Bluetooth audio stuttering issues on my iPhone 16e

I have the same problem with my new 16E, I also bought new AirPods cause I was thinking the problem was with the old headphones at first. I want to highlight that it has nothing to do with having multiple bluetooth devices added: I deleted every device except my new AirPods and yet the sound glitches every minute

I have just noticed one strange thing: when I stand with my earphones really far from my phone (10-15 meters away) the stuttering stops: I was able to hear uninterrupted audio for 5 minutes straight until I came back to my phone. I really hope this is not a hardware issue after all

tb161 wrote:

had anyone else been receiving calls from this number +1 (5**) 8**-**22?

I'm Uk based and I’ve googled the number and it’s coming up as an apple support scam. Must be insiders passing on our details.

What did the message say that they left?

The number is a legitimate Support Number, but also one that is spoofed by scammers so the reports you may have seen were from that spoofed number. I saw the number before it had been redacted. No indication that anyone inside apple is passing on any details or any reason for them to do that.

Yup! Bought a new Boom 4 and Blue toothed to my new iphone 16e and it glitched. It was fine with my home Marantz system, with my JBL earphones, with my Behringer speaker, but not with my new Boom 4. Because it was fine with all other products, I assumed that it was the Boom 4 and took it back and it was swapped with a replacement, but it was the same.

Think tanked it with a friend who has a Boom 3. Same thing happened.

Thing is I am a singing teacher so I live with playlists and bluetooth in my work which often takes me to different venues, hence getting the Boom 4, so I can stroll in and get started straight away.

At the moment I am trundling my Behringer all over the place and I often use public transport, so it’s incredibly inconvenient.

And I’m seeing that Apple know this is a problem and might fix it in a few months! A few months, REALLY???!!!

How dare they release hardware that they have not properly tested, leaving us to talk it through for them and not act swiftly to fix it.

I am so angry and upset about this!

I purchased 2 iPhone 16es, one for myself and one for my wife. Have discovered that both iPhones have Bluetooth issues e.g., keep disconnecting from blue tooth devices i.e., air pods, Bluetooth speaker (Bose), Bluetooth receiver (Harmon Kardon). Spoke with Apple technical support and found out that Apple has no idea what's wrong and doesn't have a fix (apparently this issue is affecting most if not all iPhone 16e phones - some people just haven't discovered that their phone doesn't Bluetooth yet). I was told that maybe in the next 3-6 months, once they figure out what it is that's wrong they may have an update to address it????? Are they for real?? Wish I had never traded in our iPhone 12s. It was far better than this piece of junk. At least it worked. Also, we purchased these to take advantage of AI/Siri but now have learned that Apple is putting their new AI on the back burner because of problems they are unable to resolve in the short term. It's amazing how bad Apple has become. Product that doesn't work, employees that either can't code or maybe Apple is subcontracting their coding out to 3rd parties and getting bad code back. Service that can't fix problems. I think Wallstreet is going to have a heyday shorting their stock with the latest failure. I for one won't be purchasing any other Apple products. Apple no longer is a product I can trust.

The first two minutes of this video describes the problem :

https://youtu.be/Sz7uo2YU3_4?si=S0oWYkOtdkLywGi3

The video states that the audio stutter issue arises if multiple Bluetooth devices are connected. That's why users with bluetooth watches or Oura rings are experiencing the audio stutter. Also, Beta testers are reporting that the issue is resolved in iOS 18.4, which should come out in April.

While that's not great, if iOS 18.4 resolves the issue, then it's hardly a disaster. Apple may actually be suffering more than users. If Apple doesn't acknowledge the bug, which they may not for marketing reasons, then Apple will be obliged to replace a user's 16e iPhone. That won't fix the problem, but absent a bug admission from Apple, that's about all Apple can do. So multiple iPhone 16e phones may go to landfills on Apple's dime because of this until April when iOS 18.4 comes out.

The balance for Apple will be deciding which will damage marketing more : The admission of a bug, or word slowly getting around while confused users replace the iPhone 16e because of this.

I think the best bet is to wait the few weeks for iOS 18.4 - it isn't a huge deal breaker for me, so long as 18.4 does fix it. It is surprising that testing didn't show this, though.

I just updated to the Iphone 16e from the 10X Max and at first i thought it may have been my speaker(s) but once i started playing music all across the board of all my bluetooth devices, this stuttering action is so heavily continuous and i’m wondering if i should possibly downgrade if this isn’t an issue that is being looked at for a bug fix. It’s driving me mad!

tb161 wrote:

Hi Mac Jim, message was; This is Apple support calling you back if you're ready to speak with your advisor press one to inform your advisor that you can't take the call right now press two Call the recorded for quality and training if you prefer not to be recorded press one I am my name is fine. I'm calling from Apple. I If you do have time, I send you an email you can reply back If you do have time, I send you an email you can reply back And let me know when is a good day In time, I can give you a call Cause I worked Tuesday through Saturday from 7:30 am to 430 P.m. Pacific On the way up to 8 pm your time On the way up to 8 pm your time Thank you so much And I have a wonderful day…”

My recommendation is to call Apple Support back yourself using the known phone number below. They will have any communication on file with your previous call and can direct you to either that same person or another representative.

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

The message you received is just the transcribed call, which in my experience is always a poor representation of the actual call message.

just upgraded and I have the same issue, no problems with my 12.

Same here. Lost 2.5 hrs with the tech. and going through his diagnostics even with apple care plus+

hope they at least offer compensation to my time spent supporting them with the issue and logs

It works perfectly if I have only one device connected via Bluetooth. :)

Same here! To make things even worse, during the stuttering the music app tends to freeze for some time. How did anyone not notice before the release?

Same problem. Did everything apple told me to do including factory reset at least 5 times. Had the phone replaced with another 16e and still the same issue.

Save your energy I tried making a 5ghz channel on the router it didn’t change anything unfortunately.

Stutters when carrying a airtag in another pocket.