iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max owners are experiencing an unusual and unsettling audio problem that has left users questioning their device’s quality control. The issue mainly produces sounds such as crackling or popping. It is so distinctive that users describe it as sounding “almost like someone is pulling out an aux cord.”
The audio defect appears random and unpredictable. Reportedly, users hear popping noises during routine phone calls, sudden crackling when switching between apps, faint ticking sounds from the earpiece speaker, and raspy distortion when playing audio at higher volumes. The intermittent nature makes the problem particularly frustrating, as users never know when the audio will malfunction, creating uncertainty during calls and media playback.
Testing done by various users independently took to social media platforms to reveal that the issue can be triggered by specific actions. Opening apps sometimes produces crackling. Sometimes, adjusting volume levels occasionally triggers popping. Even toggling Airplane Mode on and off sometimes reproduces the sound.
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The problem persists across both standard iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. Apple released iOS 27.0.1 on September 24, targeting Face ID freeze crashes and rebooting issues. Apple has not publicly commented on the audio defect or committed to replacement programs for affected units.
Apple’s two-week return policy offers the only guaranteed solution for affected customers. Those experiencing the audio problem can return devices within two weeks for replacements or refunds. However, some users report receiving replacement units exhibiting identical speaker problems, suggesting the defect may affect entire production batches rather than isolated units.
