AirPods Pro Squealing - Possible iPhone Issue, Apple Denies Responsibility
Hi everyone,
I'm reaching out to the Apple Support Community because I'm incredibly frustrated with the lack of support I've received for a persistent issue with my AirPods Pro.
The Problem:
My AirPods Pro (purchased May 23, 2022) have developed a high-pitched squealing sound. It happens regardless of what I'm listening to or the volume level. It happens even just when you remove this AirPods Pro from the case without connecting to any of the devices.
Troubleshooting Efforts:
I've tried all the basic troubleshooting steps:
- Resetting the AirPods
- Cleaning them thoroughly
- Unpairing/re-pairing them to my iPhone 15 Pro Max
Unfortunately, nothing helped.
Apple Store Visit:
On January 11, 2025, I took my AirPods Pro to the Apple store in Stanford Shopping Center. The technician, Leo, confirmed it was a hardware issue and recommended replacing the AirPods. However, he quoted me a price of almost $89 per AirPod, which I found unreasonable, especially since he mentioned this was a very unusual problem he'd never encountered before.
Further Investigation:
Since the Apple Store visit, I've done two things:
- Tested with another pair of AirPods Pro: I connected a different pair of AirPods Pro (known to be working properly) to my iPhone 15 Pro Max. And guess what? They started making the same squealing sound! This seems to indicate that the problem might be with my iPhone, not the AirPods themselves.
- Troubleshooting on another pair: I had another pair of AirPods Pro that I had set aside because they had a similar issue. I tried the troubleshooting steps suggested by Apple Support on that pair, and surprisingly, they fixed the problem! This makes me wonder if there's a software or settings-related cause that's being overlooked with my main AirPods Pro.
Apple Support's Response:
I contacted Apple Support again and explained everything, including the technician's observations and the results of my tests. However, the senior advisor, Joe, refused to escalate the issue and insisted that I pay for a replacement. He also stated that my AirPods are out of warranty and therefore not covered for manufacturing defects.
Personal Impact:
I want to emphasize that this issue has not only been frustrating but has also caused me physical discomfort. The high-pitched squealing is very harsh, and after extensive testing and troubleshooting (as suggested by Apple Support), my right ear is now hurting. I'm worried about the potential impact on my hearing. It's disheartening that Apple seems unconcerned about this and is unwilling to take responsibility for a product that has potentially caused me harm.
My Concerns:
- I believe this issue might be due to a manufacturing defect or a compatibility problem with my iPhone 15 Pro Max.
- It's unreasonable to expect me to pay for a replacement when the problem might not be with the AirPods themselves.
- Apple should take responsibility for potential defects, even outside the standard warranty period, especially for a product that's less than three years old.
Desired Outcome:
I'm hoping that by sharing my experience here, I can get some help or advice. Ideally, I'd like Apple to reconsider their stance and offer a fair resolution, such as a free replacement or a thorough investigation to identify the root cause of the problem.
Thank you for reading!