People (including me) are quick to complain. My iPhone 12 Pro Max is only a couple of months old, and I always look after my devices (Mous case, tempered glass protector etc). Our youngest, who is 18 months, got chocolate hands over Easter, and ended up full of slimy melted chocolate as kids do. Unfortunately, he also got hold of my phone on the same day our youngest daughter had decided to peel off my screen protector for reasons known only to her. 
He picked it up in landscape mode, with his chocolatey hands, and proceeded to ask for Fireman Sam. When I took it off him (seconds later), he'd smushed melted chocolate into the ear piece with his thumb. I tried literally everything to clean it out once dry. Stiff brushes, alcohol, wipes... all kinds. Nothing worked. Melted chocolate/saliva mixture dripping into the speaker and then setting has to be one of the worst things I can think of to ruin it. Thanks son lol.
The call quality was basically zero, and I had to use speaker phone to take any calls. Doh. The display also had a slight (but perceptible) scratch from the same escapade. Not a happy bunny! I have AppleCare+ so I filled out a service request online, on Tuesday. It automatically came up as a warranty repair rather than AppleCare+ as the device is nearly new. I obviously expected them to charge once they opened it up and saw what had happened though. When filling out the service request, there's only a few options to choose from and no box for text to explain, so I just clicked 'receiver sound quality'.
The next morning (Wednesday) I had a box delivered, so I packed up the phone with a little note to explain what had happened and what exactly was the problem, and sent it back. Apple confirmed they'd received the device the next day (Thursday) and a few hours later emailed to say my device had been repaired and it was back in the post. Today, I received it back. Literally two day turnaround from Tuesday (request made) to Friday (device received back). They only had my phone for a few hours, the rest was just waiting on the post.
When I opened it up, there was a little note inside to say they'd replaced the earpiece speaker and my scratched display, and everything was back to brand new. Don't worry about it, free of charge and thanks for buying Apple. <3 They might be slightly more expensive, but their service usually gives you the warm and fuzzies. Top work Apple.
The last time we had a flagship Android device (Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge or something, belonging to my wife) a similar issue occurred. We took it to the Samsung store in the city centre, and the guy said 'Yeah we can fix that under warranty, as soon as you pay for a new screen because this one has a small chip on the edge of the display'. I calmly explained that no sound from a speaker at the top of the device was in no way related to the tiny (spec of dust sized) chip from the edge display at the opposite end of the device. He called over a manager, who repeated that we'd need to pay for a new screen for the (until now) unnoticed 'damage'. I explained that in law they have to repair the device, and if they feel the almost microscopic damage at the opposite end of the phone was related to the 'fault' then they had to prove so. Until then they had to accept the repair. No bueno. I remained friendly but firm and explained they were acting contrary to our consumer rights, and the manager shrugged and literally said 'So sue us' and walked away. We moved to Apple after that... and I'm so glad we did.
He picked it up in landscape mode, with his chocolatey hands, and proceeded to ask for Fireman Sam. When I took it off him (seconds later), he'd smushed melted chocolate into the ear piece with his thumb. I tried literally everything to clean it out once dry. Stiff brushes, alcohol, wipes... all kinds. Nothing worked. Melted chocolate/saliva mixture dripping into the speaker and then setting has to be one of the worst things I can think of to ruin it. Thanks son lol.
The call quality was basically zero, and I had to use speaker phone to take any calls. Doh. The display also had a slight (but perceptible) scratch from the same escapade. Not a happy bunny! I have AppleCare+ so I filled out a service request online, on Tuesday. It automatically came up as a warranty repair rather than AppleCare+ as the device is nearly new. I obviously expected them to charge once they opened it up and saw what had happened though. When filling out the service request, there's only a few options to choose from and no box for text to explain, so I just clicked 'receiver sound quality'.
The next morning (Wednesday) I had a box delivered, so I packed up the phone with a little note to explain what had happened and what exactly was the problem, and sent it back. Apple confirmed they'd received the device the next day (Thursday) and a few hours later emailed to say my device had been repaired and it was back in the post. Today, I received it back. Literally two day turnaround from Tuesday (request made) to Friday (device received back). They only had my phone for a few hours, the rest was just waiting on the post.
When I opened it up, there was a little note inside to say they'd replaced the earpiece speaker and my scratched display, and everything was back to brand new. Don't worry about it, free of charge and thanks for buying Apple. <3 They might be slightly more expensive, but their service usually gives you the warm and fuzzies. Top work Apple.
The last time we had a flagship Android device (Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge or something, belonging to my wife) a similar issue occurred. We took it to the Samsung store in the city centre, and the guy said 'Yeah we can fix that under warranty, as soon as you pay for a new screen because this one has a small chip on the edge of the display'. I calmly explained that no sound from a speaker at the top of the device was in no way related to the tiny (spec of dust sized) chip from the edge display at the opposite end of the device. He called over a manager, who repeated that we'd need to pay for a new screen for the (until now) unnoticed 'damage'. I explained that in law they have to repair the device, and if they feel the almost microscopic damage at the opposite end of the phone was related to the 'fault' then they had to prove so. Until then they had to accept the repair. No bueno. I remained friendly but firm and explained they were acting contrary to our consumer rights, and the manager shrugged and literally said 'So sue us' and walked away. We moved to Apple after that... and I'm so glad we did.