Apple might be in trouble again. Just weeks after the Cupertino company acknowledged and fixed a throttling issue present in its newest MacBook Pro models, users are now reporting about yet another hardware problem.
This time, it's the speakers. Apparently, a number of users have taken to Reddit, YouTube, and other online forums to report that both the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro models released this year are running into some sort of issue that causes the speakers to crack and distort, even at low volumes.
Apple MacBook Pro 2018 Runs Into Some Speaker Problems
Considering Apple markets the speakers by saying they take "listening to new levels with wide dynamic range and more bass for maximum boom," the gaffe is sort of an embarrassing turn. Apple also noted that the speakers on the latest models were its best yet, featuring "peak amplification" thanks to its direct connection to the power supply.
It remains unclear what exactly is causing the issue, although a source familiar with the matter says Apple is already aware of it and is investigating, as The Next Web reports.
Why Are MacBook Pro 2018 Speakers Crackling And Distorting?
Finding a single cause for the crackling and distortion proves difficult, since they appear to occur randomly. Some report that the issue primarily happens in certain apps, such as Apple Music, iTunes, or GarageBand. Others say it happens when watching videos on YouTube. The problem doesn't seem to be rooted in software, however — others running Windows via BootCamp say that they've also encountered the issue.
If the speaker problem turns out to be a hardware blunder, then Apple might be in deep trouble. Unlike the throttling issues, which Apple said was a mere software bug, an issue rooted in hardware simply cannot be fixed over-the-air — affected units would have to be sent to Apple for repair.
Some forum users have speculated about a number of possible causes, from radio interference to bad audio drivers to problems with Apple's new T2 chip. Some users allege the issue is going to be fixed once the latest macOS Mojave update arrives, but there's no confirmation for this yet.
The good news is that the issue doesn't appear to be widespread. However, the problem marks another embarrassing turn for a company known for products that "just work," products that are a lot more expensive than rivals because of their top-notch design and premium quality.
