iPhone 8 crackling earpiece fix coming, iOS 11.0.1 rolling out

To some, Apple might be losing its touch. In the past, each release and each new device underwent stringent tests to ensure that the user's first experience would be as flawless and as pleasurable as possible. Now it seems that, just like any other company, new Apple products are exhibiting growing pains. This includes issues like crackling audio from the earpiece of the iPhone 8 as well as several major bugs on iOS 11. Fortunately, fixes are on the way or are already here.

Given that very few things have changed in the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus compared to last year's iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, users would expect that there should be very few problems with them as well. The most notable changes include a new glass back which was necessary for the equally new wireless charging capability.

Sadly, things aren't so rosy, though they're thankfully not that bad either. The biggest gripe new owners have seems to be both random and confined to a few devices only. Users from different parts of the globe and under different carriers have reported that the earpiece sometimes produces crackling or static audio when using the phone in an audio or FaceTime call. The problem is that it isn't consistent and only happens in limited circumstances.

Apple has acknowledged that it has indeed received reports but that it only affects a small number of iPhone 8 and 8 Plus units. It also says that a fix is already being worked on, though hasn't given a timeline for its release. Given the random nature of the issue, it could very well be a simple software issue that can be fixed by a firmware update.

That update isn't yet part of the latest hotfix that Apple has just rolled out. Barely a week after iOS 11 launched, a new iOS 11.0.1 update is rolling out to compatible devices. The changelog for the update doesn't say much, but it reportedly fixes the bug that prevented Microsoft Exchange from working properly. There are, however, still a few remaining unpopular bugs, like reports of significant performance hits or somewhat misleading Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Control Center toggles.

VIA: The Verge