AirPods disconnects on calls

I posted prior to the 10.3 beta that there were issues with the AirPods and it would seem as though the problem is still unresolved. Only the 2nd phone call since the update to 10.3 and I had 3-4 drops all within a 30 minute call. At this point, it would be great if Apple would offer a fix or a refund. The AirPods just aren't cutting it and certainly aren't worth the $170 price tag!

Same experience with 6S, Apple Watch 1 and Airpods with the updated 10.2.1 iOS and 3.1.3 for Watch. Dropping both calls and occasionally music. The Airpods cycle connected and unconnected while I am wearing one in my GMC with bluetooth, even if I am not on a call or listening to music, letting me know that they are apparently disconnecting and then reconnecting.

Could it be something with the sensors for placement in your ears? some people's ears might allow the sensor to think the Airpods are not in the ear [disconnecting it] and then a different movement of the head or jaw it reconnects with the bong noise?

Maybe you have a bad pair or phone?

The 10.3B1 fix seems to have address the 6/6S issues, which I believe were the bulk of the issues. If you have the 7, I would definitely make a support call and have them log your crashes and possibly trade out for a new pair of Airpods and/or iPhone which are both covered by the 1 year warranty right now.

I feel your frustration!

Good luck and cheers!

Interesting bit:

Updated my Watch 2 to 3.1.3, and did not update my iPhone 6S+ to either 10.2.1 or to 10.3 beta and AirPods switching between Watch, Mac and Phone seems to work much smoother and using both headphones in a 30 mins call didn't disconnect... usually i never got this much talk time with both.

who knows what gives?

Using iPhone 7Plus on 10.2.1 and 10.2 with AirPods and connected Apple Watch Gen 1. Numerous issues with call quality of voice, robot voice, failed to connect calls, calls that connected but cannot hear on one side or both sides. Testing using both a single AirPods and dual AirPods.

Putting Watch in Airplane mode seemed to remove most if not all of the issues. Prior to this I had restored from backup on both the phone and watch as an attempt to fix as I had no issues with this on another iPhone 7Plus and iPhone 5S, likely due to no watch connected.

I am sending logs to Apple Engineers and hopeful that this will help fix the issue. Until then I plan to consider the public beta 10.3 and possibly just putting watch in Airplane mode during the day when I take the most of my calls. Not the best but definitely love the AirPods, for music and podcasts they are flawless.

iPhone 7Plus - 10.2.1 - Restored from Backup

AirPods 3.3.1

Watch Gen 1 - 3.1.3 - Restored from Backup

I have the same problem. iPhone 6s and a watch. Calls have dropped with both AirPods on longer calls. Very disturbing making the product virtually unusable. I'll try using one airpod and see if that is more stable.

What bothers me most is the amount of collective time everyone is putting into troubleshooting this (sometimes it can be fun at first but frustrating after resets and re-installs).

It's cleary a QA issue for Apple to resolve (of course, with our help if they request it). Apple should be more transparent and communicate they have a problem and that they are working on a fix with an approximate eta. I've been a long time apple user, seller and in the software tech space since the 80s and the amount of personal time

I've wasted troubleshooting Apple issues on my laptop, watch, phone, etc over the past few years is unacceptable - clearly QA resources are low or commercial goals are overriding QA. Apple needs to spend more time on QA (this audio dropping should have easily been identified prior to release) as this issue is easily replicable.

(end of vent)

Watch S2 on 3.1.3

6S now on 10.3B1

- Issues seem to have gone away, no more dropped calls so far

- also noticed today that while the phone is ringing I can put in my AirPods and instantly get a connection (previously this took too long to let the call ring, I had to take on the phone and then tell the caller that I need a second to get my headphones)

- overall very happy so far that this seems to solve itself

some things better, some worse. DROPS do seem to have gotten MUCH less, if at all.

There is on my 6s, much more background noise even when not on a call. There is a BT noise in the airpods.. it comes and goes. There is also more background hiss on calls. But at least they don't drop. I'll be interested to see if the battery life has suffered.

Connecting to the watch (for listening to music on the watch) MUCH faster and easier to connect. Before 10.3b1, I had to turn OFF BT on my 6s phone, before I could even get the airpods to connect to the watch. Now, it's just switches back and forth easily.

I've had calls start dropping over to the phone's speaker and then back to the headset since upgrading to iOS 10.

The thing is, I'm using an iPhone 5 and a non-apple Bluetooth headset.

Seems to me something got broken in iOS10.

This problem occurs not only with AirPods. I noticed regular breaks during a call when using the headset Plantronics Voyager Edge and iPhone 6s plus (using Apple Watch). First I changed the iPhone. I bought a new 7 plus. Then ordered AirPods delivered today. I began to use it, but the problem remains. I have used different versions of the iOS, from 9 to 10.3 beta.

I would like to see the solution.

Updated my watch 2 to 3.1 and it seems worse than ever for me this morning dropped to phone speaker 6-8 times on the same call, when I look at Bluetooth settings it's a spinning wheel like no connection and watch shows same thing and it hasn't before. Been like this for a month. Ow and I haven't swapped them out I think it's something in BT.

So much for my upgrading from 6S and AW0 to 7 Plus and AW2... AirPods were working perfectly for a week, and I was very happy.

Now they are back to failure mode on calls. Music is fine, but I can't get any audio through them now for calls. Not even just random Bluetooth disconnects, but out-and-out no call audio from the start, and even call failures. Switched to my wired Lightning EarPods that came with the phone, and my caller said it sounded like it switched to speakerphone and said my voice became very distant/quiet (phone was in my pocket).

Will try rebooting the phone.

Hoping for a software update soon.

Hi GGGeoff I did find that if I put my apple watch in airplane mode I was able to make and take phone calls without issues. It's pretty frustrating to have to do that but I'm sure its only for a short time till this is addressed by the apple engineers.

May want to upgrade to iOS 10.3 Beta 1. I'm hearing this along with the new AirPod FW and WatchOS Beta may resolve the issue. Now just wondering if Apple is going to release 10.2.2 to implement the fix 10.3 Beta 1 has in it. We will see.