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iPhone 7 Plus Phone Call Sound Quality

So we just got 2 new iPhone 7 Plus' and I am noticing that the incoming call audio quality on both sounds strange. I have the Apple leather case on the phone and incoming audio sounds distant. Like it is coming from behind the phone or something. It almost sounds like the phone is on speaker phone but it isn't. Turning the volume down helps a bit but it seems off. Previous I had an iPhone 6 so I don't know how this compares to the 6 Plus.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on Sep 16, 2016 11:36 AM

Top-ranking reply

eXactMat

Level 1

8 points

Posted on Mar 2, 2017 5:26 AM

The iPhone 7 (Photo credit: John Taggart/Bloomberg)

With the launch of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, Intel finally made its way into Apple's most important product. Good news for Intel, no doubt, but not for consumers.

Tests of LTE connectivity, released on Thursday by Cellular Insights, show a huge performance gap between the iPhone 7 equipped with an Intel modem and a Qualcomm modem. The difference in performance is a black eye not only for Intel, but also for Apple, which for the past five years had relied on Qualcomm exclusively for its iPhone modem chips. With the iPhone 7, Apple decided to make two versions -- one with an Intel modem and one with a Qualcomm modem. (Neither Intel nor Apple have commented on the performance gap so far.)

For consumers, the downside of owning an Intel version is significant. The tests revealed that Qualcomm-powered iPhone 7s are able to consistently establish stronger connections to LTE networks than Intel-powered iPhone 7s. Qualcomm modems outran Intel modems by 30% in overall performance, and 75% when the signal was at its weakest.

Since writing a story about these modem benchmarks, readers have asked FORBES -- directly and via Twitter -- how to make sure they're buying the better iPhone 7 with a Qualcomm modem. If you want to get the best bang for your buck, you probably should be careful which iPhone 7 you end up buying.

Here are some ways you can make sure you're not buying the inferior iPhone 7.

Model number

As this Apple spec page shows, Apple created two distinct versions of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus to segment out devices with an Intel modem or a Qualcomm modem.

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By checking the model number on the back of the iPhone 7, you will be able to tell:

Model A1660 and Model A1661 means they have a Qualcomm modem.
Model A1778 and Model A1784 are equipped with an Intel modem.

Carriers

If you're a United States-based customer buying from a carrier, the best way to make sure which iPhone 7 you're getting is:

Verizon and Sprint sell the Qualcomm-powered iPhone.
AT&T and T-Mobile sell the Intel-equipped iPhone.

The Apple spec page indicates that the Intel-powered

A1778 and A1784 phones won't support CDMA (or code division multiple access), a cellular technology used on some LTE networks. That means an Intel-powered iPhone 7 simply won't work on CDMA networks, such as Verizon's and Sprint's.

Qualcomm's modem works on all the four big carrier networks in the US. And o

verall, Qualcomm's modem supports a much wider variety of cellular technology than Intel. Qualcomm hardware supports GSM/CDMA/WCDMA/TD-SCDMA/LTE, while Intel's only support GSM/WCDMA/LTE. That means that in addition to improved connectivity performance with a Qualcomm modem, Qualcomm can work on more networks.

Apple also sells unlocked versions of the iPhone 7 and iPhones 7 Plus that

come with a Qualcomm modem.

The relationship between modem makers and carriers is a close one. Supporting various cellular technologies is extraordinarily complex. Each carrier has their own unique network demands and features. Qualcomm has been in this game a lot longer than Intel, and as a result, it has a lot more to offer the consumer, according to experts.

“Building modems for today’s cellphones is an extremely daunting task,” said Sundeep Rangan, an engineering professor at New York University who specializes in wireless technologies. “It has to support a dizzying array of features and get the chips down to a form factor and low power performance.”

Follow me on Twitter @aatilley or send me an email: atilley@forbes.com

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504 replies

Sep 30, 2016 10:52 AM in response to Steven Fisher1

Same Problem here, iPhone 7 plus 128 GB, I can hear my callingpartners very good, but everytime the people are asking me what you say? So they can barely hear me.... very annoying thing. T-Mobile in germany.

i hope it gets fixed with an iOS Update. I remember the robotic voice in my iPhone 5.....

thanks guys

Sep 30, 2016 3:33 PM in response to Steven Fisher1

I have two iPhone 7plus (my wife and mine).

Both have the same problem as stated.

I turned off VoLTE, and the problem is resolved for both phones

Settings > Mobile Data > Mobile Data Options > Enable 4G > Data Only (instead of Voice & Data)

JOeg6791

Level 1

8 points

Sep 30, 2016 4:27 PM in response to chungmeng

I tried that in the store and it didn't help and just tried with new phone and didn't help. Plus, voice and data is very important.

Cheppner

Level 1

4 points

Sep 30, 2016 11:21 PM in response to Steven Fisher1

Sissue here with my 7 plus. I got it replaced and still have the same issue. I'm annoyed.

Oct 1, 2016 1:04 AM in response to Cheppner

I Dont think it will fix it with a replace of the iPhone. Turning off VoLTE doesnt fix it either. I think we need a carrier settings/iOS Update.... very annoying Not to be able to do a simple phone call properly with a device that costs ove 1000€ .... hope we will geht help soon.

mikobig

Level 1

4 points

Oct 1, 2016 10:10 AM in response to Steven Fisher1

Same issue with iPhone 7 128GB Mtel Bulgaria. Cellular calls sound underwater and distant. Indeed like coming from behind. Also people are having hard time hearing me? (mic problem?)

Did various tests and the sound quality is a little better when using Viber or Messenger but still not as crystal clear as my iPhone 6s.

Really hope that this is related to the new stereo speaker and will soon get resolved via Software update.

Oct 1, 2016 4:48 PM in response to mikobig

same problem here. on my 2nd iphone 7 plus. t-mobile us. nobody can hear me clearly. i switch the sim back to my old android phone and the reception is fine. so not a carrier problem.

too bad cuz otherwise i love the phone but calls are too important. gonna get a refund.

JOeg6791

Level 1

8 points

Oct 1, 2016 7:11 PM in response to steve gee11

I've noticed that this phone goes from LTE to 3G then to 1X a lot. Maybe these are all carrier related issues?

Oct 1, 2016 10:42 PM in response to Steven Fisher1

I'm getting this problem too - add me to the list!. It definitely sounds like the sound is coming from behind the phone and/or on speakerphone.

The useless canned Apple response of looking at the Knowledge base article doesn't help at all (you know that any reply that starts with the patronising line.... 'thanks for reaching out' won't help), So how do I restart the device in the middle of a call to an important client eh Apple???

Ollie-nl

Level 1

4 points

Oct 3, 2016 1:16 PM in response to Steven Fisher1

Same problem here, iPhone 7 plus 128 GB, I can hear my incomming calls like it is coming from behind the phone, but the other side hears me if I'm in a fish tank 😟

Provider: Vodafone in the Netherlands.

Is it hardware or software?

Any help is appreciated!

Regards

jurneeka

Level 1

9 points

Oct 3, 2016 4:27 PM in response to Steven Fisher1

Having the same issue - I can hear the person okay, but they can't hear me unless I'm using the Lighting earbuds that came with the Phone.

Unfortunately that means I can't charge it simultaneously.

Im on AT&T.

Lynsie84

Level 1

4 points

Oct 4, 2016 3:26 AM in response to Steven Fisher1

I also have the same issue, tried turning the volume down and its a little better but then its hard to hear the other person. I hope its something that can be sorted, taking it back for a replacement doesn't seem worth it as they all seem the same.😢

JMass6

Level 1

4 points

Oct 4, 2016 11:50 PM in response to Steven Fisher1

Thank you for posting this issue. I just got the new 7 Plus, and I am having the same issue. This many people can't all be doing something wrong at the same time. Has to be an issue with the phone. Hopefully they admit it soon, and go about making it right.

Oct 5, 2016 7:48 AM in response to Steven Fisher1

iPhone 7 128 verizon no bluetooth and no case and fresh out of the box 2ND Replacement !!. I have the same issue and have found if you ever so slightly turn your head while on a phone call the party at the other end doesn't hear you. If you talk on your phone with the bottom of the phone almost in your mouth your fine and thats no acceptable. I re activated my old iPhone 6 and did and experimental call and people could hear me when i stretched my arm out as far as it would go. Took it to genius bar and they verified the problem and only said there maybe a patch or an update. They wouldn't share this information with me an said it was for apple techs only

Edbeam

Level 1

4 points

Oct 5, 2016 7:45 PM in response to Steven Fisher1

iphone 7. Got 2 days ago. People complaining on my voice quality during conversation. Does Apple aware about this issue? All phones are experiencing similar problem or just some defective that should be replaced..

iPhone 7 Plus Phone Call Sound Quality