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skierrob2 Author

Level 1

38 points

iPhone SE Bluetooth issues

I have a new iPhone SE and have so far paired it to a 2014 BMW 328i and a 2011 Kia Optima and a 2015 Kia Santa Fe. In all cases, I have terrible quality bluetooth call reception... the audio while on a phone call is extremely scratchy and distorted.

If I pair an iPhone 6S to each of these vehicles (same iOS version - 9.3.1), I do NOT experience these issues and calls are clear.

When I use the iPhone SE to make phone calls outside of Bluetooth, I have no issues and calls are clear.

This bluetooth issue on my iPhone SE does NOT impact Bluetooth music streaming. Only sounds scratchy / distorted with phone calls.

Apple, so far, is blaming the vehicle manufacturers despite there being multiple vehicle models and brands involved.

BMW and Kia state this must be an Apple problem.

Apple Genius bar is absolutely no help -- they state they can't report "software issues" to Apple and are only able to replace bad iPhones.

I'm at a complete loss as to how to get this to Apple's attention so they can fix the issue.

For now, I don't know what to do. All I know is that Bluetooth audio is very important to me in California since it is illegal to use your phone except in a hands free manner.

Anyone know how we can get this information to someone at Apple that can actually do something about it?

Robert

Posted on Apr 4, 2016 5:27 PM

934 replies

bwinter

Level 1

18 points

Apr 19, 2016 12:13 AM in response to elzale

well, those points are all logical from the technical side, but still I would suggest that a 600$ phone has to work everywhere the way it should.

I haven't got a problem, if a bugfix is needed, and I'm a satisfied iphone user since day one, but at least it would be good, if apple support would officially acknowledge the problem. I mean, in some countries it seems that Apple is stating that the problem is known, while in others the customers getting the answer that the problem is completely unknown.......

Apr 19, 2016 12:15 AM in response to elzale

To say it clear: every iphone (4S, 5, 5S, 6) we have her works with every BT Adapter (different cars, different headsets) and the iphone SE works with none of them as expected. So I am sure, the problem is not related to the carrier, and it is not related to the BT adapter.

So it maybe a hardware problem not affected to all phones and maybe only a percantage uses BT calls and the ones with perfect conditions don´t even realize that they have only 80% of normal condition.

Apr 19, 2016 12:29 AM in response to alexpetra

Again, Bluetooth standart support voice call with microphone (all voices with microphone) for all phones only in 8 bit mono.

The quality of music always better in stereo.

So, 8bit mono has always have noises, sometimes not, sometines yes.

Only new Creative FastStream codec has expanded back chanel for microphone in Bluetooth and can make crystal clear sound with mic, but also in mono.

And iPhone and most of Bluetooth headphones don't have Creative FastStream codec.

Apr 19, 2016 12:28 AM in response to denisamir

So why is BT call quality good with all iphones except the SE? That is not conclusive, except there is some kind of issue with the SE, and that is, what everybody here is talking about.

Apr 19, 2016 12:38 AM in response to alexpetra

How you compare iPhone SE and others with voice calls?

One call in one phone is always different with another. 8 bit mono sound have many noises always.

So, you have to clear understand that crystal clear sound during voice calls you will not catch on both phones.

Because of that It have to be very big difference between different calls quality from different phones to for sue say that iPhone SE have a problem with voice calls (if it have big difference in quality to bad side)

You can make 10 calls from iPhone SE and 10 calls from other Iphones to make true comparision.

bwinter

Level 1

18 points

Apr 19, 2016 12:39 AM in response to denisamir

Well, if I have the iphone se paired, calling a partner, not able to understand a single word, then immediately pairing an iphone 5 (using the same carrier) and the quality is good then can only point to an issue caused by the iphone se, anything else would not be logical....

Apr 19, 2016 12:43 AM in response to denisamir

With older iphone i can understand always the caller good enough, with the SE it is sometime so bad youd can´t even understand a word. If i do a call with the SE and its bad and i then switch to the iphone 6 with the same carrier and the same caller is clearly understandable. I can repeat this, but the result is the same.

Of course i don´t expect perfect stereo sound on a voice call, but i expect to understand the caller like the years before with other iphones.

I have the feeling, that you never experienced it yourself.

Apr 19, 2016 12:58 AM in response to alexpetra

I am wait solution or recall iPhone SE before I will bay it.

Apr 19, 2016 1:35 AM in response to skierrob2

I have same problem , Solution please .

Apr 19, 2016 1:47 AM in response to ilhanmania

I second this. This forum is really great to *show* that there is problem. It made me cancel my order of the iPhone SE and saved me a lot of despair. Thank you all for that.

However, I think this forum is *not* a good place to mumble about possible solutions. It does not help others and Apple would not care. They care about sales numbers.

The only one who could and has to deliver the solution - is Apple. As an Apple customer and believer for 30+ years I am more than annoyed about their silence. Shame on you Apple. This is your customer base here. Without us you are doomed.