Apple launched the iPhone 16e less than a month ago as the successor to the iPhone SE. It is currently the most affordable iPhone and also supports Apple Intelligence. That said, multiple users have reported encountering a Bluetooth audio issue on their newly purchased iPhone 16e.

According to posts on the Apple Community Forum and Reddit, users are experiencing audio stuttering when playing music or media on Bluetooth devices connected to the iPhone 16e. It is a widespread issue affecting users across the globe.
Some users suspect that the issue arises when the iPhone 16e is connected to multiple Bluetooth accessories. However, the exact cause of the problem remains unknown.
How to fix the audio stuttering issue on iPhone 16e
Many users expected the iOS 18.3.2 update to fix the issue, but it hasn’t. According to user reports, Apple’s suggested solutions also don’t seem to work, including:
- Re-pairing the Bluetooth device
- Resetting Network settings: Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings → Enter passcode → Confirm reset.
- Resetting all settings: Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset All Settings → Enter passcode → Confirm reset.
- Force restarting the iPhone
A user shared on the Apple Community Forum that they spoke with a Senior Tech, who confirmed that Apple is aware of the issue and is actively working on a fix. Another user noted that the issue appears to be resolved in iOS 18.4. Unfortunately, iOS 18.4 is still in its beta testing phase, with the public release expected in early April 2025.
Based on this information, the audio stuttering issue is expected to be resolved in the upcoming iOS 18.4 software update. However, since the update is still at least two weeks away, dealing with this problem until then might be inconvenient for many users.