know Apple has their own A8X processors but it is not a secret that there are problems with high powered processors and multiple RAM in mobile devices.

Take it back, get a refund, contact Apple through the iPad feed back site, and wait until next year.

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Answer 6

Konbi

Level 1

0 points

Dec 5, 2014 1:04 PM in response to iCronos

I Read similar articles in the Associated Press. Intel was going to start spending more time and money on mobile chips. I was going to buy the Nexus 9 on Amazon and there were a few complaints regarding a popping sound. So I would think after reading that and having these same issues with totally different devices that it is Hardware. Besides when I returned both of mine they told me it was hardware. Apple is aware of this issue. I do not know why folks are saying they don't. Every time I called Apple Business Team they told me it was a hardware issue and to return it or take it to the nearest Apple Store.

I Received a follow up call a few days ago and they suggested now is a good time to buy. We went and picked up two. So far no problems. We both use them for work. Sun up to sun down and then some and no flickering, pops, blank screens, or just glitchy stuff what so ever. Well, besides the regular glitchy 8.1.1 stuff. We were told we have 30 day's instead of 14 due to the "holiday" return policy so we will be putting them to the test. We have a lot of events to coordinate. If all goes well we will upgrade our employees iPad Mini 3's.

I Think some people saying it is software are Apple competitors.

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Answer 7

Dec 11, 2014 11:25 AM in response to iCronos

So,

For what it's worth: I bought an air2 yesterday. I immediately noticed both distortion and static (popping noises) whenever I played streaming radio or downloaded video (mostly lectures).

I found multiple threads, many of which suggested hardware problems.

Since I had RadioEqu installed I decided to play with the manual settings to see whether I could either improve the problem or make it worse.

What I discovered was that even at the default setting I was getting a warning (red streak across the top) that I was exceeding the upper limit I had set.

I dragged the Eq line until it was well below the default horizontal line. All static stopped immediately. Very much what you would expect if you were overdriving your speakers by cranking the volume to 11. It also created the problem of insufficient volume. Keeping in mind that Equ advised that dragging the EQU curve down reduced the gain, I then used the EQ volume control (top right corner speaker icon) to crank up the volume.

LOW AND BEHOLD......ears plotting volume with zero distortion, zero static and zero popping.

SO, maybe APPLE just has the gain cranked too high. I didn't check to see whether the gain can be reduced somewhere with Apple's normal system. At $4.99 I think RADIOEQU is a fine way to get streaming radio, equalization and no more static. I assume that there are other free or cheaper EQU apps that can do the same.

I would be interested to see if this (or similar) works for anyone else.

JOhn

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Answer 8

VAC93

Level 1

0 points

Feb 27, 2015 2:13 PM in response to iCronos

I Bought my iPad air 2 about 3 weeks ago and just heard the popping static noise that wouldn't stop until I restarted it 😕,wondering if the problem is serious or not

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Answer 9

hhart

Level 1

9 points

May 25, 2015 9:35 PM in response to iCronos

I had the same problem with the popping noise, and the same response from Apple tech supporters. I sent one a link to a youtube video that demonstrated it, so I know at least one person there has now heard what everyone else is talking about!

I was told to send the iPad Air 2 in for repair or return, and they replaced it. So far, it seems ok, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

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