iPhone XR - microphone issue ?

Noise cancelation being turned off did not fix my issue either. It does it no matter what I do and seems to work okay if I make sure my mouth is right in front of the bottom of the phone but has to be perfect. Slightly to the left or right causes the issue. It’s so screwed up and even speaking to tech support they act like they don’t know this is a hardware problem and like many many people have not complained. They wanted to bring in for repair but after research what they do and replacement phones have the same issue. So I paid an arm and a leg for a otherwise great phone but I think apple got too focused on features and forgot the purpose of a phone is to talk to people and when your phone cannot do this important thing well it’s a big problem. Wish apple would recall them or make it right for those who have had issues with this situation. Probably going to end up getting the iPhone 11 and hoping that isn’t something that is happening with the 11 as well.

I have had my iPhone XR for a few months. The microphone for the phone only breaks up sometimes or I sound muffled. It is worse on speaker phone or if I talk thru the bottom of the phone. It does this with any covers off the phone. I reset the phone as instructed and it seemed to work for a short time. I'll go to Apple Support but it is a strange issue. The other mics all work fine i.e. only happens with phone calls.

I have the same issue with my new XR. Everyone complains about my voice getting garbled. Ive taken the cover off and it seems to help a bit but problem still occurs. Have reset too but still happens. Gonna try my sim in my old 5s to rule out my carrier.

Allyismydog,

The problem you describe is the same I had. I worked with Verizon and Apple. If I wasn't holding the MIC directly in front of my mouth people could not hear me. Ultimately I returned the XR and went back to my older 6 and no longer are having the issue.

Iphone XR microphone problems reported by Freedom Mobile in Canada -- They have had a number of clients with iPhone XR and XS models who have the same problem. I have had a new SIM card and their technicians are evaluating the issue to see if there is anything they can do.

I did read the Apple information. I saw that there were two microphones. I am still not 100 percent sure where the "front" microphone(s) are because to figure in the Apple document is a bit misleading. That said, it seems clear that there is a design flaw in the phone that is either hardware, software or a combination of the two creating the well reported flaw in the $800 iPhone. Also clear is that there are a whole lot of people complaining about the exact same problem. I have had iPhones since shortly after they were placed on the market. Other phones had issues but none that made them basically useless as a business communication device. The poor audio quality and intermittence of the problem are making it a non-starter for me. Disabling features, running without a case or holding it in a special way to operate it or even place tape over a second microphone is clearly a bad solution and a terrible reflection on what was once a high quality device.

I’ve had the EXR for over six months and my wife just got one last week. We are both experiencing problems with the anyone trying to hear us when answering phone calls or making phone calls. I found the only thing that works is to use the speakerphone mode. In speakerphone mode there are no issues everything works just like the old iPhones used to except everybody can hear your call.

APPLE!!! WHY CAN’T YOU HELP US?!?!?!?

Same issue - XR w/Verizon and no case. Cleaned both mics out/reset phone/changed LTE to data only. Tried everything and even on speaker I sound muffled and nobody can hear me clearly. I am on IOS 12.3.1 and am currently downloading 12.4 so we’ll see if that fixes it or not but if it doesn’t I will have to take it into apple. Very unfortunate with this 2019 phone. My 6 never had any issues like this.

I sent mine back for warranty repair/service. It was too annoying.

I think Apple did all their testing using AirPods and not the actual phone. It’s unfortunate though as everyone I know had the same problem and only got sorted when they put on the tape at the back.

The problem remained with the replacement phone (red). Diagnostics by Apple indicated the phone was in working order.

I have been working with the phone provider, for a solution but thus far none. We replaced the SIM card. I am waiting for a final tech work up before going back to apple.

I believe it is a design flaw. If I speak loudly and especially speak into the microphone holding the phone at a perpendicular angle to my head then it seems to work better. The speaker phone isn't as good.

Anyone else go through a similar experience?

We are having the identical problems. Intermittent garbled voice reported by those on the other end of the call. Does not happen consistently. Really an issue as this is my business phone. We are going to return the phone as it appears to be a design problem and we cannot afford to screw around with "test the microphone on a voice record and camera" Truly disappointed in this almost $800 phone.

Yes please explain the tape on the back solution. I can’t believe I payed over 800$ bucks for this phone to have as many issues with people telling me they can’t ubderstand me when I am speaking to them on this phone. Interestingly though while talking with n this phone using the speakerphone function I have not had any one tell me that I sounded gargled and broken up. I believe there might be two mic’s on this phone and perhaps it uses the other mic while in speakerphone function. I have gotten better at being aware the bottom of the phone is in relation to my mouth when talking and as long as I hold it perfectly right in front of my mouth people can hear me fine. I can’t talk while pinning the phone on my ear and shoulder due to people bot being able to hear me. I love every thing about this phone except for the mic problem. Which is obviously a pretty major thing. I do use my phone for many things besides talking to people but the entire point of a mobile phone is to be able to call and talk to people no matter where you are and when that priority function is not good that’s a huge flaw. Some one mentioned it was likely due to noise cancelation for the mic and that makes sense that if the phone is not lined up just right perhaps the noise cancelation part is actually causing the person on the other end to not be able to hear properly. It may be a bit too precise and needs to be more lax and only cancel out background noises that are much further away from the mic. I don’t know but I never got a solution because it’s not that my phone is broken it’s just how the XR is at this time. Perhaps a software update will fix this issue but certainly not if people aren’t bringing this to the attention of apple. My iPhone 6s Plus has perfect sound in any direction. Even could talk with the phone upside down and never had this issue. Hope it get resolved soon

Tape on back? I did not see that.

Your experience is identical to mine.

First chance I get to sell this phone I will.

Maybe it's time to leave apple for a while and give them a chance to figure out how to make products with basic functionality in addition to all the other stuff they seem to focus on.

A working mic on a phone is essential otherwise it's just a tablet.