Charles Martin
Apple updated its AirPods Max with USB-C and new color options in September 2024, but is reportedly not planning any further changes to the headphones.
In the recent updates to the product, Apple failed to upgrade the chip inside the AirPods Max to the H2 as it had with the AirPods Pro, meaning the headset is still not compatible with Adaptive Audio.
Bloomberg claims that that the company has "no concrete plans" to update the headphones' hardware again, at least for now. While the product does not appear to be in danger of being cancelled, there are no current plans for future revisions to the product either.
AirPods Max will continue to be made and sold, but Apple allegedly considers the sales of the headset too low to justify allocating resources to make significant hardware updates. This doesn't entirely rule out the possibility of firmware changes, but Apple's interest in the product is seen to be waning.
The AirPods Max were originally released in 2020, and apart from the recent color changes and switch to a USB-C connector, are unchanged from the original release. They feature up to 20 hours of battery life, active noise cancellation, and the "digital crown" control mechanism.
While it has been praised for its sound isolation and general reliability, there have been concerns about the tendency for sweat and other condensation to build up under the earcups after prolonged use. However, the earcups are removable for easy cleaning.
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9 Comments
I was in the market for new headphones to replace my Airpods Max, which had become rather unstable.
If Apple had relessed a new version, I would have bought that on day one, Due to not bothering to even update the chips inside - or even less solving some of the issues - I bought Soby WH-1000XM5 instead. They suck at naming, but their headphones are very, very good.
What a peculiar headline. It’s not really supported by the article’s content, and the article’s content is dubiously framed in its own right.
I HATE when Apple half asses a product with so much potential. H2 chip. A better case. Jesus. Such simple improvements would make this a much better buy. Oh and I don’t know. Price it at $399. Would be a huge holiday buy. But no. Half ass the update and keep the price high because profit margins. This is how good products die.