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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

Apr 7, 2016 6:19 AM in response to skierrob2

Same problem here with my car using MyFord Touch and with two additional bluetooth earpieces. I chatted with Apple support last night, they had me try restoring the phone and testing with no user data on the phone, still had the same issue. Seems like software or hardware to me. I'm supposed to get a call from an engineer this afternoon.

Ross_H_D

Level 1

4 points

Apr 7, 2016 8:51 AM in response to skierrob2

Ditto!

Same over modulation of BT on phone calls, with:

2015 GMC Yukon

Motorola S11-Flex HD Headphone

Sena motorcycle headset

As an added note this appears to effect phone calls and how I hear the other caller. The other caller reports a light bit of static but negligible when I speak. Music over BT via these devices appear clear and normal as it was for the 5s.

RHD

skierrob2 Author

Level 1

38 points

Apr 7, 2016 9:15 AM in response to skierrob2

All,

If you are having this issue and have NOT reported it to Apple yet, I suggest you do so. If Apple is aware of many different individuals having the issue, I think they might bump the priority of this issue to a higher level. I just don't want this thread to be a "replacement" for telling Apple about the problem because I can't guarantee that anyone at Apple is even looking at this thread. 🙂

FYI -- I did send diagnostic logs to Apple yesterday as they requested, but I most likely won't hear anything back from the support engineer that I'm working with until Saturday as he is out of the office.

Robert

Apr 7, 2016 9:18 AM in response to Steve9881

Having the same issues as outlined by others

i just got a 64gb SE but pairing it to my 2012 Fiesta the call quality is full of cracking to the point I can barely hear what the other persons saying, tried the troubleshooting stuff to no avail.

oddly enough my music plays flawlessly over Bluetooth but as soon as I am on a call it's awful.

jclr_9

Level 1

4 points

Apr 7, 2016 9:54 AM in response to skierrob2

I have the same issue with my SE with my Motorola headset, and my SENA in helmet communication system. Music works fine, but phone call quality is horrible.

Senna67

Level 1

8 points

Apr 7, 2016 10:17 AM in response to jclr_9

Same issue here with a parrot ck3100, works fine with iphone 4 and 5s but with the se its distorted.

iphone se 64 gb space grey from holland

Apr 7, 2016 10:21 AM in response to skierrob2

I am having the same problem with my SE that I got 4 days ago. Replaced it with a new SE last night and still having the same issue. Apple was trying to tell me it was my Chevrolet Impala. All other Iphones work fine in my car. I have tried it on several cars and it does the same thing.

skierrob2 Author

Level 1

38 points

Apr 7, 2016 10:25 AM in response to elvis1835

Let Apple know it is happening on multiple vehicles and point them to this thread. Need to make sure the engineers see this so a resolution can be created. My support engineer is out of the office until Saturday so if anyone can get more information from Apple about possible fixes coming from their end it would be great to know. 🙂

Robert

Jul 20, 2017 12:39 PM in response to skierrob2

I'm chatting with an AppleCare iOS Senior Advisor and just pointed her to this thread, she's submitting it to Engineering as well. I'll keep you guys updated.

Jordan

Apr 7, 2016 10:47 AM in response to Community User

Hello,

I have the same problem with the iPhone SE distorts the voice of my Bluetooth headset Plantronics Legend 😟

VUDoc27

Level 1

14 points

Apr 7, 2016 11:13 AM in response to Marcin_Koza_PL

The whole issue is a bummer. If it's hardware related, Apple's going to have to do some kind of recall or handset swap down the road as they certainly won't have a hardware fix for quite a while - which means early adopters need to either return the device or wait it out. If it's software related, anyone who's already returned the device (myself included) will need to re-order and wait the month + backorder to get another one and install the newest software fix, which is unfortunate for those of us that ordered early to make sure we got one on launch day.

Paz100

Level 1

4 points

Apr 7, 2016 12:18 PM in response to VUDoc27

I have the same issue too. The calls on Bluetooth are really scratchy. Please add iPhone SE in the UK with BMW 318d m sport E90

Hopefully a software fix is on its way quick!

Apr 7, 2016 1:29 PM in response to Paz100

My iPhone SE has the same issues as OP, but with 2010 Ford F150 with basic SYNC.

Upgraded Ford's SYNC software to latest (v4.4). Bluetooth quality for both calls and navigation (from iPhone) is still poor.

Wife's iPhone 6s sounds great. I've tried everything mentioned in this thread with the same results.

pike2k

Level 1

4 points

Apr 7, 2016 1:42 PM in response to skierrob2

iPhone SE 64GB. Plantronics Voyager Legend.

Sound is really crappy on my end.

I've reported it to Swedish Apple Support today, they've asked me to try with a fresh phone (factory reset) so I might do that in a day or so, but it feels like a lot of work for nothing.

The Plantronics headset has worked just fine with both iPhone 4S and 5S phones in the past.

swiftse3

Level 1

4 points

Apr 7, 2016 1:43 PM in response to skierrob2

I spent time on the phone today with Apple care. They now have logs from my SE. The gentleman I spoke with indicated he was "collecting information and data" for the engineers to solve the issue. He indicated he had spoken with others with the same issue. He indicated it was his opinion that there is a software issue that will be corrected in an update.

iPhone SE Bluetooth issues