iPhone SE Bluetooth issues

Add us to the list; bought my wife an iPhone SE and we have the same issue.

2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 MyLink

2015 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

ich habe das gleiche Problem mit iPhone SE und Ford Kuga 2016.

What I really dont like is that apple does not confirm they have a bug in their phone. They could at least make a formal press release where they state that they expect if its a hardware/software problem and when they have planned to fix it.

The only solution now for me is return the device and swap to another brand as I am not willing to pay even more money to get a working iphone 6s. When I spent €589 for a phone (a year income in some places of the world where the iphone is made), I expect high quality which means also that its tested decently and that the customer care is communicating. I dont have the time to wait until the return period is over or the police will fine me for calling with the phone on my ear.

So please apple communicate more about this problem before I switch also with this device to another brand.

ps problem also on several peugeot models here in the Netherlands

Completely agree with you!!!

I found another "bug" during normal calls.. Audio is distorted in normal conversation BUT if I turn off LTE (return to 3G) audio call is OK..

I think that Apple has to solve a more general issue than bluetooth stack..

P.S. Very disappointed about this phone.. Shall we talk about vibration motor? More noisy than previous 5 because it has the 6S motor (that is configured for a more heavy and large chassis)...

I agree, people are wasting a lot of time on this. They could at least acknoledge the issue. I am returning my two se 's today.

I just tested my iPhone SE with a headset of a different brand, Samsung.

No surprises, same issue as with the Plantronics one.

I'm returning my 2 SE's today. But I wanted to add my experience, because it's a bit different than what I've read so far. I tried to open a ticket with Apple support yesterday, including running diagnostics, but they couldn't schedule a call and I don't have any more time to mess with it. I'm going back to my Android phone until I'm up for trying another iPhone.

I've had the scratchy and muffled distortion issue with Sync on my 2015 Ford F150. BUT, mine is intermittent -- doesn't happen on every call. AND, I've had one call where it cleared up after the first minute or so. Also, I asked Siri a question and her answer, through Sync, was scratchy and muffled, just like the calls. And I've had at least one call without BT that had the same scratchy and muffled symptoms, like palmas69 -- again, it's intermittent. I haven't had any issues streaming music through Sync or a BT speaker.

To update, seems to be an issue with the way audio is modulated/compressed. When I call to landline with a cordless phone, the sound is terrible, there's a significant improvement in audio quality when they pick up a wired phone to landline instead. Audio not that bad calling another iPhone. Haven't call other types of cells. Audio is crystal clear when using Skype call or similar service to call landline. FaceTime call seems ok, but it's from iPhone to iPhone which isn't that bad through phone app anyways.

I have experienced the exact same Bluetooth audio distortion issues on my new iPhone SE and was connected to my Hyundai Elantra BlueConnect device.

My iPhone 5S had no problems what so ever. in fact Apple tech support advised me to go to my dealer to rule out software issues on my car's Bluetooth. While I was waiting for my dealer to disconnect my car battery for a full electronic reset to my car, I called 'BlueConnect' customer support for further trouble shooting. During my call, the BlueConnect support staff informed me that I was not the first person to call with the same problems with the new iPhone SE. During this very conversation, at one point the entire conversation went dead (I was talking on my new iPhone SE) for about 15 seconds but then reception returned to my handset and I continued my conversation. Conincidentally, the car dealer service technician handed me the keys to my car and said that while he drove my car out of the service bay and was in range of signal of my iPhone from the bluetooth inside my car, he briefly picked up on my conversation via Bluetooth and he said the audio from my bluetooth was inaudable and cutting out. At know time did my iPhone sound distorted because once my car was out of bluetooth signal, my call picked up on my handset with complete clarity. I have no doubt this is a software related issue or even a phone hardware related problem. I am therefore going to return my iPhone SE and continuse using my iPhone 5S and wait until the Bluetooth issue is resolved on the iPhone SE. it is also illegal to use a cellphone in Ontario Canada and there important for me to have a properly functioning iPhone when I am driving. I would like to also mention that the same day I purchased my me iPhone SE i immediately paired it to my car's Bluetooth device. Moments later i received my first incoming call to my new SE iPhone and it was absolutely impossible to converse. I had to end the call. I then returned the call but it was again distorted. About an hour later, I called out using my Bluetooth and had a clearer conversation. This problem has continued and is intermittent in nature as well as distortion intensity. Fortunately I have 15 days to return my phone at no cost to me. I do hope Apple will address this problem since it is most evident this problem has to do with the new iPhone SE and I am relived to know I will not spend any more time troubleshooting after reading this thread. Thank-you fellow iPhone users for sharing your problems.

I appologize for the typos in my last reply but my iPad is correcting words and often inserting the wrong spellings. If anyone knows how to correct the spell checkER on my iPhone and iPad, please advise. I was also in a rush to reply to the above iPhone SE Bluetooth problems and so I did not proof read for typing mistakes... sorry 😟 and have a great weekend

After FreddiP mentioned that calls seemed clearer with another iPhone as opposed to calling a cordless home phone I tried calling my Mum's mobile (cell). The sound was vastly improved from when I ring her cordless landline using my SE, so until a software solution is found I'll ring her mobile instead of her landline.

I have the exact same issue. I was on another Apple support thread with about a dozen or so people with the same problem but this appears to be the official "SE bluetooth phone call distortion" thread. I'm going to try one more time with Apple support before I have to return the phone before the two week return period is up.

I Have similar issue as well.

iPhone SE 64 GB in Ford Escape with Sync - distorted audio from the caller but callers claimed I sounded fine. Happened with land lines and cell phone calls.

PLantronics M1100 Bluetooth headset - same distortion on the audio from the caller. They all claimed I sounded fine.

I Have Verizon service with VoLTE turned off.

IPhone 5s all scenarios fine. iPhone 6.3.1 ios

i returned the phone in the 14 day period and will wait to see if Apple resolves this problem. Very disappointed it is not getting enough attention. Seems like a major oversight in the testing process and a Huge issue for all! I cannot imagine numbers on returned phones. Who doesnt use Bluetooth?

A little update...

I have been working with a high level support person who has assured me he is working directly with engineering. Apple has very much become engaged in this issue. They have had me do extensive testing of various conditions in order to document and troubleshoot. Further, there is an internal "Issue" board and tracking system for Apple support and this BT issue is on the top of the list. It was conveyed to me that this has become a very real issue internally and resources are now committed to its resolution.

Ross

I hope they fix it or at least publically admit to the problem and promise a solution real soon, or else I'm forced to return it for a refund in a couple days while I still can.