Is there an audio or speaker problem with the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max?
On Reddit and Apple forums, some users have been complaining about a crackling or "popping noise" coming from their new iPhones' speakers. Some of the users think the issue stems from the earpiece speaker, and Mashable found complaints about the problem with both the Pro and Pro Max models.
We also want to note that multiple Mashable reporters have a new iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max device (read our full review), and none have experienced any audio popping issues. However, the potential issue has been reported in multiple places.
Mashable reached out to Apple to ask about a possible speaker issue and will update this piece if we receive a response.
One Redditor described the issue as sounding as "if someone is pulling out an aux cord and you hear a brief click pop noise." The user said the clicking noise occurred during numerous activities, from playing music to switching apps to receiving notifications.
One user reported that an Apple Store employee told them that this was most likely a software issue that would be fixed with an update. However, the latest iOS 27.0.1 update, which was released earlier this week, did not fix the audio problem for some of the users who reported experiencing the problem, according to posts on Reddit.
At least one user said they exchanged their iPhone for a new one due to the problem, only to discover that their replacement phone had the same exact problem.