There has been a lot of outcry over several issues relating to iPhone 4 in recent weeks like iPhone 4's antenna problem and also the proximity sensor. One issue though has managed to stay relatively under the radar so far.
Some iPhone 4 users have been noticing poor quality voice output when their phone is paired up with a Bluetooth device.
One of our readers, Greg has written to us about his experience:
"I received my iPhone 4 and paired up my Bluetooth devices. I have two Motorola mono headsets, a Jawbone, a stereo Altec Lansing, and a stereo Motorola Bluetooth. I have tried all the devices and everyone I talk to exclaims they can not understand me. They say the sound is muffled, weak and distorted. If I answer the phone and then connect the Bluetooth device the audio is even worse. I use Bluetooth exclusively and my iPhone 4 is of no use to me. I had to switch back to my 3GS so I can use Bluetooth."
A thread on Apple's discussion board about this issue has been seeing a lot of activity in the past few days. Apparently, folks at Apple Genius bar too have been unable to solve the problem. A forum member from Singapore complains:
I'm having the exact same problem. Ever since iPhone 4 was released in Singapore on 30th July, i've tried in vain to use my Plantronics Discovery 925 with it. This is the same Bluetooth earpiece I used with my previous phone, which was the iPhone 2G
Problems include..
1. Very muffled
2. Distorted signal
3. Dropped calls.
None of this happens when i'm off my earpiece, and it is very frustrating while driving.
Another forum member writes:
"Yesterday, myself & a Genius Bar Tech tested several BT headset brands & two iPhone 4s. We both witnessed that turning the BT headset from OFF to ON durning a call and then switching from phone to BT will cause poor sound quality 100% of the time. He simply said this will have to be something fixed in an a future update."
It is not clear whether the issue is with the hardware or with the iOS. While Greg tells us that he does not face the issue on his iPhone 3GS running iOS 4, some users seem to have started noticing this issue on their iPhone 3GS only after upgrading to the new version of the operating system. Also, while the latest iOS 4.0.2 update does not seem to have fixed this issue, Apple Support staff appear to have however acknowledged the problem and have indicated to a few customers that an update is on the way.
Are you facing similar issues with Bluetooth on your iPhone 4? Tell us your experience in the comments below.
Thanks Greg for the heads up!
Update:
iOS 4.1 will fix proximity sensor and Bluetooth problems
[via Apple Support]
I have the bluetooth issue my ps3 headset doesnt work. Proximity sensor sucks i keep calling people and muting myself. Signal is the same…
I have the same problem with Moto earpiece. Frequent garbled communication from phone to earpiece.
I have an apple bluetooth and it dont even works with my iphone 4, and the sound of the iphone 4 iphone is terrible. Very very bad quality!. 2 issues that i never experienced with my old 3gs.
bolotoos
My sony car stereo picksa all my calls up via bluetooth and is terrible on my iPhone 4, but is superb quality with my 3GS running iOS4.
Is anyone else having battery issues with iphone 4? Mine sucks! No apps running in background, full charge, take of charge and don't use it at all, it loses 5% in 2 hours! I have notifications off, email set to manual, everything possible is turned off, but it still sucks!
Sorry i mean, the sound of the iphone 4 ear speaker.
iPhone 4 is crap
i got a 3gs with iOS 4.01 and the bt is pure shit. a2dp completly broken and sound quality during calls is reeeealy bad… doesn't matter if I use the car stereo or some other bt device.
zero problems on my iphone 4. i have not had any proximity sensor problems nor any bluetooth problems. i only use bluetooth in my infiniti and it works great!
hows your reception during that 2 hours? i know all phones with poor reception will drain the battery switching between edge and 3g.
i have an iphone 4 and have had no problems at all. love it!
same here. works fine in my infiniti m35x. in fact, better than iphone 3g.
I don't know why people complain about the iPhone 4 i haven't had a issue with anything. i haven't even had a drop call, lag, Bluetooth errors nothing.
Because alot of people do have problems with the new phone that’s why dumbSHIT! What a fu**ing retard, stick your iP4 up your ass and see if you have any issues di**head!
I don't have BT problem with mine. the other line can hear me loud and clear.
If I connect my BT headset after call is initiated, audio quality is horrible. If the headset is already on and paired and then a call is initiated, the quality is good. I have an iPhone 4 and a Jawbone Icon headset.
You Pay all that money for a dodgy iPhone…..
What a joke!
i only ever get 1 bar where i live, if it ever got anywhere near 3g status, i'd be worried! I've been lucky in every other aspect, no signal issues, dropped calls, proximity sensor, etc.
Me too. Plantronics Voyager 510. I thought it was the headset going out. Now I know better.
My iP4 has problems pairing with some devices, garbled audio and frequent connection loss. To my knowledge they have confirmed this is atleast partially caused by software. They obviously rushed iPhone 4 because of android's market gains and now they pay the price. Is iP4 still the best phone on the market? Obviously….
On 3GS with iOS 4.0 no problems with A2DP stereo BT headset (Sony Ericsson MW600)
It must be 4g hardware problem.
on iPhone4 i'm getting constant complains from people i talk to while on bluetooth in my car and my wife's car. first i thought it wasn't as clear as if i was just on the phone, but complains don't stop and people asking me to repeat things over and over again. they better fix it soon.
may be people don't tell you. i have G37 and even though not everybody complaining some people tell me every time that they can't hear me until i switch to phone and stop using BT.
i did but i restarted it and instaled one jailbroken app at a time to see if that was it it was works much better now try ios40 apps at frist
My iPhone will not connect to my Bluetooth Garmin GPS.
The world doesn't revolve around you. Just because you don't have any issues it doesn't mean other don't
ya… possibly. i have a g37 too. gonna have to call someone and ask if they can hear me well.
I don't think all the issues with the iPhone 4 are acceptable especially for a premium product. I had reception issues, still haven't gotten my case, and my proximity sensor is still not working properly. Was 4.02 supposed to fix that? Haven't tried bluetooth but really don't want to because that would make it 0-3. And I'm just curious. How is it that they rushed production/release when they introduce only one phone every year? I think they had more than enough time to work on this phone when you consider that the 3Gs wasn't much of an upgrade. I know products aren't perfect and some bugs are expected but this is really too much. Doesn't Apple pride itself in providing the "best user experience"?
Well I take the bus and my bluetooth doesn't work well either. Maybe I should upgrade my ride. Any recommendations?
This happens to me with the speakerphone on. Exactly what the BT people reported above.
It took me 3 trips to the apple store for them to believe me. I have a cracked screen so tehy wouldn't exchange it for me for free. But I have always had the issue since day one.
This effen iphone 4 is starting to piss me off
Same issues here on two iPhone4's between me and the wife and another iPhone4 that a coworker uses. I found issues occur when answering without BT on first. When using a Jawbone Icon I can work around the issue by switching to the handset and then back to the Jawbone. However,I cannot work around the audio issues while using a moto headset.
Bottom line for the two iPhones we own are to have the headset on and connected before you answer the call. If you have issues swap the call to the handset and then back to the BT headset.
My 3Gs phone I would leave in my kitchen which is the on the 2nd floor. I could travel throughout my house upstairs to my bedroom or downstairs to the basement with my Motorola – H720 Bluetooth Headset and never had a problem. My 4 in the same place, the kitchen and people I talk to say the samething and sometimes the bluetooth goes completely out but if I go back into the kitchen it will automatically reconnect to my call
Add me to the list of those with this problem. I have Plantronics headset that worked beautifully on my 3G (people never knew the difference), but on the iPhone 4 people say they can't understand a word I'm saying. Grrrrrrr!!!
Very true…. I have 3gs, horrific audio (not clear)
when using bt headset
I've tried 4 sets of Bluetooth headsets. Everyone I talk to tell me that my voice is muffled.
I have been experiencing the same problem from day one. I have a Jawbone bt and never had any problems with my 3GS But with iPhone 4 is driving me crazy. If I answer a call through my BT I can listen just fine but the other person can't brarly understand me. I have to swith to phone then back to BT and then it works fine. I thougt my BT was going bad so was thinking of buying a new one but than God I read this and is not only me.
My iPhone 4 will pair to my Infiniti g37 but the sound quality is horrible, people can't understand me and it will lose it's connection.. Bluetooth was perfect on my iPhone 3GS. So You can't talk on a Bluetooth device and you can't talk with the phone on your ear because you will mute the call, put it on speaker and call random people in your contacts… Then you gotta hold the phone perfect so you don't drop the call… Phone is a joke compared to 3GS. CRapple will probably release an iPhone 5 in january to fix everything,
I having the same problem to with my Motorola bluetooh, IOS 4. I tough that it was my earpiece, obviously is not the case.
I've had the same problem with my bluetooth. I thought it was my headset wearing out. Guess not. Maybe a future update will fix this issue. By then, we will be trying to solve the next issue.
I have been having major issues with my built in BT in my ford. I thought the BT system was going out. I guess apple did not test BT. I really like my iPod, not iPhone. I can't use the ear piece because of the proximity issue or BT. I guess I will now have to use an ear bug, hope that works! Steve Jobs thinks this is the best phone ever, NOT!
I too join the crowd with bluetooth problems. Old 3g worked fine with new car bluetooth. Now I4 wont pair. spoke to countless people at apple. No one can say when or if they will ever fix. I will hold on phone for 2 more weeks. If they don't come up with new software I will return. I can not stress enough my disappointmrnt in apple. Mr jobs where are you???????
I think he's busy trying to fix this shit!. lol. Damnnn, the most i read the most i want to put on ebay!
i will be getting my iphone 4 on monday so i cant wait to see if i have any issues at all or if i got one of the newly fixed production model
I have an invisio g5 and I have zero bt sound problems. Audio is clear as day on my iPhone 4. Don't know what the fuss is about.
I had Bluetooth connectivity issues in two cars. After two calls to apple and a trip to the apple store, they replaced my iPhone 4. New phone was made in factory 87, old in 80 and weeks before. New phone has been fine.
My Lexus handfree is terrible muffled. My wife's Jabra bt is unusable. I hope this is fixed soon!!
I have a blueant supertooth 2 and since upgrading 3gs to ios4 its been very bad for me
Didn't try IOS4 yet but I had lots of problems with BT A2DP streaming on my old 3G (hands-free and headset profile works fine): music often interrupted whith AAC encoded music almost unusable, but almost no problems with with mp3 encoded music. Less problems when Wifi is disabled.
No problem at all with 3GS in same condition and with same BT accessories.
This is very weird because i tested my bluetooth with my iphone 4 last night while driving in my car by calling my work number and leaving myself a voicemail and i sounded perfectly clear. No static, no muffles, it was like i was talking to myself with the phone next to my ear. this could very well be an isolated issue. i got my phone the day before release day (fedex'd) if that helps any.
i tested my iphone 4 with my BT in my G and it sounded perfectly clear. Not sure what to make of this, maybe its an isolated issue?
Mike,
How do you know what factory made your IP4?
Anyway I also swapped out my IP4 for a new one and after reading your post thought I would see if my bluetooth problem still existed.
It seems that my new phone is also handling bluetooth correctly. Good audio quality on both ends – Eureka!!!
The new phone came with iOS4 4.01 on it and I have been afraid to upgrade to 4.02. Something about if it is not broken don't fix it.
APPLE I know you are reading this
Stop trying so hard to patch the loopholes for JB and unlocks and fix the real issues that were caused by your design flaws……
As sad as it sounds is somewhat depressing…
Matter fact… Take me off the list from your exclusive apple buyer…. Who cares is just a phone….
CHEERS, and fvck apple
My iPhone 3G paired and worked fairly well with my 2010 Hyundai Tucson BUT now that I have upgraded to OS4.0.1 my iPhone will not pair with the car. It recognizes the car during the "discoverable" mode and lets me select it to input the PassKey. Unfortunately the application gives me an error saying "Tucson has timed out" before I get a chance to even enter the PassKey. I am able to get in only 3 digits of the 4 required before the application "times out". Apple said they have no issues like that reported (like hell) and that I probably need a firmware upgrade on the car. This is not a car problem! This OS clearly has numerous BT defects and so far Apple is quiet about addressing them. They are acting more and more like Microsoft…