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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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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 8, 2017 11:24 AM

EXACT same issue with my iPhone 8 Plus. It's not as though the mic CANNOT work, because when I switch to speaker phone, I can be a good distance away from the phone and people still hear me. But, when speaker phone is off, my mouth has to be RIGHT next to the speaker. Even the slightest tilt of the phone away from my face makes me unable to be heard, even when speaking loudly. Very frustrating!

403 replies

Nov 28, 2017 9:00 PM in response to KeithJ80

My husband finally decided to get an iPhone, so we got him the 8 and now he's having the SAME ISSUE. This is not a good thing for someone who finally converted to Apple (after years of coaxing). Please please please fix this issue. I can't hear him at all half of the time when I am on the phone with him, and the phone is most definitely close to his ear.

Dec 4, 2017 4:23 AM in response to KeithJ80

Hi - I have an iPhone X and had the same issue, I have just spent all morning on the phone to Apple and in the end it turned out to be my very expensive Snakehive case for my phone. Try taking the phone out of the case and try phoning someone, I couldn’t believe it. Basically there are three mic’s and two of them were being blocked by my case 🙄

Dec 4, 2017 11:37 AM in response to Globalbloke

I don't think that's it. My wife was essentially forced to buy an official Apple case (iPhone 8+) and the problems continue.


The real clue to me is that it happens most often when the phone is used a quiet environment. In a noisy environment, it actually sounds better. My theory is that the background noise cancellation is overly aggressive and cancels the user's voice out sometimes when used in a quiet environment. When given a steady bit of background noise to deal with, it works fine. It's either that or a very common hardware defect.

Dec 6, 2017 12:46 AM in response to KeithJ80

I spoke to soon when I said the micr. problem was solved by Apple.

The sent me a new Iphone 8, in first everything seemed to be OK with the microphone but after a few days people starting to tell me the the volume of my voice was very low again and fading in and out.

So I don't know what to do now, maybe contact with Apple again, think I want my € 950,- back.

Making a phone call should be the first thing a phone should do perfect!


Gr.,

Dec 7, 2017 5:11 AM in response to KeithJ80

Okay I had the same problem and I went to the Apple genius bar tonight. What the genius spotted was the wallet case that I am using folds back onto the back microphone when you’re talking on the phone this microphone apparently used for noise reduction and causes it to go immediately muffled sound when you talk on the phone.... Without the case closed over itself at the back it works perfectly. So in might account for some of your problems because mine was exactly the same worked on loudspeaker worked on the headset but was muffled on the microphone...therefore causing this problem. But I think it’s intermittent because the way I hold the phone it’s not always the same and sometimes the back microphone the one near the camera would be exposed and sometimes it would be closed over with the back cover. I took the cover off and guess what it works perfectly. Every time I gave it to Apple to check I took the phone out of the case and gave them the raw phone so it took awhile for them to work out that I actually had a case. Hope this helps everyone.

Dec 7, 2017 1:26 PM in response to Firand

i have found a solution.


the back microphone near the rear camera lense is being blocked more than likely by your phone case if you have a folding phone case, if you remove it or prevent it from blocking it then it will be working fine.


I tried it and it's extremely fine. this guy initially posted his finding and it turned out to be the case for me.


Quoting him "Okay I had the same problem and I went to the Apple genius bar tonight. What the genius spotted was the wallet case that I am using folds back onto the back microphone when you’re talking on the phone this microphone apparently used for noise reduction and causes it to go immediately muffled sound when you talk on the phone.... Without the case closed over itself at the back it works perfectly. So in might account for some of your problems because mine was exactly the same worked on loudspeaker worked on the headset but was muffled on the microphone...therefore causing this problem. But I think it’s intermittent because the way I hold the phone it’s not always the same and sometimes the back microphone the one near the camera would be exposed and sometimes it would be closed over with the back cover. I took the cover off and guess what it works perfectly. Every time I gave it to Apple to check I took the phone out of the case and gave them the raw phone so it took awhile for them to work out that I actually had a case. Hope this helps everyone. "


let me know if this works.

Dec 11, 2017 6:23 PM in response to KeithJ80

Hi Keith I have the same issue with my Iphone 8Plus, purchased on 2nd November 2017. No one can hear me unless i have the headphone connected or connected to bluetooth. Speaker phone also works, but regular mic does not work everyone tells me they cannot hear me.. this is extremely embarrassing as I am calling clients and they almost hang up me as they cannot hear me. I have to shout very loadly for them to hear me and in an office environment this is very ofoff putting to my colleagues and down right embarrassing to me. Apple just told me to try and record on voice memo.. well this works fine, but still people I call cannot hear me.. Next idea was to download IOS 11.2, well did that this morning and still no good. I assume now they will tell me to reset the phone another waste of 45min of my time.. I can see that you have had a huge response to your post.. did you manage to get the issue resolved or do you still experience the mic issue?


Thanks


Paul

iphone 8 poor/sensitive mic during call

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