iPhone SE Bluetooth issues

So no need to change a working hardware. Apple only needs to change the part of software (= the firmware) that controls the Bluetooth module.

Firmware is actually a combination of hardware and software. The hardware must built to accept expected changes via software. The software cannot change the hardware, although it may be able to mask an effect with a workaround, but which may not be an efficient solution.

Beta testers doesn't have the answers to everything, they only perform tests on a new solution before his entry into service, and report what works and what not. And what worked previously but doesn't work anymore. And public beta testers tests a roughly finished version, that has passed a lot of tests steps (unitary tests, integration tests, non regression tests to validate that the new version doesn't degrade previous one, acceptance tests to test new functionnalities, performance tests...).

And public beta testers are not paid, they only test new versions for free, to ensure a better level of quality by discovering bugs instead of end users.

I know what beta testers do. But some of the beta testers on THIS board have claimed that because the second beta of 9.3.2 seems to solve the problem that it is impossible there is any hardware factor involved in the problem.

And this is my point and why I have returned my own purchase and that of my business associate and shortly 8 other items for our sales team.

How could this product be shipped with Bluetooth that doesn't work.

It is possible that this beta software 'update' is an effective mask, but that doesn't change the fact that the hardware maybe suspect - obviously this 'fault' had not shown prior to shipping! and the product is due for revision. Maybe that's why apple has no stock, rather than 'pent up demand' its the realisation that HARDWARE changes need to be made.

But I don't understand why some says that hardware is involved. For me it is possibly linked to the BT driver, and in this case I don't understand why Apple should setup a workaround to resolve this issue.

I'm not a professor, and I don't know what causes the problem.

What I do know is, that "so far" the fourth version, works very well for me.

O problems until now, same quality as the 5, 5S and 6 incoming sound BT car.

I'll answer that question with another question: If in fact Apple has solved the SE bluetooth issue with the 9.3.2 beta, what keep silent about it while many, many SE's are being returned? Every one I know who got an SE (5 people), except one person, has returned their SE. Why not say "hold on, we'll fix this for you"?

For Apple dev-team I'm disable (profound hearing loss) so I demand always on BT please fix this bug and contact with us about this issue.

we're loyal apple users and biggest supporters but we need to communicate with us!!

Can understand everyone's frustration that have the issue and also with Apple's lack of communication (not really unusual going from previous experiences is it!) - but comments ref it could be hardware related I find hard to accept, basically because mines been working fine from the off.

Now unless SE's are being produced with different chips why is mine ok (and why if different chip are being employed would not Apple replace returned with the working variety?).

I'm not a Dev but with reports coming out that employing the updates help a lot of people does it not point to software and may be a conflict between the two wireless systems (BT and WiFi) that still requires bottoming out. Had issue on iMac when Bluetooth interfered with any sort of longish download and caused the connect to drop, switching to wired keyboard and mouse resolved until an update was finally released.

It's only my view but think software clash is still the most likely.

matt31500 wrote:

But I don't understand why some says that hardware is involved.

Because they don't know what they are talking about, that's why. Since Bluetooth 4.0 came out device makers acquired the ability to update the hardware firmware via a software update. Therefore, regardless if the problem is in the HFP protocol in the Bluetooth stack (likely), or it's in the hardware firmware (unlikely), it can be fixed with software. Unless the BT chip cannot communicate to another BT device at all, which is not the case here, it can't be a hardware problem.

As you are very clearly an expert in this field and I quote ' Since Bluetooth 4.0 came out device makers acquired the ability to update the hardware firmware via a software update'

Could you please explain how this product was shipped with an inability to communicate with the vast majority of Bluetooth devices. Clearly, the SE is not a complete facsimile of the 6s internally, otherwise the product would actually work!

So one can imagine the scenario where the BT chip has been changed or is not the same as the 6s and now, to correct an almighty mess apple issue a software/firmware upgrade to fix the problem. This still doesn't mean that hardware changes are unlikely and not already in the pipeline.

PS what do apple do with all the handsets returned that don't work?

Yes, dcpmark fashions himself an expert. However, and as you allude to, a kindergarten child can conclude that there must be a hardware difference between the SE bluetooth implementation and every other iPhone, or we would't be having this SE bluetooth issue on the very same iOS versions that work perfectly in the other devices. Whether it is a hardware "problem," a hardware "difference," or a hardware "issue" seems to very important to the self-proclaimed experts here. But the users have already concluded the obvious, no matter what the ultimate solution.

355f wrote:

As you are very clearly an expert in this field and I quote ' Since Bluetooth 4.0 came out device makers acquired the ability to update the hardware firmware via a software update'

Could you please explain how this product was shipped with an inability to communicate with the vast majority of Bluetooth devices. Clearly, the SE is not a complete facsimile of the 6s internally, otherwise the product would actually work!

So one can imagine the scenario where the BT chip has been changed or is not the same as the 6s and now, to correct an almighty mess apple issue a software/firmware upgrade to fix the problem. This still doesn't mean that hardware changes are unlikely and not already in the pipeline.

PS what do apple do with all the handsets returned that don't work?

First of all, let's establish that in my experience, Apple has ALWAYS had inferior BT stacks compared to Android. Because BT is not a standard, a BT stack can be built in different ways, and Apple appears to be more interested in other factors such as quality and security at the expense of compatibility. This is not the first time a new iPhone had widespread BT problems, and it probably won't be the last.

BT is supposed to be fully backwards-compatible, but it's not. The older the device the less likely it will work well with the newest BT devices, and many OEM car kits are based on much older versions of Bluetooth. BT 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 devices are NOT user-upgradeable OTA, and virtually no manufacturers will spend the resources to update them. Many 4.0 and 4.1 are upgradeable, but again the manufacturers are not going to waste resources to do so.

The SE Bluetooth does in fact pair and communicate with every other BT device.....in fact, it likely works well with every BT device Apple sells in their store. And some people reported they did not have trouble with their particular car kits and headsets. My SE didn't work in my 2014 Acadia Denali, but worked perfectly out of the box in a 2016 model. But there are tens of thousands of BT devices, and it's simply not possible to check every one, or even a majority. The problem is Bluetooth itself.....every one of those devices is certified by Bluetooth, which is supposed mean they should work together.....but because Bluetooth has become a money grab they don't, and no one seems to care.

Apple doesn't give a rat's arse about how many are returned......there is nothing wrong that 9.3.2 won't fix, and they will update them and give them out as AppleCare replacements. Remember that by nature message boards attract those who are having problems......you don't usually hear from the masses that have no problems, and believe it or not, MOST people in this world don't even know about or bother coming to message boards to complain or praise.

Compatibility is based on the vehicle? If there any users here, or anywhere, who reported that the SE worked with their vehicle out of the box please list them. I don't recall seeing any, anywhere.