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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Some iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max owners are reporting faint pops, ticks, clicks, or crackling sounds. Reports often connect the noise to interface actions such as switching apps or bringing up the keyboard, but the cause and the number of affected phones are unknown. The reports do not establish a confirmed defect or a fix.
What owners say the noise sounds like—and when it happens
Posts on Reddit and MacRumors forums describe intermittent, usually faint pops, ticks, clicks, or crackling from both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The sound is not described consistently: some owners say it happens regularly, others only in a particular situation, and some cannot reproduce it. [Tom’s Guide] [MacRumors]
Many reports associate the noise with ordinary interface activity, including app switching, scrolling, the keyboard appearing, notifications, brightness changes, or calls. Some users suggest that quickly toggling Airplane Mode or changing brightness can bring it on. These are owner-reported circumstances, not controlled tests or a dependable way to reproduce the sound. [MacRumors] [Reddit discussion] [Reddit discussion]
Other reports describe distortion during audio playback, including at high volume, or noises tied to calls. Those patterns should be kept separate from clicks that coincide with interface transitions: reports do not show that they share one cause. [MacRumors] [Reddit discussion] [Macworld]
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- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
How to describe your symptom
- Interface-associated: the noise follows an action such as switching apps, scrolling, or opening the keyboard.
- Playback distortion: the noise occurs while music, video, or spoken audio is playing, perhaps at a particular volume.
- Call-related: the noise occurs during calls, whether or not it also happens at other times.
These descriptions help distinguish reported patterns; they are not diagnoses.
Is this a confirmed defect, and how common is it?
No. Public owner posts establish that people have reported the sound, but they do not establish what causes it, how many phones are affected, or whether all reports reflect the same issue. Forum replies are self-selected, so they cannot provide a representative failure rate. Tom’s Guide said it could not recreate the problem on its iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max test units. [Tom’s Guide] [Macworld]
Rank #2
- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- When you receive the phone, insert a SIM card from a compatible carrier. Then, turn it on, connect to Wi-Fi, and follow the on screen prompts to activate service.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charger and charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
The timing of some noises around system-interface actions may suggest a software explanation, but it does not prove one or rule out hardware. MacRumors also reported owner accounts in which a replacement phone reportedly had the same symptom; that is anecdotal, not a controlled comparison. [MacRumors]
Does iOS 27.0.1 fix the popping?
It is not established as a speaker fix. MacRumors reported that iOS 27.0.1 addressed a Face ID-related restart bug and that its release notes did not mention a speaker remedy. Early owner feedback covered by MacRumors and Macworld was mixed: some users said the sound improved, while others continued to report it. These anecdotes do not show whether the update reliably changes the problem. [MacRumors] [Macworld]
Rank #3
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
What affected owners can do
- Record the pattern. Note whether the noise happens during interface transitions, audio playback, calls, or more than one of these, and whether you can repeat it.
- Contact Apple Support if it persists. Provide the iPhone model, installed iOS version, the circumstances in which the sound occurs, and whether it is repeatable. This information can help explain the symptom; it is not a published Apple diagnostic procedure.
- Check return or exchange terms promptly. If the phone is still within a return period, verify the applicable deadline and conditions with the seller or Apple for your region. Terms vary by seller and location. [Macworld]
At the time of the coverage reviewed here, no public Apple explanation or speaker-specific remedy had been reported. A setting change, restart, or replacement should not be treated as a verified general fix; seek guidance for your device from Apple or the seller. [Tom’s Guide] [Macworld]
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