iPhone7 Bluetooth issue in the car

I own a iPhone 7 Plus, Matte Black 128gb AT&T Model Phone. I have had the worst experience with the BlueTooth "audio drops" and "sound cuts outs" over the past two weeks. About two weeks ago I purchased a phone mount for my phone. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GERTHO2/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&ps c=1 It was a magnet type mount. Upon setting my phone on the mount the Audio drop outs was worth then before. I restarted my iPhone and it helped, but they cut outs were happening quite a bit. I took the phone into Apple, they had me reset my network settings and then forget my iPhone on my Ford Sync and then add it back.

This did not help. I came back the following day and Apple replaced my iPhone. This still occurred. What I did discover was that when the metal plate attached to my case was removed the drop outs virtually disappeared. I had suspected that interference of my iPhones cellular radio was causing the issue. I can tell you that I removed the case from he phone and tested the metal plate issue and each time I moved the metal plate close to the phone, things just went nuts. I concluded that the mount was a problem.

This week I ordered a new mount that was plastic and clamped onto the phone. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017HME9AU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UT F8&psc=1 Now the mount is mostly made of plastic, but there are some metal screws in the mount and I experience the same drop outs. Reading through the 18 pages of this thread I will test out "turning off LTE" tomorrow.

I can compare this level of hardware issue in the new iPhone 7 to that of the Galaxy Note 7. Though the phones are not lighting on fire there is something definitely wrong with them. At this point I suspect there will not be a recall, because Apple will not admit it is their fault but rather the car's audio system being outdated or some weird issue.

With that said, I think Apple tipped that there was an issue as it delayed the release of its AirPods. I am willing to bet that this issue we have all been experiencing is present the AirPods. I think that at this point Apple is working to resolve this issue. If as some has mentioned that this is on both the CDMA and GMM models of phones, this could be a total disaster for Apple.

If the turning off LTE thing does not resolve my issue I will contact Customer Relations and demand a refund. I will downgrade back to a 6s and wait this out. In fact I have pondered testing an Android phone. I am totally frustrated by this as Audio is probably the thing I love most about my iPhone.

I would also like to mention setting up as a new iPhone does not help. I also upgraded to the 10.2 Public Beta Build 3 and the issues still persist.

I can't tell you 100% sure that the problem is not with my Lexus , or even with iOS 10. I have now paired both my girlfriends verizon iPhone 7+ and my daughters 7 on sprint to Lexus and I have no issues with Bluetooth skipping. There is only one difference it both of their phones. My at&t phones use a cheaper intel modem. The sprint and Verizon use the much better quailcom modem. The quailcom modems were also in al previous iPhones including 6+ which I also never had a problem with. Apple cheaped it .. see this article: https://www.google.com/amp/www.macworld.com/article/3133612/apple-phone/iphone-7 -cellular-performance-test-qualcomms-modem-is-better-than-intels.amp.html?client =safari

They only fix is to get a new unlocked iPhone 7 with the quailcom modem.

Interesting discovery... I am also having this issue and here's what Apple said today:

I understand, While we do know that its an issue and are currently working with At&t to create a resolution, I would like to give you the opportunity to leave feedback, We rely on reports from diligent customers like you to make our products better, thats why they go straight to the engineering team,Would it be OK with you if I was to send you that link?

That is very interesting. I guess we'll have to assume that the Apple rep knew what they were talking about.

If they're working with AT&T to create a resolution, perhaps that points to LTE signal interference or attenuation issues with bluetooth?

Same issues as everyone else Have an ATT 7 plus and when I try to play music through BT in my 2016 Jeep Wranlger all I get is stopping, starting, stuttering and slow down of any music played. My 6plus used in the same car did not do this at all. Very frustrating. And yes, my software is up to date.

I Have an Acura and 7 plus, and it *****, always disconnects! Sometimes it will work for a bit but eventually blammo.

i am testing 10.2 beta and no better.

coworker also has same phone and also and Acura, same thing, he resorted to analog connection.

I Hear no word from Apple!?

What happened to all the posts that were added from Nov 30th through today?? Apple deleted about 10 or more posts! Unbelievable!

Yep. Both of my posts from last week were deleted for talking about a publicly available secret OS. One of mine didn't even use the secret word. So apparently there's an actual person monitoring these forums.

On the plus side, after testing about 10 hours of streaming in my car in the past week, the stuttering/pausing issue seems to be resolved.

AT&T iPhone 7+ 128GB Black, 2014 Ford Escape Sync MFT v3.8

My post wasn't deleted.

Anyway I found my daughter's iphone 7 seemed to have no issues in my car. Just the 7 plus.

Alright I'm trying to work through this with Apple Support. Here's what I got so far:

Auto - Jeep Wrangler 2015 with stock stereo: iPhone 7 plus jet black 256GB AT&T.

Had no issues with iPhone 6. iPad works perfectly fine on it with iOS 10.

Happens through the following apps but is not limited to: Spotify, iTunes, podcasts, navigational apps. (haven't heard it through a phone call yet).

Skips and stutters when LTE is enabled, still skips a tiny bit in 4G but barely noticeable, no skips in airplane mode although it's a hassle to turn on and off with the bluetooth so this is not the solution.

Seems to get worse as the drive goes on and takes about 5-10 minutes to kick in.

I am running OS 10.1.1 (and haven't tried anything else).

I have recorded it here if that helps anyone: although it's on my iPad, I recorded a song, and then turned LTE off then back on. https://youtu.be/8VW_tJDVui0 (sorry it's mostly black but i do try and call out when the major ones are happening. For those without speakers you can actually see the drops below in the attached photo.(sorry it's upside down and i'm too lazy to change it cause you get the idea, where the dark blue spikes is a drop and the middle section is when I had LTE turned off)

So is that on 10.2 b5 or b6?

Mine is 10.1.1

I don't put my phone on the B's

You guys are being so annoying. Yes this issue is frustrating. I purchased iPhone 7 Plus on November 4 and my Bluetooth audio has been screwed ever since. But Apple has made it clear that posts that reference beta in any way will be deleted so please just stop with all the slick ways to try to mention it. Your post will be deleted. Geez.

I was just trying to figure out what version KrispE is running since they're one of the few here who said the issue is resolved for them. Whining and attacking others who are trying to be helpful isn't productive. We're all in the same boat here, so why not try to be a little less unpleasant?