iphone 8 poor/sensitive mic during call

My iPhone 8 is doing the same thing the mic doesn’t seem to be strong enough for people to here me at the other end. And if I put it on Speaker it seem to work ok. This is very frustrating hopefully apple solves this issue sooooon

I found this interesting post on a similar mic issue thread for the iPhone X (thanks to brentwoodkennyg):

I sound muffled or underwater, but only sometimes. Other calls are perfect. Tried all of the fixes in this forum - Network reset, LTE off/on, full reset, wi-fi calls off. Noise cancellation off. With and without cover. Got a replacement phone from the Apple store. None of it helped and now I know why...

The issue turned out to be how I was holding the phone. There are three microphones on the X and one of them is located by the camera on the back of the phone. Even though I didn't cover it while holding the X (with fingers and thumb on the sides of the phone, I apparently was close enough to make that mic behave differently. When I move my phone-holding position in the same grip to the bottom part of the phone, the problems vanish. I have run through a series of test with my "complainers" and this seems to pinpoint the root cause. It's either user error or a design flaw, but there is a simple workaround. Hold the phone at the bottom of the case and definitely not near the top. Problem Solved!

Update as to why this works: Apple has designed noise cancellation into the talking side of the phone. (This is different than the noise cancellation in the Accessibility settings - those are for the listening not speaking). Anyway, there is a small mic on the back of the X by the camera. It's purpose is to listen for ambient noise (think crowded bar) and to cancel that noise from what it hears from the mics on the front at bottom of the phone. Those mics hear your voice talking plus they hear the ambient noise (crowded bar). The software "subtracts" the bar sound from what it hears on the front and the listener never hears the bar noise - just your voice. (You can test this by completely covering the back mic hole with your finger - then the listener hears the bar noise and has trouble hearing your voice).

Anyway, this is a really great feature - except that if you hold the phone near the top, it channels part of your voice into that back mic and it ends up canceling out all or part of your voice. So I have to hold my phone at the bottom and things work fine. This also explains problems with folding phone cases and issues when you are holding the phone between neck and shoulder.

Just tried this method of holding the phone with my BF and he still cannot understand anything I am saying. 😟 I keep hoping something I read in here will turn out to be the magic fix, but so far, nope. I even tried this method with my case removed, still no good.

Hmmm, great! Now my text and voicemails are taking forever to hit my phone! Apple get fixing these $1,000 phones! Mine has so many issues its ridiculous! Its acting like an Iphone 3 would today in 2018...Anyone else having huge delays in sending pics, getting texts and getting voicemails?

So, I went to the Genius Bar and they carried out further tests on it. They offered me a replacement which I asked to test first. It had the same problem. I will also add that it was iOS 11.1.1 on it. So I left the store with my old phone still with problems having had the explanation that the microphone is different on the 8 (compared to my previous iPhones) and either I should try to adjust my way of holding it (the problem is not there if I speak directly into the microphone) or try and send it back to the phone company as faulty and ask for a refund.

What a joke. We are spending hours and hours trying to find a fix, going to Genius Bars, talking to Apple and NOTHING. They are still making money and we still cannot use our phones as phones. I try every single 'fix' people have mentioned on this thread and not a single one works with my crap phone. Why should I have to spend my time going to pick out a new company and new phone when Apple KNOWS there is an issue. Just fix it already and let us all move on with our lives.

100% agree with you!!! My words exactly, well, i had a few more colorful words in my responses to Apple. They do know the issue exists as you mentioned. This is so becoming a waist of our precious time we all have been putting into this. I'm talking with Verizon and figuring out how i can fix my issue. If I can get a different brand of phone and continue with my phone plan i"m doing it. I need a phone and use it for work everyday. I cant believe we havent see a recall on these. Mine is my second Iphone 8 Plus. Love the features of the phone but there are some big time issues with some, that is driving me nuts! Delays and Mic issues and voicemails delayed and texts delayed. I'm up to date on software too. Not sure if there is going to be a FIX at all for any of us. Seriously!!!

Ha, told ya!!!!!!!!

Two words, EXACTLY RIGHT!!! Seriously, China stuff is China stuff.....Crap! We need Steve Jobs Back please!!! Another few words... End of March, New Samsung S9 !!!! I'm going to do it. I'm so done dealing with Apple and all their excuses and they do realize a recall will cost them a ton of money and they dont want to do it. Not sure what they would give us anyway. Heard the Iphone X was a flop and others are having issues with it too

New software update iOS 11.2.6. Hmmmmm Bug Fixes and here are the bugs they want to fix: Fixes an issue where using certain character sequences could cause apps to crash. Fixes an issue where some 3rd party apps could fail to connect to external accessories... What a Fetching JOKE! Who cares about these bugs. We have a Huge Beast of a Problem here and have had it for months now. Just not sure what Apple would do to fix it. Sounds like the 2 mics are cancelling each other out and the other iphone 3,4,5,6 didnt have this stupid issue!!!!!!!! They changed something that didnt need changing....Why do some have issues and others dont? My wifes brand new White or Gold Iphone 8 Plus has zero issues. What the.... Mine is the Space Gray one

Hello KTMRider3018

As seem your phone have been trouble with text and photos and voicemail recorder? I prefer to show you some ways to control of your iphone in new.

Even im not really understood your problem. But i hope these steps will useful for you to control your phone not look like iphone 3..lol. Because the new phone ofcorse STRONG. But its such as a new Car's System Module Cabin. Must be have enough data and oil for system launcher on progress. We must be side by side to support our new system a little first. Then you will see

how is the new IOS do for you later. . Just few days.

1. For text and video or media you must be download one third party software. With text you can download Microsoft office Apps such as Word/Outlook/Onedrive. You just choice one in 3 no need download all. In these apps have got the file. zip and file.txt. Its can extract your text to small Mega byte. You can save many and many text or some things must to keep and remember. Just hold the text long touch. And its show the option for your choice. And copy and past. You can do many and many.

2. Includes photo and media video games. Etc. You down load one Adobe PDF file. This files will made your phone particular

3. After download just open- sign in- and then do such as upon i was told you "Copy and paste ". Its will save and smoother your phone successfully.

These apps call third party. Force due of phone or PC you are using just almost nesscessary to have these apps. If no..even you are on strongest

PC also. You still not run amything perfectly. If some time wanna watch just movie which 3D or high tech HD you surely impossible drive anything.

Hello Keithj80

As seem this issue is the original of peoples using IOS updated Iphone. The reason why its so simple. Its not a mistake or not a problem. Just a new strong IOS run on your old screen hard background.

Its mean such as An Area no body stayed there before. And you are the first one. Lol. So that what we need to do just make this background softer and run with enough new data about some few days or if you drive harder its will bring back your sound and best on the best such as all you did for them sooner

And now how to do

I show you this way

1. Go to setting choice AssitsiveTouch . Or we often call the eye of iphone

2. Open assivetouch --> You choice --> 3D Touch -- on IOS 11 have been got this option.

3. Then you Touch this 3D Touch- black circle here to move around around of your Task- bar. Upon the Home button call is the Dash - Task - bar. This place near the speaker your mouth to talk out the sound. And its background stuck with hard background. You just touch 3D Touch move-move-around-around. Such as you massage for them. Lol. Thats ok. You will see just short time Our New IOS acting .

Thanks and Regard

I have the same problem on my recently purchased iPhone 8 Plus. People often can not hear me when I am talking to them on the phone, they are always saying "I'm sorry, I can not hear you" even though nothing is blocking the mic and I'm speaking clearly and loudly. It's really frustrating. Any help would be appreciated.

I purchased X17 iPhone 8 for the company I work for.

2 iPhones had problems where people couldn't hear them.

We always upgrade to the latest ios after I have tested it first to ensure it doesn't have an adverse effect on the apps we use with it.

Apple have replaced both faulty phones and we don't have the issue anymore.

The two phones that we did have issues with were high usage for us at approximately 100 calling minutes per day.

The only way you could reduce the problem while in a call was to put the phone on speaker phone.

We could almost mask the issue on the faulty phones by turning the 'Phone Noise Cancellation' off and sliding the 'Audio Volume Balance' 80% to the R (it could have been L, I can't remember sorry). This is under Settings - General - Accessibility.

The best option by far is to send the phone for repair.

I have read a lot of negativity in regards to this issue and understand it is very frustrating when you rely so heavily on these devices. My suggestion is to follow Apples repair process then you should be sorted like we have.

Sorry, most of us would disagree with you. If you pay attention to this thread many of us have turned in our phones for new ones only to have this software/settings issue follow us. Most of us have spent countless hours with genius and on the telephone doing every possible reset or restore that you can imagine. They even told me to change carriers. SMH. I am forced to use the headphones now and will reassess this when I have more time.