iPhone 18 Pro owners report crackling sounds from the earpiece speaker
iPhone 18 Pro owners report crackling sounds from the earpiece speaker
The iPhone 18 Pro speaker issue is the latest early headache for Apple’s newest flagship, with owners reporting an unusual crackling or popping sound from the earpiece speaker. Complaints have surfaced on the MacRumors forums and Reddit, where buyers describe random clicks, ticks and crackles during ordinary use.
Both the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max appear to be affected. The phones went on sale on September 18, 2026, priced from $1,199 for the Pro and $1,299 for the Pro Max, and the reports have been building in the two weeks since launch.
What owners are hearing
The noise is described as a faint but persistent crackling or popping from the earpiece, the small speaker used for calls. Some users say it sounds like static; others compare it to a random ticking.
The pattern suggests the problem is not limited to a few unlucky units. Some buyers who returned their phones received replacement devices that made the same noise, which points away from an isolated manufacturing defect.
The triggers are odd
What makes the issue stranger is when the sound appears. Owners report hearing it while scrolling through websites, receiving notifications, typing, or making calls. Toggling Airplane Mode on and off has set it off, as has quickly adjusting screen brightness. In several cases the crackling occurs even when no audio is playing.
Software or hardware? The iPhone 18 Pro speaker issue explained
Apple released iOS 27.0.1 on September 28 to fix a separate bug that was restarting Face ID on some units. The update’s release notes mention no speaker fix, and early feedback from owners suggests it has not helped with the crackling.
If the cause is software, a future update could resolve it without anyone visiting a store. If it is hardware, the fix is far more complicated. Apple has not commented publicly on the reports, and there is no official acknowledgement of the problem. For now, owners are left guessing: restarting the phone, resetting settings and waiting for Apple to speak.
This is the third early problem reported for the phone, after the Face ID restart bug and connectivity complaints from some Pro Max users on AT&T’s network. With Apple’s 14-day return window now closing for launch-day buyers, affected owners face a choice: return the handset, or keep it and hope for a software fix.
What buyers can do now
Owners who notice the sound should first check whether they are within the return window and keep a note of when it happens. Those outside the window can report it to Apple support so it is logged against their device. A fix, if software, would arrive through a standard iOS update, so staying on the latest version is the sensible move.
Frequently asked questions
What is the iPhone 18 Pro speaker issue?
Some iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max owners report crackling, popping or ticking sounds from the earpiece speaker during normal use, including when no audio is playing.
Which models are affected?
Reports cover both the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Replacement units have shown the same behaviour in some cases, suggesting it is not limited to individual faulty handsets.
Did iOS 27.0.1 fix the crackling?
No. The update, released on September 28, targeted a separate Face ID restart bug. Its release notes mention no speaker fix, and owners say the crackling persists.
Has Apple commented on the issue?
Apple has not made any public comment on the speaker reports so far.
What should I do if my iPhone 18 crackles?
Check whether you are still inside Apple’s 14-day return window, document when the sound occurs, report it to Apple support, and keep your phone updated in case a software fix arrives.
