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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

Momweb

Level 1

4 points

May 3, 2016 4:33 PM in response to skierrob2

I also have the same issue with skratchy sounds with my new iphone SE and my Altima 2009. I had no problems with my 5S. I think I'll be talking to my Verizon Store where I purchased the phone tomorrow. I've had a few other issues with this phone such as sounds not playing when I receive texts. They play on my other devices, just not my phone. Strange.

May 3, 2016 5:27 PM in response to skierrob2

Same thing here. 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe bluetooth worked perfectly fine with my iPhone 5. With the SE, I can barely hear what the other person is saying to me. Called apple and they told me they have never heard of this issue before which is ridiculous bc this thread has been on here for almost a month. What is going on Apple.

May 4, 2016 4:34 AM in response to zoli-74

Hi all, same for me on my iPhone SE 64 Go, on iOS 9.3.1. Crappy sound during phone calls in my Audi TT with Belkin CarAudio fitted on Concert 2 with Bose sound system.

Installed yesterday evening the 9.3.2 Beta 4, have had several phone calls going to work this morning using BT in the car, sound OK, as with my old 5S.

Seems to be resolved. 🙂

May 4, 2016 1:05 PM in response to matt31500

Beta iOS sorted mine

akordion

Level 1

15 points

May 4, 2016 1:09 PM in response to boswelltbear

Once the publicly released iOS update comes out, I am sure that it will resolve Bluetooth issue that we are/were having.

DebbeC34

Level 1

8 points

May 4, 2016 3:55 PM in response to skierrob2

The tune at Apple has changed. Called Sunday, they had me take my SE in to an Apple Store, which I did yesterday, to confirm there were no additional hardware issues. After coming home yesterday with a new phone (and the same issue), I called again last night. This time, they not only acknowledged the issue, they confirmed a new version of software would be pushed out soon to resolve the issue. They even offered to walk me through installing a beta version to fix the issue, but I declined knowing the production version will follow shortly. Good to know a fix is on the horizon yet I'm still baffled that these SE's got through Q.A. and to market.

akordion

Level 1

15 points

May 4, 2016 3:59 PM in response to DebbeC34

I agree! This is a major issue and this passing through QA tells us that OEMs are not doing aggressive testing, the way software/hardware needs to be tested.

May 4, 2016 9:55 PM in response to skierrob2

add porsche macan to the SE bluetooth phone call reception distortion issue

mreg376

Level 1

20 points

May 5, 2016 5:03 AM in response to akordion

Not to mention that people have been complaining about this problem the entire five weeks that the phone has been out and Apple has not said one word publicly. If Apple is really going to come out with the software fix, and they knew that since at least the second beta of 9.3.2 was released over two weeks ago, then many SE's have been returned unnecessarily. I thought Apple was a smart company...

mreg376

Level 1

20 points

May 5, 2016 5:08 AM in response to rich brent

No need to add your vehicle to the list. If you had a fleet of 20 cars you would have the problem in each.

Ihm24

Level 1

22 points

May 5, 2016 5:24 AM in response to skierrob2

Dear friend,

I have same problem I tryid to connect it different car but same problem bad sound quality.

However, I have iPhone 6 plus I connect it afterwards but sound quality fine!!

May 5, 2016 5:31 AM in response to mreg376

I was desperate as Apple & swisscom ignored their was an issue.

2 weeks ago I installed the version 3 and the problem was solved. After this weeks Version 4 it stills works fine with bluetooth. I have some other issues with this Version 3 & 4, but not worth to comment because bluetooth works.

I write "Version 3 & 4", everyone knows what this means, this because Apple just deleted my orignal Thread because it referred to their developer program :-(((

They should, Apple, communicate that their are some issues instead of playing police and censuring their forum

May 5, 2016 6:10 AM in response to Gerard Dirks

Hello Gerard,

Can you tell there is an improvent 3 vs 4?

In other words; is it worth 3 replacing with 4?

thanks!

May 5, 2016 6:14 AM in response to Gijsteraar

If it is worth? I think it is!

Version 3 killed my whatsapp. I had to reinstall it :-(((

Further their was an issue that sometimes the though screen doesn't react on an entry (some apps) this seems also been solved

May 5, 2016 6:18 AM in response to Gerard Dirks

OK thanks! I don't have those issues.

BT sound is the same as in 3 I pressume.

iPhone SE Bluetooth issues