Is Apple’s Mac division losing its edge, just a little bit? Following the recent issues over sticky keyboards and throttled processors, users of the new MacBook Pro 2018 are now reporting crackling speakers.
Some owners of the new professional notebooks have taken to Reddit and Apple’s support forums to register their displeasure at the intermittent issues affecting the built-in speakers. Some users posted video evidence to YouTube, showing random crackling sounds while playing music through the speakers in apps like iTunes, GarageBand and YouTube itself.
Check some of them out below…
There’s no consensus yet on what might be causing the issues, but MacRumors reports users are speculating on the possibility the issue could be caused by radio interference, problems with audio drivers, or the T2 chip.
Some have managed to work around the issue by resetting the SMC and NVRAM on their Macs. Disabling Hey Siri has also worked for one user, but there’s no official solution just yet. Seeing as the issue doesn’t appear to be widespread, it’s also wise to contact Apple Support. This is a brand new MacBook, so returning it for a new model might be prudent.
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Apple is yet to formally address the complaints, and the issue comes at a time when its reputation for building reliable PCs is coming under threat.
The company is currently offering free repairs for customers on other MacBook models blighted by sticky or non-functioning keys on its “butterfly” keyboards. The newest MacBook Pro models feature a new design that takes care of the problem, but that’s exclusive to the 2018 Pro.
When they first launched, some users found that one of the Core i9 models of the 2018 MacBook Pro appeared to be underclocking itself to keep temperatures low. Apple later fixed this problem with a macOS update, leading to hopes that a similar software fix might correct this speaker issue.
Have you experienced any issues since splashing out on a new MacBook Pro 2018? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.