Q: iPhone SE Bluetooth issues

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

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.