Owners of Apple’s latest Pro models say their phones produce unexplained crackling, clicking and popping sounds.
Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are reportedly experiencing an unusual speaker issue, with an increasing number of users reporting unexplained crackling, ticking, popping and clicking sounds.
The latest reports come shortly after Apple released iOS 27.0.1, an update designed to address a separate issue that could cause the iPhone 18 Pro models to restart when Face ID authentication failed.
According to reports, the new audio problem appears to affect both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Users have described different sounds, ranging from faint ticks and crackles to noticeable pops and random clicking noises.
The issue appears to be concentrated around the earpiece speaker, rather than the bottom speaker. However, the exact cause of the problem remains unclear.
Some affected users say the sound occurs continuously, while others experience it only during specific activities. Reports suggest the noise can appear while using apps, scrolling through websites, receiving notifications, opening the keyboard or making calls over a cellular network.
Some users have also reported that switching Airplane mode on and off can trigger the sound. Quickly changing the display brightness has reportedly produced similar behaviour on affected devices.
The problem appears to be particularly frustrating because some owners have already returned their new iPhones. In some cases, users reportedly received replacement iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max units that exhibited the same issue.
Apple has not officially acknowledged the reported speaker problem at this stage. As a result, it remains unclear whether the issue is caused by software or hardware.
If the problem is software-related, Apple could potentially address it through a future iOS update. However, if an underlying hardware defect is identified, the company could need to consider a different remedy.
The reports add another software and hardware concern for Apple’s latest Pro models after the company recently addressed the Face ID-related restart bug through iOS 27.0.1.
For now, affected owners will have to wait for further information from Apple. The company has yet to confirm the reported crackling and clicking sounds or provide guidance on potential fixes.