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Is the iPhone 15 Pro Max the absolute best phone in the world you can spend a small fortune on right now and are the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, and 15 Pro not far behind in terms of everything from camera capabilities to raw power and software support? While some hardcore Apple fans are likely to be quick to shout a resounding yes at the top of their lungs, many actual owners of the hot new (pun intended) ultra-high-end handsets might disagree for one of two simple reasons (or even both of them).
As one particularly disgruntled early adopter so eloquently put it in a TikTok video a couple of days ago that has since gone viral, the iPhone 15 series launch is making people "feel like beta testers" with multiple issues that seem highly uncharacteristic of Apple.
This is a company that typically takes great pride in tirelessly testing every little aspect of the user experience and making sure all parts and components work properly before releasing a new product (any product), and yet somehow it appears that at least two relatively serious malfunctions have evaded the tech giant's quality control this time around, ending up in the hands of consumers and causing them literal or metaphorical headaches.
iPhone 15 Pro: get with AT&T at Walmart for $23.59/mo
You can order the iPhone 15 Pro at Walmart with an AT&T plan for $23.59/mo over 36 months. That saves you $200 in total.
Before you get too concerned or frustrated with your favorite smartphone manufacturer, you should know that this newly surfaced bug is nowhere near as bad as the overheating reports that have spread like wildfire (pun intended) in the last week or so. Also, if you haven't really noticed anything wrong with your new phone's speaker, you can just move on and ignore the entire (mini) controversy as it may not affect you in the slightest.
If however you've been feeling like the sound produced by your iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, or 15 Pro Max is just a bit off, especially at a high volume, but couldn't quite put your finger (or ear) on the problem, fret not, as you're far from alone and definitely not crazy.
Dozens of users (of all four devices) are complaining of hearing crackling and/or rattling noises when playing music or blasting calls on speaker at or near maximum volume, which is clearly not something you expect to happen when spending over $1,000 on an otherwise state-of-the-art mobile product.
iPhone 15: save up to $650 via trade-in at Apple
Get the fantastic iPhone 15 straight from the source and save up to $650 with a trade-in. Your minimum trade-in credit amounts to $40. Three percent daily cashback available with Apple Card.
iPhone 15 Plus: $40-$650 off with a trade-in at Apple Store
Looking for the bigger-sized iPhone 15 model? In that case, we suggest you consider the iPhone 15 Plus. The Apple store offers up to $650 off as a trade-in credit on a new iPhone 15 Plus.
While you might be inclined to believe that's an isolated hardware issue of some sort easily fixable with a replacement device, many users who've already gone down that road (some even several times) say that the problem simply refuses to go away. So, no, getting your new phone exchanged for a different unit doesn't feel like a solution, which only leaves...
An incoming software fix?
We already know that Apple plans to exterminate the iPhone 15 overheating bug with an impending update that's currently being tested behind closed doors, but due to this audio glitch not making many headlines until today, we highly doubt that the iOS 17.0.3 rollout will take care of both situations.
It's far more likely that another update will come out... at some point later on to fix your sound, as well as other issues that may crop up in the meantime. Of course, that's merely an educated guess on our part, and until Apple acknowledges the speaker bug and confirms it is indeed a malfunction of a software nature, you're just going to have to keep your music and voice calls down and accept the fact that no phone is flawless.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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