Bluetooth problems with iPhone 16e: stuttering and interruptions

In various forums there have been reports on difficulties in the brand new iPhone 16E in connection with audio devices connected via Bluetooth. During streaming music, podcasts and the audio content of videos, there are short dropouts when playing (“stuttering”) or occasionally longer drop-outs. It is currently still unclear whether it is a problem to be fixed by software and how widespread the error image is.

Problems with multiple connections?

In addition to speakers, various headsets for phone calls and Apple's in -house air pods are also affected. Bose devices from the QuietComfort series are said to be more insensitive, according to Apple's support forum in one now six pages long thread. “With my 12 mini, which I replaced by the 16e, I never had problems with stuttering audio about Bluetooth,” writes a data subject.

So far, Apple has not commented on the problem complex. In some cases, devices are said to have already been exchanged – both the 16e itself and airpods. However, that should have helped nothing. It is speculated that this has 16e difficulties to deal with several Bluetooth connections at the same time, such as headphones, speakers and a computer clock that is connected to Bluetooth. Some users got a regular audio transmission again after deactivating one of the connections. However, that cannot be the solution.

C1 is new, WLAN and Bluetooth probably not

The iPhone 16E is the first Apple cell phone that is delivered with the own developed 5G radio modem C1. There were reports that Apple also plans its own Bluetooth and WLAN chips in order to replace the radio chip provider Broadcom in addition to the 5G supplier Qualcomm. So far, nothing has been known of an implementation, apparently the 16e further Broadcom technology contains. It is also unclear whether the C1 has interference influences on the Bluetooth area.

Affected users with a 16e should currently be best Apple's support turn so that the group can capture the problem in their scope and, if necessary, fix. The most recent beta versions of iOS 18.4 are not said to have fixed the errors yet.