iPhone 18 Pro owners report speaker crackling

Owners of Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max have reported crackling, popping and clicking sounds from the phones’ speakers during routine use, with some saying the noises continued after installing iOS 27.0.1. Apple has not publicly acknowledged the reports or announced a fix, and the cause and prevalence remain unclear. Accounts posted on Reddit and MacRumors forums describe different patterns. Some owners say the noise occurs intermittently, while others report hearing it more often. Reported triggers include using apps, scrolling through websites, receiving notifications, opening the keyboard and making cellular calls. Some users also say the sounds occur when switching Airplane Mode on and off or quickly adjusting screen brightness. Reports refer to both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and some describe the earpiece speaker as the source. The accounts do not establish how many devices are affected or whether the problem stems from hardware or software. Some owners say they exchanged their phones and heard similar sounds from replacement devices, but the reports provide no count that would show how common that experience is.