Do apple Repair iPhones (Low speaker problem) for Free? 31 December 2020 at 1:21PM in Phones & TV 7 replies 131 views

Brian_Pamo

This might seem a daft question but maybe somebody knows something I don't? I have an iPhone 8 and for a long time it has been getting harder and harder to hear the other caller when the phone is pressed against the ear.  However, if I put it on loudspeaker all is good.  Obviously, I can't make all my calls on loudspeaker.  Therefore, I rang a local, independent iphone repair shop.  My son overheard me and told me "Six weeks ago I took my iphone 8 to Apple in Trafford Centre with the exact same problem and they repaired it for free".  How can this be knowing the phone was out of Warranty (Like mine is).  Is there some kind of process where apple are repairing speakers for free?
Thanks all.

rjmachin

You can go to the apple support website and choose / search for the issue and then you can start a chat with Apple Support.  This will enable you to check what (if any) cost would be involved:
https://getsupport.apple.com/

TadleyBaggie

Did your son have Applecare+ on the iPhone?

TadleyBaggie

Can't see any Iphone 8 issues coming under current service programs:

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/service-programs

jsmith9

silly question but have you tried turning up the volume DURING a phone call? also have you examined the earpiece for accumulated dirt?

this may also help

Ear speaker low sound when making calls - iPhone 6 - iFixit

Definite

also check that the mic and speaker holes are clean and clear of debris. A bit of blu tac can work wonders. 

Brian_Pamo

So, thanks all.  The phone wasn't covered under any support agreement.  I have no idea why Apple repaired my sons for free.  So, unbelievably it appeared the problem was with dirt in the earpiece.  I sat watching TV with a toothbrush in one hand and the phone in the other.  I must have brushed the speaker for 20 minutes whilst watching TV (and forgetting about it).  The results were stunning.  This fixed the problem.  I still can't believe how this could have been the problem but it has sorted it.
Thanks all.

jon81uk

Its possible that all they did in store is clean it too, they may have just sprayed compressed air at your sons to remove the dirt.
Sometimes if it is a minor fix like that they can just do it in store even if it is out of warranty.