Q: iPhone SE Bluetooth issues

Same problem here, iPhone SE bought in Switzerland (iOS 9.3.1) with BMW X5 model 2016...

I've just took back my Sony Z5 compact

Same "pattern" here: Case was escalated to a senior support rep, we went thru a "hidden" diagnostics program on my iphone (which caused a lot of my phone's data transferred to apple Support). Follwing that I've been sent a personal email from my support rep. including her direct phone number, mail address and working hours...

Seems that Apple is really working hard on this ....

I spoke with Apple Italy.. the guy asked me to do the diagnostics and then he said that my phone is ok......

he just suggested me to re-boot the network connection, if still doesn't work I will need to connect my phone tu iTunes to re-install the software and then if not solved I should ask to Toyota if their firmware need to be upgraded... I've explained that a lot of people of this community are having the same issue with different car models and he replied that he doesn't know and the only thing he can do is suggest me to do these process and then call back again if the issue hasn't been solved..

no words!!!!

hope that Apple will do something as soon as possible!!!

Apple knows, but it seems they did not inform the customer service, and i think they won`t as long as there is no solution. It is wasted time to set the phone back and chat 30min with the service about a solution they don`t have at the moment.

I suggest to give it back. I would like to here: "Yes, there is a problem, we will work on it. Ther will be a software fix in the next two weeks or a new phone, whatever, we don´t leave you alone with it."

Hi again

I already posted my experience here:

Re: iPhone SE Bluetooth issues

The summary is that resetting the network settings worked for me and now I can use it in my car with normal audio quality.

Also, today I have paired it to a bluetooth headset, nothing expensive, normal bluetooth earpods for listening music or receiving some calls.

It also WORKS OK.

I don't know if this can mean that there are different bluetooth chips combinations that just work... or if it means there are different iPhones SE that work and others don't.

But I suggest you to at least give a try to resetting the network settings. Probably it will not work for many of you, but maybe it works...

Hi,

As you know listening to music was never an issue.  But if you went from unable to hear BT calls in your car to now able to hear clearly I would like to know exactly what you did?  Most of us have done full resets but if you did some type of subset of that would you please explain exactly the steps you took so we too can try?

Thanks

Ross

Hi again

I know listening to music is not the issue.

What I say is that after getting my SE work with my car handsfree, I paired it with a headset which is both a stereo music receiver AND allows to do and receive calls.

As you probably know, music audio and calls audio are two different bluetooth protocols. Some headsets and some handsfree systems do both or just one.

My car system is ONLY for calls, it does not support Bluetooth music. And I got my SE work with it after resetting the network settings.

My headset is BOTH for calls and music and it works fine with BOTH calls and music.

You have some more details on my original post: Re: iPhone SE Bluetooth issues

What is surprising is that it works, as I expected it to be a failure that would need either new iOS or some hardware replacement.

I have no answer to why the fix worked for me and it does not work for others.

I just can suggest to some people in this thread which are disregarding trying the Apple support suggestions that they should try them, even if they don't believe. It worked for me.

My first two calls on the SE in my car were crappy. I could not understand a single word.

Now I've done about 10 calls on the car and a couple on the headset with ok quality.

Again I don't know if this means that some bluetooth chips combinations just work... or if it means that some iPhones SE work and others don't, maybe different Bluetooth chip suppliers or whatnot...

If "network settings reset" would be a solid fix, then it would have worked for every SE owner and we could probably close this tread.  If I bought brand new SE, then set it up as new, then there should be no network settings that needed to be reset to begin with. As previous commenter have said there could be different Bluetooth modules revisions and or different suppliers.

By the way, I have an appointment with Apple G-Bar tonight and they asked me to bring my Bluetooth headset(s) with me and so we can try it on a new phone. Will see if replacement will be any better, meaning it could have a different Bluetooth module or such.  If getting a different SE will fix the issue, then we can conclude that the different hardware from a different batch could be a solution. If it doesn't, I will have to return it, because I can always re-buy it down the road.

Hi again,

I never said it was a solid fix, akordion. I just said it worked for me.

Three people have reported that turning off Voice over LTE (VoLTE) helps as well:

1) see this post by other user: Re: iPhone SE Bluetooth issues

2) this other user says that trick helped him improve quality A LOT, but not 100%: Re: iPhone SE Bluetooth issues

3) this one says that it does not eliminate the problem completely but it makes audio much better: Re: iPhone SE Bluetooth issues

This is my guess:

My previous iPhone 5S was american, and I used it with an american SIM card with LTE recently. That was probably on my settings which were imported from my back up.

My current carrier in Spain is NOT supporting LTE at all, neither for Data nor for VoLTE.

When I restored my network settings it was as if I was switching off LTE and VoLTE. That would explain why resetting the network settings is not working for other people: because they just get the same settings. And I got some settings swiped.

It is just a theory, but I'm the first one surprised by the fact that it worked for me.

You can turn off LTE and/or VoLTE following this steps: Make calls using Voice over LTE (VoLTE) - Apple Support

I know "elzale", I was just analyzing the situation

I have personally tried everything that I know, including turning off LTE/VoLTE, resetting network settings, restoring phone back to even iOS 9.3, then upgrading, turning off WiFi during calls, re-pairing devices.

Hi akordion,

Sorry to hear that.

I work at software development and one of my specialties is debugging and doing testing... so I am following this thread quite close even if my SE was fixed. I am really intrigued on why my unit went from KO to OK.

Anyhow, we have three other fellows which improved their audio quality by turning off VoLTE, so that's a clear sign. The issue is that we don't know what type of sign it is.

It could also be carrier settings and/or having different carriers may produce different results.  I am on T-Mobile USA

My american carrier was also T-Mobile USA, and those were the settings that I swiped... now I only have Spanish settings with no LTE.

But I think I have read about people suffering the issue with AT&T, so I still think that LTE might be involved.

And I don't discard a combination of LTE and different bluetooth chip on the car maker or on different suppliers for the iPhone SE.

I am from Germany and i telephone mainly in my car (Mazda 3 BM, 12/15, Bose Soundsystem). My carrier is Vodafone switching between 2G and 3G, no LTE. I used to talk 30-60 min. in my car with an iphone 6, that worked perfectly with very clear voice. Now with the SE it is scratchy. I can guess what my wife is telling me, but i tell her to speak with low voice to understand her better. No choice for other callers ;-)

I got my SE on 31/03/16 and i followed all orders, the hotline told me. Then i switched the phone, but not better at all. I set it up as a new phone, not recovering from an backup.

I doubt it is a carrier problem. Because i understand the caller very clearly when i switch to the earspeakers.