iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max owners are reporting a concerning crackling or popping sound from the earpiece speaker. This intermittent noise occurs during various activities, including app use, scrolling, receiving notifications, and cellular calls. Some users have observed that toggling Airplane Mode or rapidly adjusting screen brightness can trigger the sound. While Apple recently released iOS 27.0.1 to address a separate Face ID bug, it did not mention a speaker fix. Early user feedback indicates this update has not resolved the crackling issue. Frustratingly, some users who exchanged their devices for new ones are still experiencing the same problem. The exact cause of this audio anomaly remains unclear. However, there is hope that a future software update may offer a solution if the issue is indeed software-related. Potential buyers should be aware of this reported speaker defect.