Iphone 8 plus microphone issues

I've had this issue since taking delivery of my iPhone 8+ last December -- seems when I initiate a phone call the microphone simply does not work 25-33% of the time, with or without the Moment case I'm now using. If I switch to speakerphone mode and back real quick that typically resolves the issue on a call but, for F's sake, Apple, acknowledge and resolve this issue!

Hello 🙂

iPhone 8 Plus 256GB here is my story

Last week , after a long chat with Apple , I got an appointment for service etc.

today I got to the Apple Store Berlin Ku'damm where I am situated now

Apple Personnel = AP

AP_1 meets me and checks me in, so I go and wait at a table

AP_2 finds me after 5' and gets my serial and an explanation of the issue

AP_3 moves me to back tables and diagnosed the problem of the device

AP_3 explains contract etc. informs that I shall take an email the following day so I can pick the device up

The AP_3 asked me to sign on the iPad screen with my finger, they don't even have Pencils for that

They are going to change the screen part and then give me back the device

The warranty is not renewed it will remain for one year and if the new part fails after the expiration I have to pay for a new one

Here I got no new iPhone just a screen exchange and in my question whether it stays waterproof or not he barely said yes

I delivered the iPhone in perfect conditions not a scratch, all except the microphone work greatly

When I get it back I shall post an update

For a device which costs that much money such a failure after 5 months of careful usage it is a disaster

Right now I am cancelling subscriptions to apps and services that do not have counterpart for other mobile OS

iMac purchase plan is cancelled

Apple does good devices if one is lucky; I do not like gambling

I just orientate to a different budget for the next device and ecosystem so as to avoid bad investments

At least next time I shall spent 1/3 of the money I did with this phone and worry less about fixing something which is presented as a very high product

I do not want to be unfair as with this phone I did a lot of things fast and easy

The point is its price tag and selling category do not allow to the producer to make similar mistakes

Absolutely no margin for bad products in the hands of customers who choose Apple for reliability

There is no excuse for Apple

Update

This morning I got an email from the Ku'Damm Apple Store and the iPhone was ready

50' later I was there

I checked in with a AP_4

AP_5 arrived and explained that everything works fine now : the screen was replaced and also the battery

the total cost 180Euro covered by the 1 year warranty

AP_5 very quickly let me alone with my iPhone

First thing I did was to say ''Hey Siri'' and she responded

Battery health 100%, the previous one was at 95% , also strange in 5 months of easy usage it lost 5% of its capacity

Anyways I am pleased to get the device back

Nevertheless , I stick to what I wrote yesterday

Hi,

similar to my iphone 8 problem.

try block the rear microphone with multiple layers of tape and see if it helps.

(maybe it's switching microphones during conversation)

Regards,

Paleco

I suggest to do a test with blocking the rear microphone between flash and camera with a finger to see it makes a difference.

Apple is witholding known info. Several Tech Magazines have proven the 7’s and 8’s all have a bottom Mic flaw. No matter what you do, Tech Support, visit Apple etc... its their porblem and they are not owning up to it. Not a software issue. Its a bad design and bad mic. We all must go and contact Apple and demand proper replacement. Complain to f. t. c. Or f. c. c. So they finally act. Lets face it, they dont beta test. Consumers are thei lab rats.

Hi all!

I happened upon this thread today as I was standing in the Verizon store trying to problem solve the exact same issues and another customer walked in and was having the EXACT same issues as described on this forum.

My 8 plus is 7 months old to the day. About two weeks ago I started to notice that anyone I spoke with on the phone said I was breaking up, or that they couldn't hear me, and there was an awful lot of feedback/resonating sound. I attempted to call my husband and it was the exact same thing. I tried a number of the recommendations on this thread (over the course of a few days) to no avail:

1. Tried recording a new voicemail greeting...

2. Tried tape over certain parts of the phone/rear microphone...

3. Restored the phone to factory settings

4. Removed SIM card and replaced...

5. Hard restart/reset...

6. Turned off noise canceling setting...

We even videoed the calls, the microphone not working at all for the voicemail recording, all complete with sound(s) or lack-thereof ;-) as documentation for Apple!

Luckily, Verizon is replacing my 8 Plus for free because it's still under warranty, but it doesn't make this any less of an issue. Frankly, it's unacceptable and poor taste that they have yet to even acknowledge it. I believe Apple is aware and is probably working on a solution to address this issue, much like the keyboard issues, iPhone battery issues, etc... I find it incredibly hard to believe that they weren't/aren't aware of this issue as it was evident a number of people are having the same problem...

Good luck! I'll update if there are any changes.

J

I can identify with your frustrations. I bought my 8+ on January 25th at the Apple store on the upper east side in NYC. I left the city and immediately experienced problems.

No one could hear me. People get annoyed. Are you in a closet? Where are you? are you on Mars? You sound like you are under water? You voice keeps breaking up. And on and on.

I got three phones and had the same issues with the exception of the third phone.

That was the worst. Dropped calls right and left. I could not hear conversations. Nobody could hear. me.

I spent countless hours with Apple two and three tier reps and went through hours of agonizing tests. With speaker phone. without speaker. With air pods. I had did most of the talking only landline.

I finally went to American Express and started a dispute case against Apple.

Then I got a rep who felt sorry after seeing the giant file on my case.

She got Apple to send me a 10.

I dropped the case with Amex.

I now have a 10.

No voice problems however I do not like the way the phone operates.

There is no Home button which makes it very difficult to go from one app to the next. It is also a real pain to eliminate the old apps that are cluttering up the phone.

Apple is apparently getting rid of the 10 and I don't know what comes next but I will never buy another Apple phone again.

I was really nuts by May Theend of June from dealing with the situation.

Contact your credit Card Company and try to dispute the case. Stop paying for the phone unless you already own it.

Try to get an Apple Rep who is upper level management and tell them you want to upgrade to the 10.

I know that the company is aware of the situation. They just won't admit.

i have the same problem and went to the genius bar. they diagnosed a faulty bottom right microphone and gave me a replacement handset as the microphone can not be repaired. the replacement phone has exactly the same problem. looking at the scale of feedback about the same problem from different users in different countries it must be a hardware or software problem...?? if the phones do have faulty microphones and at a large scale this would be massive for apple as replacement handsets required. if its software surly and IOS update would have been sorted by now...?

I have been working with apple engineers for 6 months and no help. They tried to blame att but not true. It's the **** phone. I put tape over the tiny speaker that is located in the back by the camera or hold my finger over the hole when the tape falls off. Ridiculous for all the money we spent to buy this phone.

Sorry to hear you’re experiencing so many problems. I was so frustrated from dealing with different Apple so called geniuses that I came close to being very nasty. That never helps no matter how angry you are because the technicians can only do so much.

The level of expertise varies from Sr to Sr and their personalities are sometimes abrasive.

The one thing that seems to be a commonality is the carrier. AT&T people have more problems than Verizon.

My microphone issue was finally resolved with Verizon. They replaced my Sim card and changed a few settings which apparently have to do with the area I am in. It also depends on who you get to help you from whatever carrier you are using.

This phone is definitely not worth the amount of money that I spent on it however at this point it will do until it is paid off.

January 25 of this year I brought by 6S iPhone to the Apple Store on the upper Eastside in New York City. The new batteries they so generously gave me for $30 rather than $79 gave out.

I decided to upgrade to the 8+. That was the beginning of 5 1/2 months of ****.

I love both in New York City and in upstate New York.

I left the city with my new phone and immediately had complaints from everyone about the sound of my voice or rather the lack of it for the most part. I had three 8+ phones.

The microphone issue was dreadful with each phone and I spent hours and hours on the phone with Apple to cheer seniors and people above. I went through agonizing tests having to use my landline because the phone was so bad.

Of course I went to Verizon and replace the Sim card. They change the LTE setting and a few other things on the third phone and I had a reprieve for about three weeks.

Then the microphone issue returned as well as others like the phone dropping calls every five minutes and not hearing the callers clearly.

Every Apple wrap and technician heard the problems which I’m sure everyone is familiar with. The voice breaking up. The voice sounding like it was in a tunnel. No voice at all. Totally unacceptable phone.

I buy everything with AmericAn Express and called American Express and started a dispute. I just continue all payments on the phone and got a credit for the expensive case that I bought because what good is a phone case when your phone is defective.

I decided to give Apple one more chance and the last representative I spoke to decided to upgrade me to a 10. It was a seamless exchange except the fact that they sent me the new phone by fed ex with no signature required and phone got lost.

Since Apple had almost $1000 of my money on hold and I had no phone I was responsible for the fact that it was not in my possession and was about to take this up with AmericAn Express except a neighbor called and luckily told me they received my phone in error.

I had my 8+ phone replaced three times. Same issues except the last phone was the worst. Incoming calls were difficult to hear. The phone started dropping calls constantly. Almost every call I made had to be repeated because the first call would not go through.

I am so disgusted with Apple products lately. They are way too pricey and the quality is not up to par anymore.

I buy everything on AmericAn Express because they have a great policy of standing behind their customers.

I contacted AmericAn Express and informed them of the problem and started a case against them.That’s when Apple agreed to move me up to the iPhone X without any penalty.

I have had the same issue with my Iphone 8 since I got it in April. At first I thought it was my cell phone case when I first got my phone so I switched it which only temporarily worked. Now its happening again with a different cell phone case. My phone seems completely fine with no case on. But what are the chances that multiple different cell phone cases that are made for my specific phone are the issue? Super annoying and I dont feel comfortable always having to take my cases off to talk on the phone. Defeats the purpose.

I'm also experiencing this issue on an 8 Plus and carrying on conversations has become beyond frustrating. I've had this phone for 6-7 months, and experienced the problem from day one. I'm stunned to have found this post and discover that not only am I far from alone, but to see threads like this have lasted more than a year with no resolution from Apple which is simply unacceptable.

I purchased my 8 plus fully unlocked at an Apple Store just days after the XS was released. I chose the 8 Plus mainly because I have issues closing the windows on the newer models that lack a home button. This may be because of my own physical disability, but regardless of the reason, I was satisfied with my choice until I started making calls. Nearly everyone I talk to was telling me, "You sound muffled, like you're in a tunnel, underwater, etc."

As soon as I switch to speaker, I'm told everything is clear, but this is not a solution as some calls need to remain private. Just 15 days after my purchase, I went to an Apple Store and everything tested fine. Calls to Apple Support as well as that visit to Apple both had me believing it was a carrier issue. After 3-4 weeks of frustration with calls, I finally switched carriers from Tracfone to Verizon.

I have better service overall but the problem remains. I went back to the Apple store several weeks later, and the new possibility suggested was to have them replace the antenna. We knew it wasn't a carrier issue since I switched carriers specifically for this reason. I left the store undecided about what to do, because I'd rather not possibly end up with a refurbished phone just after 2 months and $800+ (256 GB model) to get a new one. After discussing this with Verizon, they confirmed it is not an antenna issue as my Data speeds would be affected as well. I have excellent data speeds and not a signal internet or MMS texting issue.

Over the past 3-4 months, I haven't gone back to the Apple store, because many people that I talk to stopped mentioning the issue. I also make most of my important calls on a landline to avoid the issue, which is not a solution by any means. Obviously it’s sometimes not possible to wait or schedule a call for a time when I'm near a landline.

This week people have begun mentioning it again – I’m told the problem never went away, but they just didn't want to continue bugging me about it. I simply don't know what to do as I'm not a fan of Android OS and cannot trade the phone in for an XR or XS as I need the home button.

Purchasing a new 8 Plus is, as this point, the only way to ensure I’d actually be getting a new one, but that’s not acceptable to me since I’ve only had the phone for 6-7 months and this has been a problem right out of the box. Not to mention, this issue is so common that it may happen again with a new or refurbished model. I’ve tried all the suggested “fixes” – turned off noise cancelling, hearing aid capability, changed LTE setting to Data only, restored the phone, blown compressed air on speaker grills, - nothing changes until you use speakerphone for calls. Apple needs to address and resolve this issue ASAP!

Any suggestions for someone who is unable to just trade up to an XS would be greatly appreciated.

I usually, like this but I just double click n push it to the top if it still can’t hear restart it