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Nearly two weeks after its release, reports are mounting about an unusual noise coming from the iPhone 18 Pro. A faint crackling, ticking, or clicking sound is emanating primarily from the earpiece speaker. The first update did nothing to fix it.
This isn't the first issue with the iPhone 18 Pro since its launch. Shortly after its release, users reported restarts after failed Face ID unlocks, which Apple fixed with iOS 27.0.1 and macOS 27.0.1.
Now the focus is on the speaker. In a thread on the MacRumors forum and in a post on Reddit, owners describe a crackling sound that occurs without any apparent cause. Both the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max are affected.
Key Takeaways
- Owners of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max hear a crackling, ticking or clicking sound, usually from the earpiece speaker at the top of the display.
- For some it occurs constantly, for others it occurs when scrolling, receiving notifications, displaying the keyboard, or making calls over the mobile network.
- According to initial feedback, iOS 27.0.1 has not changed anything; replacement devices also sometimes exhibit the noise.
When the noise occurs
The descriptions vary. Some users hear the noise continuously, others only in certain situations: when opening apps, scrolling through websites, receiving messages, when the keyboard appears, or during a phone call over the mobile network.
Two triggers appear repeatedly in the reports. On affected devices, the crackling sound can apparently be provoked by switching airplane mode on and off or by quickly changing the screen brightness.
Software or hardware
The reports do not specify whether the cause lies in the software or the hardware. Two observations stand side by side. iOS 27.0.1, which has been distributed since September 28th, makes no mention of a fix for the speaker in its release notes, and some users report that the update has changed nothing.
At the same time, some buyers report having returned their device and hearing the same noise in the replacement. This makes it less likely that the defect is limited to individual units. Forum posts do not indicate how widespread the problem is.
What those affected can do now
I wouldn't rush to exchange an affected device. If replacement devices exhibit the same behavior, an exchange won't help much as long as Apple doesn't know the cause. It's more sensible to record the noise, note when it occurs, and then contact Apple Support.
The deadlines don't run out. Apple allows devices to be returned within 14 calendar days of receiving the order online. After that, the statutory two-year warranty applies in Germany and Austria, and during the first year, the seller must prove that a defect did not exist at the time of purchase.
The iPhone 18 Pro and its startup problems
After the Face ID restarts, the crackling sound is the second issue that has plagued the iPhone 18 Pro in its first few weeks. Unlike the first problem, there is no update yet to fix it.
Do you hear a crackling sound on your iPhone 18 Pro when you switch to airplane mode or quickly change the brightness? Tell us in the comments if your device is affected.
