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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

Mrsob4

Level 1

11 points

Aug 2, 2016 12:50 PM in response to VUDoc27

had this issue only after the last update. no issues prior.

Salomie

Level 1

14 points

Aug 19, 2016 12:30 PM in response to skierrob2

Please add my 2010 BMW 5 series xi i am using a 6S. I can only receive calls but cannot make calls or access the address via blue tooth. So frustrating because it worked before.😢😟

wylht

Level 1

10 points

Aug 22, 2016 1:37 PM in response to skierrob2

I am using Oticon Opn hearing aids, which are Made For iPhone hearing aids. When I use them to take phone, I suffer from exactly the same problem. Streaming music and audio book is good, only phone call is bad, both phone call and Skype call. My system version is 9.3.4.

Norcar

Level 1

4 points

Sep 30, 2016 11:42 AM in response to skierrob2

I also have Bluetooth issues with my SE. Poor or no audio in Mercedes and with 3 Bluetooth earphones (all work great with other iphones 6s, 5c, 5s, 4s). Attended at Genius bar in Edinburgh and had my handset replaced but still have the same issues. Handset built as new without using a backup and has been tested using ios 10.0.1 and 10.0.2.

Have now spoken with Genius manager and looks like I need to make another 4 hour round trip to have the handset replaced yet again. Come on Apple, its not my handset that is the problem. Surely the 62 pages on this thread indicate an issue with the SE.

iPhone SE Bluetooth issues