iPhone 13 Pro Bluetooth sound quality is terrible

That's completely unfair.

Apple has actually been at least somewhat proactive in increasing sound quality with things like having Apple Music stream and allow you to download lossless files.

A more apt statement would be "Apple and proprietary third party Bluetooth audio CODECs that require paying licensing fees do not go together."

That would explain their reticence to use either Qualcomm's aptX or Sony's LDAC.

I think there's something else going on. I have tried listening to these lossless tracks on my iPhone but anything I listen to on my iPhone sounds compressed. However, if I listen to the same tracks on my Apple Watch they sound phenomenal!

If this is a codec thing I think the Apple Watch should also sound like the phone. I would imagine Apple would be using the same codecs for their devices, interestingly, the watch sounds amazing, the phone does not. I have contacted support and all they can do is gather data from my device...

Apple is not going to support either aptX HD or LDAC, which are proprietary protocols owned by competitors Apple would need to pay (Qualcomm and Sony, respectively.)

Audiophile and Bluetooth are not ever terms that go together, and I’ve never heard of a “audiophile grade Bluetooth device”. By nature Bluetooth compresses audio in ways that an Audiophile would pick up on immediately. Even with newer codecs you’re not experiencing lossless.

While this is true for some Apple devices, it is not for all. AirPlay requires Wifi, which all current listening devices including AirPod models do not have. The OG HomePod is the exception. Regardless Airplay maxes at 24/48.

I took my 13 pro max to Apple store today and had it tested as I found the sound quality terrible - very high pitched and screechy. No problem found however, the sound quality is unacceptable for such an expensive phone. Wish I hadn’t upgraded from iPhone 12.

I wholeheartedly agree with Sigurd162. A flagship model ($) should not erode specifications, it s/b all about further refinement, be it against your prior offerings or those of your current competitors. Granted Airplay is an option, but functional reality is BT is amazingly convenient and its technology has greatly improved. Your loyal customers (who have probably purchased at least 5 versions of iPhone since its inception) expect the same advancements in the conduits technology, especially when the phone costs more than a good laptop.

To the contrary, Blujetooth is very much part of the audiophile realm, with the LDAC codec being all the rage. It would have been more apt to say "Audiophile and Apple are not ever terms that go together." Did you even look up "LDAC", which the original question clearly referenced?

Any solution? I'm with you, the sound quality on my beats flex is pitiful! I was better on my 8 year old Android.....

That’s good, as BT audio quality is not degraded from what it was on earlier models of iPhone.

I agree Jayers13 - apple have lost me - will switch to android after all these years. Started with iPhone 4 and now got rid of my 13 pro max.

Haha what? Why do you think Apple worked so hard on the AAC codec in the first place? Bluetooth and Audiophile never go together. Bluetooth by nature is compressed audio, take a seat.