Apple Has an AirPods Pro Problem

Apple’s customers are reporting that their AirPods Pro earbuds are suffering from static or crackling sound issues. Apple said it will replace AirPods Pro made before October 2020 for free.

“Apple has determined that a small percentage of AirPods Pro may experience sound issues,” an Apple support document notes. Affected units were manufactured before October 2020.”

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

According to Apple, some AirPods Pro customers report hearing crackling or static sounds that increase in loud environments, with exercise, or while talking on the phone. Additionally, the earbuds’ Active Noise Cancellation feature is sometimes not working as expected, with a loss of bass sound, or an increase in background sounds, such as street or airplane noise.

Apple said that impacted customers can get their AirPods Pro serviced or replaced directly through the company or via an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 20 comments

  • Nischi

    31 October, 2020 - 10:35 am

    <p>Happened to me, first the left ear, than 2 months later on the right one. easy enough to get them swapped for new ones tho.</p>

    • RonV42

      Premium Member
      01 November, 2020 - 8:24 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#589982">In reply to Nischi:</a></em></blockquote><p>Wow having to have your ears swapped to fix the air pod issues ?<img src=""></p>

  • Sébastien Michel Harvey

    31 October, 2020 - 10:57 am

    <p spellcheck="false">Happened to me, had to replace both AirPods… this isn't an issue that affect a small percentage of people lol… pretty much everyone has had these issues. That's why they're extending the warranty for so long, they know they f* up.</p>

  • RonV42

    Premium Member
    31 October, 2020 - 12:52 pm

    <p>3 of my friends that shelled out the $$$'s for these things are having this issue. Glad I stuck with my Jabra's. </p>

  • sethb

    31 October, 2020 - 1:04 pm

    <p>I’ve had three replacement AirPod Pros so far. I bought them last November, first my right one started having a “rattle” that would only happen when either noise-canceling or transparency modes were enabled. Apple replaced it in April. Then in July that replacement AirPod Pro stopped holding a charge, so they replaced it again. Two weeks ago my left AirPod developed the same rattle, so now that has been replaced too.</p><p><br></p><p>While the defects are certainly disappointing in a product at this price level, Apple has been very easy to work with remotely on the issues, overnighting the new ones to my house. I will say that pairing the new AirPod with the old one can be a frustrating experience, especially when they have differing firmware revisions. The Apple-supplied documentation only had pictures, not words, which isn’t very helpful either…</p>

  • crownseven

    Premium Member
    31 October, 2020 - 1:22 pm

    <p>I had a set of these. Loved them until the noise cancelling stopped working. Decided to return them (thanks Costco). </p><p><br></p><p> I will purchase another set once they iron out these issues. The noise cancelling makes them great for my bike commute. </p>

    • halap3n0

      02 November, 2020 - 12:35 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#589995"><em>In reply to CrownSeven:</em></a><em> it's pretty dangerous to use them with noise cancelling on whilst cycling…I use them with transparent mode however listening to a podcast, as you can still hear the traffic. Or perhaps that is what you meant?</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Username

    31 October, 2020 - 5:31 pm

    <p>Is “issues” legalises or Apple-speak for “defects”?</p>

  • harrymyhre

    Premium Member
    31 October, 2020 - 6:58 pm

    <p>i can wear mine *all day* , no discomfort. Just don't lose track of that little charger. Never separate airpods from the charger.</p>

  • Vladimir Carli

    Premium Member
    31 October, 2020 - 7:51 pm

    <p>I had this issue twice on the left airpod. It's annoying but one should acknowledge that apple service is pretty amazing. I got replacements home in both occasions in less than 48 hours.</p>

  • briantlewis

    31 October, 2020 - 9:26 pm

    <p>I had squeaking when I'd adjust the left earbud, but not the right. After walking through the symptoms they sent me out a replacement pair. Easy and recommended.</p>

  • mikegalos

    01 November, 2020 - 2:07 am

    <p>Obviously, you're wearing it wrong.</p>

    • spiderman2

      02 November, 2020 - 9:10 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#590055">In reply to MikeGalos:</a></em></blockquote><p>yeah apple quality is perfect</p>

  • behindmyscreen

    01 November, 2020 - 9:45 am

    <p>I have had this happen. Resetting them resolves it every time it has happened (maybe 3 times).</p><p><br></p><p>I have had to get both buds replaced though due to issues with sound cancelation.</p>

  • winner

    01 November, 2020 - 2:31 pm

    <p>I just can't see spending that kind of money for something that has a 2-3 year shelf life and then the battery dies.</p><p>I also prefer my earbuds are connected by a wire so that I can't lose them so easily.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      02 November, 2020 - 8:24 am

      This is what horse owners said about the first cars.

      • nbplopes

        03 November, 2020 - 2:38 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#590229">In reply to paul-thurrott:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Well batteries used to be easily replaceable :)</p><p><br></p><p>I don’t buy into this idea that batteries aren’t due to better tech.</p><p><br></p><p>I understand that in the beginning of the last decade but I’m 99% sure that situation has not improved meanwhile because it does not maximize Apple profits and instead maximizes other efficiencies such as the use of the earth resources and a less negative environmental impact.</p>

    • jgraebner

      Premium Member
      02 November, 2020 - 1:50 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#590168">In reply to Winner:</a></em></blockquote><p>I thought I preferred ones with a wire too, but I bought a set of Galaxy Buds recently as I thought they would work well for the numerous conference calls I'm taking from home now since I could easily just use one. What I've discovered is that no longer having the wire in the way makes a big difference from a comfort standpoint, so I'm using them for exercise too.</p><p><br></p><p>I will say that I do still prefer my Sony over-the-ear cans for listening to music while working or for watching TV or movies on my laptop or tablet. Might be related to the shape of my ears, but any earbuds tend to be uncomfortable for longer periods of use like that.</p>

  • Saarek

    02 November, 2020 - 4:12 am

    <p>No issue on mine as of yet, still if the replacement programme is there then it's fine, these things happen.</p>

  • halap3n0

    02 November, 2020 - 12:36 pm

    <p>I bought 3 pairs for people in my family, 2 have had this issue. Pretty poor track record.</p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC