Bluetooth Audio Stuttering on iPhone 16e/ 14/13 ?

Bluetooth audio playback is expected to be smooth, especially on a new device like the iPhone 16e. However, by early 2025, many users had reported that their audio was stuttering, skipping, or briefly cutting out when played through Bluetooth devices. These complaints were widely shared across support forums and on platforms such as Reddit.

Bluetooth Audio Stuttering on iPhone 16e: What Was Experienced in 2025

The issue was not observed on all devices — but when the iPhone 16e was used, Bluetooth playback was noticeably unstable.

Why Bluetooth Audio Stuttering on iPhone 16e

While listening to music or watching videos through Bluetooth earbuds and speakers, short audio skips were frequently experienced. This occurred every 30 seconds to one minute, even when apps like Apple Music, Safari, Spotify, or YouTube were used.

Multiple Bluetooth devices were tested, including Beats Studio Buds and several portable speakers. Despite these changes, the stuttering continued. Strangely, when the same audio setup was used with an older iPhone 13 mini or an Android phone, the problem disappeared entirely.

General troubleshooting steps:

A variety of steps were taken in an attempt to resolve the issue:

Bluetooth connections were reset.
Network settings were erased and reconfigured.
The phone was restarted and apps were closed.
Devices were disconnected and re-paired.
Wi-Fi and mobile data were turned off to isolate the issue.

Even when the iPhone 16e was set up as a new device — without restoring from an iCloud backup — the stuttering still occurred. When the phone was replaced under warranty, the issue returned, confirming that the fault wasn’t with a single defective unit.

What May Be Causing It

It has been suggested that the issue may be tied to the new C-class modem chip in the iPhone 16e or a bug introduced in recent iOS 18 versions. On Reddit, several users mentioned similar problems, especially after updating to iOS 18.4 or 18.5 beta.

Because the same problem wasn’t found on other iPhones or Android phones, it was believed that this might be a software-level compatibility issue, not a hardware defect in every device.

Temporary Workarounds to fix Bluetooth Audio Stuttering on iPhone 16e

Although no official fix has been released by Apple as of 2025, some small improvements were noticed when:

Only one Bluetooth device was kept connected at a time.
Background Bluetooth devices (such as fitness trackers) were turned off.
Beta updates of iOS were installed, though results varied.

The issue wasn’t completely resolved, but stuttering was reduced in frequency.

Final Thoughts

The Bluetooth audio stuttering issue on iPhone 16e has not yet been addressed through a confirmed software patch. Until that happens, affected users are encouraged to report the issue through Apple Support and Reddit, where feedback is being collected.

Patience may be needed until an iOS update fully resolves the problem. In the meantime, switching to wired audio or limiting Bluetooth usage could be used as a temporary solution.

If a full solution is discovered, it should be widely shared — and a permanent fix can hopefully be expected in an upcoming iOS 18.5 or later release.