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iphone 8 poor/sensitive mic during call

Just got a new iPhone 8 (updated to ios 11.0.2) upgraded from iPhone 6. When making a call if not talking directly into the mic the person on the other end cannot hear me (or my voice volume is drastically lower). This occurs when even slightly moving the phone away from my mouth or rotating the phone slightly up or down. My father has the same problem with his iPhone 8, even returned it and got a new one, same problem. Switching to speaker phone solves the problem. Also noting it does not happen all the time and a hard reset can fix it for a bit but then it goes back to the bad behavior.


Has anyone else experienced this?

iPhone 8, iOS 11.0.2

Posted on Oct 5, 2017 7:48 PM

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403 replies

Nov 17, 2017 4:54 AM in response to hgt001

Well, I do feel a tad bit better because I’m seeing multiple complaints about the same problem. iPhone 8.... I have 3. 2 are terrible and the other is somewhat better. Very very hard to tell if it’s software/hardware but if you call yourself on another phone, mute the other test phone and talk, it’s a fading, buzzing, mumbling and distant sound instead of a clear voice. 15 calls were made to all different numbers and all the other lines said “hello” “sir”? “You’re terribly broken up” “you sound muffled and underwater”..... my 4th 8 is in transit for a swap. 4 8’s?????? I think it’s time for Samsung.

Nov 19, 2017 1:08 PM in response to KeithJ80

Yup. I now have 5 iPhone 8’s one is worse than the other. 3/5 bad mic. Nobody hears me. Unless you screem directly in the mic. I did a test. Call it with another phone, lay the iPhone down, mute the phone your calling it from, brush or rub the 2 mic holes right next to the charger port. One side will emit sound and one won’t. Then wait a second, do that again, and the other side won’t work. Very very hard to tell if it’s ios11.x.x.........5 8’s??? All the same? All out of the box?? Hmm odd.

Nov 19, 2017 2:26 PM in response to KeithJ80

Exactly the same issue with the iPhone 7...We have had a number of them in my business and they are all the same.

We are so over the apple telling us that there is nothing wrong with the phones and have never heard of this problem.

My brother has just perforated the water proof membrane on his iPhone 7 and this seems to have solved the problem with his(not recommending it, but interesting).

This is a massive problem which does not seemed to be address honestly by Apple..

Is the iPhone x the same???

Nov 19, 2017 6:09 PM in response to KeithJ80

Same problem - others complain they cannot hear me - switch to landline and they can. Ringing myself on a landline from iPhone 8 and I sound very soft and narrow bandwidth. This is apparently a fault with iPhone 8 at lease - what is happening about this Apple. If not resolved the phone will be returned for a full refund as not fit for purpose - i.e. being a phone!

Nov 20, 2017 2:36 AM in response to robertfromlindfield

After 9 days of troubleshooting and tear downs, and 5 of the same phones, I feel it’s a possible software settle/installation that only affects certain 8 models along with the plus and X... it’s not clear what or why this happens 8/10 times no matter what is done to the phone. From my experience and testing 5 phones, it seems intermittent but all the time. Some are worse than others. 2or 3 can work normal for 1 minute then fade out because the dual microphone has a hard time transferring from one side to the other.... if you talk on the left side, its faint. If you talk on the right side its clear and vice versa. Putting on speakerphone then off, fixes but only for seconds. This issue will go for more thorough tes

Nov 22, 2017 6:51 AM in response to KeithJ80

Bought an 8s 3 weeks ago and I've the same problem and was calling Apple support. The said that I've bring the phone to a Apple store and they will repair it. I did update to iOS 11.1.2 without success. I did restore the iPhone completely and it doesn't work.

But then I was testing the iPhone 8s with several apps and wondering me: In using Wattsapp call my voice was clear and understandable. I have no clue what's wrong with the micro but it's very frustrating as I have to use the phone for business.

But it seems to be that Apple doesn't care about......it's absolutely annoying!

Nov 22, 2017 8:33 PM in response to LakshGosain

It maybe a software issue however this has continued from the iPhone 7, so please don't hold your breath that apple with fix it in next upgrade.(have you had either an iPhone 7 or 8?)

I think this is a major problem with both the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 8 which apple is not openly acknowledging(obviously).

I am over my Phone and have already had it replaced once with no change in performance rather a continuation of non performance.

Nov 25, 2017 5:37 PM in response to KeithJ80

Same issue with my iphone 8 as well. People have been telling me that they can barely hear me when I talk with them, even if my mouth is right near the microphone. Tried many different troubleshoots and nothing seems to work...there isn't anything blocking the microphone either. One of many issues I've had with my iphone 8, actually. Apple seems to be slipping massively when it comes to the quality of their products. Very disappointed so far. They're losing a lot of ground to google and samsung.

Nov 26, 2017 8:33 AM in response to KeithJ80

I installed 11.1.2 as soon as it was available for my freshly bought iPhone 8 256GB.

It was working just fine until the day before yesterday.

Without any reason the people on the other side are not able to hear what I'm saying during a phone call. In car bluetooth system as well as headphones work ok.

I was going to send my phone for the repair but now, when there's so many similar problem description on the web I am not sure what to do. The phone is basically useless for me right now.

Nov 26, 2017 9:45 AM in response to subuk

I have found if I use a calling app the phone is fine and calls are working as they should. This tells me it’s not a hardware issue rather a software issue. Thinking back I don’t remember my phone doing this until after the update that fixed the crackling sound when on a call, which my phone had that issue. I just wish Apple would acknowledge this issue and get it fixed.

iphone 8 poor/sensitive mic during call

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