Apple has big plans for new iPhones in 2018, but before it can fully concentrate on a potential game changer the company needs to stop iOS repeatedly breaking current models. The latest problem of which Apple has now quietly acknowledged…

In a leaked internal document attained by the ever-reliable MacRumors, Apple is warning Authorized Service Providers that iOS 11.3 and iOS 11.3.1 have been crippling iPhones. Most notably the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, which are unable to use their microphones during calls or be heard at all during FaceTime chats.

Reports of this problem have been reported for some time across Reddit, Twitter, Apple’s own Support Communities forum and MacRumors itself.

MacRumors reports Apple has told service providers to run audio diagnostics and “Affected devices will display a ‘device could not detect dock’ or ‘accessory not supported’ alert in the diagnostic panel, in which case the service provider can initiate a repair for the iPhone.”

Perhaps the most concerning aspect of this leaked report, however, is software is breaking hardware. Typically even the most severe iOS problem can be fixed with a patch in the next iOS release. But in this instance iPhones are required to be returned for hardware repairs.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2018/05/06/apple-iphone-problem-calls-facetime-ios11-ios-11-3-1-iphone-repair/