iPhone SE Bluetooth issues

I Just picked up a TMobile Space gray iPhone SE in 64GB today at the Apple Store. I'm having issues with it connecting to my Bluetooth on my radio in my 2016 Toyota TRD Tacoma when starting up with vehicle. Streaming podcasts will sound fast, scratchy and distorted with intermittent pausing.

This is an problem with the phone considering other folkes are having similar issues and I've owned the IPhone 6s, 6s plus and 6... Non of which has had any issues with my truck's stereo.

THe only solution that has worked for me is turning the Bluetooth off and then back on manually from my Iphone SE, then my audio issues are resolved. I made several calls on my Motoroa hands free Bluetooth ear piece without any issues. I also used my Bluetooth headphones for a couple hours streaming from my music collection at the gym without any issues... I streamed podcasts over a Sony Bluetooth speaker for a couple without issues. Seems to mostly be a car stereo initial connection with me so far... to clarify when the phone automatically connects to my truck's radio/stereo when I start the truck up.

Well it sure is good to know that someone actually admitted this to you. It is insane that it has been an issue for over a month now or since the phone came out . I have been requested to go thru this huge check list as though I am a beta tester for Apple and honestly it's just annoying and last I checked I was not on their payroll... rather the contrary considering I am giving them money to test THEIR product purchasing their phone.

I get there are bugs and issues but CLEARLY this was not tested BROADLY as multiple new and older vehicles are having this issue. I think they have forgotten that not everyone commutes to work via public transport in the Bay Area and rely on hands free. Hands free usage of a cellphone is rather important in terms of safety and also in many states hands free is the only legal way to speak on a phone while in a car. May people rely on that usage for their work and business. And boy has this caused huge disruption!!

But yet not one word publicly from the company and we have to dig to find out information.

Thank DebbeC34 for sharing your information. I obtained more information from you than I have from the past few weeks researching this issue. I am as baffled as you.

Swapped 3 for 4, sound prestine now

with about 15 calls.

Same distortions with BMW X4 and old Plantronics Marque. iPhone 5S was OK

i have the Same Problem with my RENAULT Megane Typ z with the Arkamis radio. The audio qality is very bad when i use the bluetooth radio connection to cal someone with my iPhone SE 64gb.

I am having the same issues with bluetooth and the quality. I have a Lexus RX400h and I can't understand what the caller is saying. I also have this problem with a Motorola Boom headset and a Sena 5 motorcycle headset. I had no problem with my iPhone 5s. I am on my second iPhone SE. I am also waiting for a call from a Senior Phone Specialist at Apple. I really like the phone because of it's size but I may need to go back to a 5s because of this issue. I am guessing that Apple made a hardware change for this model and they are using a different BT chip now.

B

Install beta iOS and you'll have no issue with Bluetoot, it sorted mine

There are other sites that make reference to this problem and that it is still fully unclear if the BT chip is the problem- hence changing the hardware- albeit that it would seem from many the latest beta helps the issue when used with the 'old' hardware.

I returned the SE I purchased but my business associate has one with the same issue and I contacted apple support who insisted I go through the various checks and no mention was made as to the knowledge of the BT problem.

Quite why apple wishes to send its customers through these hoops I have no idea- I have returned the phone!

I think that you should have carefuly read previous posts, as next corrective release (9.3.2) will resolve this BT software issue. Not related to hardware as beta testers have had this issue resolved.

My iPhone SE space grey power button rattles too. Did/does not bother me.

I do have the -very disturbing- Bluetooth distortion issue though.

When I got my iPhone SE it was loaded with the same OS as my iPhone 5S which worked fine with my bluetooth devices. So if it is the same OS and there was no hardware issue, then I am confused as to what could have changed to warrant a new update of the software... ?

Same Operating System doesn't mean that it's the same firmware for each component. As BlueTooth modules are different between 5S and SE (BT 3.0 for 5S / BT 4.0 for SE), firmwares/drivers for 5S BT chip and SE BT chip are not the same ones in iOS 9.3.1 (and necessarily all iOS versions to come).

On a Windows computer, you won't be able to run on the same Windows 10 version an nVidia video controller with a ATI driver right ? It's exactly the same here. And iPhone SE Bluetooth driver seems to be bugged.

This is exactly my point.

It would seem that the firmware/ hardware is suspect in its present form, which may be rectified by software intervention, as some have indicated here.

One wonders if changes will be made to the hardware on new shipments as well.

That's my question too. Current orders are backlogged into the middle of June. Apple of course won't give actual sales figures and has not even officially acknowledged the SE bluetooth problem, so it is impossible to know if the backlog is entirely from demand or because of a delay in manufacturing because something is being reworked. It's possible that even if the current crop of SE's can be patched to correct the bluetooth problem, that there are other disadvantages to that patch and that a more efficient fix, especially for sake of future iOS releases, is a hardware change.

But be careful when you mention "hardware problem" on this board -- you'll be attacked by all the beta testers who clam to have all the answers.

Because iOS 9.3.1 for iPhone 5S is not the same than iOS 9.3.1 for iPhone SE : it doesn't include the same firmwares for the different modules.

Firmware = software to control some hardware = driver