Apple confirms sound problems, launches an AirPods Pro service program

[Joe White]

TL;DR: Apple has confirmed that certain AirPods Pro units experience a sound issue in loud environments, resulting in static, crackling, or strange noise cancellation behaviors. In response, Apple has launched an AirPods Pro service program, where owners of the faulty earphones can get a replacement free of charge.

Apple’s service program explains that the issue affects a small percentage of AirPods Pro units manufactured before October 2020. Owners of a faulty pair of earphones will experience either crackling or static sounds which increase while exercising, talking on the phone, or in loud environments. Other problems may be present with the earphones’ Active Noise Cancellation, which could include an unexpected loss of bass, or the sudden increase of background noise.

AirPods manufactured after October 2020 aren’t thought to be affected by the issue, according to Apple.

While frustrating, the good news is that affected AirPods Pro can be exchanged at an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider free of charge. Apple explains that staff will test the earphones to determine whether one or both are affected, before arranging a free replacement. The AirPods case isn’t affected by the issue and won’t need replacing.

Apple’s AirPods Pro were released in October 2019, meaning that anyone who bought the earphones during their first year of availability could be affected by the issue. AirPods Pro owners have been complaining for months about cracking, static, and odd noise cancellation behaviors, and just now Apple has acknowledged the issue and is doing the right thing.

If you own a pair of affected AirPods Pro, you have two years from the date of the original sale to access Apple’s replacement program.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/87390-apple-confirms-sound-problems-launches-airpods-pro-service.html

 

[VitalyT]

the issue affects a small percentage of AirPods Pro units manufactured before October 2020

Ah that's really funny, publishing this while it is still October 2020.

How about telling us something useful, like how to check whether my AirPods Pro are likely to be affected by the issue, without experiencing obvious issues right now.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

When Apple shifts production to India, hopefully quality improves

 

[VitalyT]

When Apple shifts production to India, hopefully quality improves

It's the opposite, the quality will drop, as India's average skillset is below China's.

 

[Squuiid]

Ah that's really funny, publishing this while it is still October 2020.

How about telling us something useful, like how to check whether my AirPods Pro are likely to be affected by the issue, without experiencing obvious issues right now.

Doesn’t take a genius to figure out that it is all of them up until this point. New ones from October onwards won’t exhibit the behaviour.

 

[Hexic]

It's the opposite, the quality will drop, as India's average skillset is below China's.

I’ve worked with Indian firms and business involving production and SaaS for years now... and if they’re going to consistently improve quality to exceed China, Apple is going to have to change Indian culture once they enter the arches of that production floor.

We haven’t been able to do it for 30 years, I wish them the best of luck.

 

[VitalyT]

Doesn’t take a genius to figure out that it is all of them up until this point. New ones from October onwards won’t exhibit the behaviour.

No, it takes reading the article, and following what's in it...

the issue affects a small percentage of AirPods Pro units manufactured before October 2020

 

[Squuiid]

No, it takes reading the article, and following what's in it...

They’re all susceptible to it, the small percentage is the number they claim will have this issue due to the design fault.

 

[VitalyT]

They’re all susceptible to it, the small percentage is the number they claim will have this issue due to the design fault.

It's a maybe.

 

[Uncle Al]

When Apple shifts production to India, hopefully quality improves

That is assuming that this is a production problem rather than a design problem. In either case, Apple has a history of rushing products to market in order to be first rather than developing and maintaining a strong QC program. Sadly, Apple buyers put up with this rather than insist Apple only market high quality, fully tested & qualified products. And it's not recent, in fact it first was noticed shortly after Steve Jobs forced Woz out of the company. It doesn't happen with all their products, just the ones that are brought to the marketplace in the least amount of time.