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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

LolH

Level 1

4 points

Apr 30, 2016 7:35 AM in response to m.kwiatkowski

Returned my SE and had a full refund, only safe option. I will probably re order in June when hopefully problem fixed but if replacement has same issue with BT I will not hesitate to return for a full refund. I'm keeping my fingers that as I log onto this site with my Apple ID someone from the company is monitoring these posts.

predacon

Level 1

4 points

Apr 30, 2016 8:08 AM in response to mreg376

Why are you trolling this thread? What have you contributed other than increasing your post count and annoying other members?

dcpmark

Level 1

28 points

Apr 30, 2016 10:38 AM in response to mreg376

mreg376 wrote:

You're quite the detective. Most have been removed, but there's one on the previous page.

There's obviously a hardware issue with the SE bluetooth. That's the only reason that the same iOS version creates the problem on the SE and not on other models. The only question is whether a software fix can overcome the obvious hardware anomaly. Since beta 3 of 9.3.2 reintroduced the problem, apparently the beta 2 fix, if it ever existed, was an accident, which highlights the problem of relying on betas as a functioning operating system.

Oh, here's another one of yours claiming a "hardware issue"......which to those of us with fixed SEs couldn't be any farther from the truth, as the rest of the world will soon see.....tick tock!

Apr 30, 2016 10:47 AM in response to dcpmark

Hey boys(dc and mr) how about taking your love for one another somewhere else or to private chat. Some of us work and don't need our emails filled up every 5 minutes with the two of you going back and forth

Apr 30, 2016 2:18 PM in response to mreg376

No you are the problem, you know nothing, antenna is HARDWARE, BLUETOOTH is software.

mreg376

Level 1

20 points

Apr 30, 2016 2:44 PM in response to brettfromcoffs harbour

Of course! And bluetooth uses no antenna. It transmits and receives by magic. How did I miss that!

predacon

Level 1

4 points

Apr 30, 2016 3:09 PM in response to mreg376

Does there seem to be any correlation of this issue between the 16g version and the 64g? Is this issue affecting both models?

dj_crom

Level 1

8 points

Apr 30, 2016 10:49 PM in response to elzale

For me also worked latest update, passat 2012, BT is almost perfect.....

chrisb01

Level 1

4 points

May 1, 2016 5:53 AM in response to dj_crom

I Have Se 64 & have same BT distortion with my 2008 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 series. No problems with my old 4S.

May 1, 2016 6:24 AM in response to skierrob2

Have two iPhone Se 64GB, same problems with BT distorsion on my 2007 Toyota Corolla Verso and Ford C-Max 2011. Before we had 5S 64GB with no BT problems on the same car and with the same 9.3.1 iOS.

May 1, 2016 7:30 AM in response to skierrob2

Question re using beta to test fix: i'm considering trying the beta to see if it fixes the Bluetooth problem; how experimental and stable are betas? I'm worried that if it does not perform well I will be left with an unstable operating system on the iPhone. If that is the case can I either revert or just upgrade to the then current version, which is now 9.3.1? I currently have 9.3. Just want to make sure I am not boxed into a corner with an unstable system in case the beta has an issue. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thank you.

dcpmark

Level 1

28 points

May 1, 2016 7:50 AM in response to Greg Feis

Greg Feis wrote:

Question re using beta to test fix: i'm considering trying the beta to see if it fixes the Bluetooth problem; how experimental and stable are betas? I'm worried that if it does not perform well I will be left with an unstable operating system on the iPhone. If that is the case can I either revert or just upgrade to the then current version, which is now 9.3.1? I currently have 9.3. Just want to make sure I am not boxed into a corner with an unstable system in case the beta has an issue. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thank you.

How do I get a shipping version of iOS back on my iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch?

Always back up your iOS device before installing beta software. To get a shipping release of iOS on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can simply install the final version of the software you are testing when it appears in Software Update. If you would like to go back to a previously released version, you must first erase the beta software, then re-install the latest shipping version of iOS, and finally restore from your previously saved iTunes backup.

https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/faq

Senna67

Level 1

8 points

May 1, 2016 8:09 AM in response to Greg Feis

Greg Feis wrote:

Question re using beta to test fix: i'm considering trying the beta to see if it fixes the Bluetooth problem; how experimental and stable are betas? I'm worried that if it does not perform well I will be left with an unstable operating system on the iPhone. If that is the case can I either revert or just upgrade to the then current version, which is now 9.3.1? I currently have 9.3. Just want to make sure I am not boxed into a corner with an unstable system in case the beta has an issue. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thank you.

WE may not talk about it, but I'm very happy with my SE now , no issues yet ( *.*.2)

May 1, 2016 10:47 AM in response to Greg Feis

Just tried it, becouse I couldn't wait any longer

(business calls car coming in at monday to important

to make a fool of myself).

Problem solved for 90%, I'm satisfied.

May 1, 2016 7:23 PM in response to skierrob2

i ve got the same problem with mine , i phone se and a 2014 tucson

iPhone SE Bluetooth issues