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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

355f

Level 1

4 points

Apr 29, 2016 10:12 AM in response to skierrob2

Purchased SE today from Covent Garden store.

Paired with Mercedes and Bluetooth call quality is very poor- I mentioned this in store an apparently no one was aware of the issue.

Refunded and got my old 5S back!

Apple should fix this problem

DrumTeo

Level 1

4 points

Apr 29, 2016 11:01 AM in response to 355f

Just got the SE and i can confirm that i have the bluetooth issue. My car is a Volkswagen Polo (2014), Radio Composition Media (Hardware 840, 6c00358698). No problem with music streaming... just during the calls. Hope in a fix soon... i'm loving this phone.

Apr 29, 2016 11:16 AM in response to Steve Sparks

I had this issue for several days with my SE with static on the car speaker--so much that I could not hear the other person. The call receiver said my voice was of good quality but I could not hear via the speaker connected to my car Bluetooth. I tried several things including reset network, hard reboot, and restore. Nothing worked. Then I called Apple support and she suggested that I backup using iTunes and restore my SE. She said the Apple server would REPLACE my current IOS 9.3.1 version and then restore all my data and apps. It seems to have corrected my issue of static on my 2015 Subaru Outback. I've made several calls and the sound quality is SO much better. It is possible that the technician may have set something related to my phone serial number that caused the service to reconfigure my SE IOS rather than just image it back from my backup version. Not sure but my phone call quality is much better.

akordion

Level 1

15 points

Apr 29, 2016 11:21 AM in response to ken.macomber

It seems to be a "regular" restore of iOS via iTunes and then restore from backup. Done this few times with different scenarios, nothing worked.

Adam F

Level 3

614 points

Apr 29, 2016 3:05 PM in response to akordion

Just received 2 iPhone SE 64 GB phones yesterday. One was an upgrade from a 4S running 9.3.1. I was excited to get going...1st phone call over Bluetooth came in sounding like poop (exactly as described in this forum to be more helpful). I HOPE 9.3.2 fixes the issue...but then, I've been waiting FOREVER for Apple to step up and fix the issue with Safari locking up the GUI.

A H1

Level 1

53 points

Apr 29, 2016 5:15 PM in response to Adam F

Add to horrible Bluetooth connection from my iPhone SE 9.3.1:

Panasonic KX-TG78 phone

Honda Odyssey 2008

Motorola Sonic Rider

Toyota Prius 2012

it's not the cars nor the speakerphone. it's the phone. I had a Motorola KRZR prior to this, and that one worked flawlessly, and we also have a iPhone 5S linking to all of the above with no issues.

they really need to fix this!

Apr 29, 2016 7:38 PM in response to skierrob2

I have the same problem. My iPhone 5s and new LG G5 work perfectly in my Bluetooth cars and with my Bluetooth roadster. But the iPhone SE Bluetooth is not working well. Terrible static and crackles on the receiver side. I spoke to Apple today. She knew nothing until I pointed her to this thread. I have no idea if and when we will see a fix.

dcpmark

Level 1

28 points

Apr 29, 2016 7:51 PM in response to monaco2612

monaco2612 wrote:

I have no idea if and when we will see a fix.

Not a guarantee, but all signs point to next week.

mreg376

Level 1

20 points

Apr 29, 2016 8:17 PM in response to dcpmark

And what signs are those?

mreg376

Level 1

20 points

Apr 29, 2016 8:25 PM in response to dcpmark

There is no "fix." Some have claimed that the second beta of 9.3.2 has helped, and others say that the third beta has reintroduced the problem. No one knows for sure whether this is a hardware or software problem, as Apple has said absolutely nothing. From reading this board and others it's pretty much certain that 100% of the SE's come with the problem, and that they show 0% compatibility with all bluetooth audio devices. Anyone who says they know what the problem is or when it will be corrected is either guessing or lying. Your best bet, unless bluetooth audio is unimportant to you, is either to avoid buying an SE for now or return it while you can unless the problem is definitively corrected prior to the closing of your return window.

Apr 29, 2016 8:45 PM in response to mreg376

Back again lol, can't wait for you to eat you words, its coming.

In the mean time there is no need listen to this tosser.

mreg376

Level 1

20 points

Apr 29, 2016 8:55 PM in response to brettfromcoffs harbour

Yes, don't listen to me. After all, I'm saying that we won't know it's fixed until it's fixed. Blasphemy.

Senna67

Level 1

8 points

Apr 29, 2016 8:55 PM in response to mreg376

mreg376 wrote:

There is no "fix." Some have claimed that the second beta of 9.3.2 has helped, and others say that the third beta has reintroduced the problem. No one knows for sure whether this is a hardware or software problem, as Apple has said absolutely nothing. From reading this board and others it's pretty much certain that 100% of the SE's come with the problem, and that they show 0% compatibility with all bluetooth audio devices. Anyone who says they know what the problem is or when it will be corrected is either guessing or lying. Your best bet, unless bluetooth audio is unimportant to you, is either to avoid buying an SE for now or return it while you can unless the problem is definitively corrected prior to the closing of your return window.

Here we go again !!!

Apr 29, 2016 8:58 PM in response to mreg376

Stop repeating the same crap over and over, you are just trolling, nothing better to do?

Senna67

Level 1

8 points

Apr 29, 2016 9:05 PM in response to brettfromcoffs harbour

I Agree,

p.s.

i'm still very happy with my SE

iPhone SE Bluetooth issues