iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max Users Report Unusual Static Noise from Speakers While Charging
World News, 3 Jan 2026 (BNN Web Staff)-
Owners of Apple’s latest flagship iPhones—the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max—are experiencing a peculiar audio issue: a faint static, hissing, or crackling sound emanating from the speakers during charging. Reports of this problem have surfaced across forums like Reddit, MacRumors, and Apple’s Support Community since shortly after the devices launched in September 2025.
Description of the Issue
Users describe the noise variably:
- Like “old radio static” or interference.
- A low hiss or buzz, most noticeable from the bottom speaker.
- More prominent at low or muted volumes while playing music.
- In some cases, audible even when no audio is playing.
- Occasional crackling during activities like scrolling webpages.
The sound is subtle and often only detectable in quiet environments, which may explain why not all users notice it. Speculation points to possible causes like coil whine from charging circuitry interfering with audio components or inadequate electromagnetic shielding.
Charging-Specific Behavior
- The noise occurs with both wired (USB-C) and wireless (MagSafe) charging, though it’s reportedly quieter with MagSafe.
- It affects Apple’s official chargers as well as third-party options—not tied to a specific accessory.
- Unplugging the iPhone immediately stops the noise, confirming it’s linked to the charging process.
- Some users report faint residual hiss at low volumes even when not charging.
Device replacements have not resolved the issue for many, suggesting it could be widespread rather than isolated defects.
Apple’s Response and Status
Apple is reportedly aware of the complaints, with support escalating cases to engineering teams. However:
- No official statement or fix has been released as of early January 2026.
- Recent iOS updates (up to iOS 26.2) have not addressed it.
- Users hope a future software patch (possibly iOS 26.3) could mitigate the problem if it’s firmware-related.
If you’re an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max owner noticing this, try testing in a quiet room while charging with volume muted. Contact Apple Support to report it and contribute to diagnostics. For now, using MagSafe or avoiding wired charging minimizes the annoyance. This remains one of several post-launch quirks for the 2025 lineup, though it doesn’t impact core functionality for most.
