Photograph: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
Apple is just not planning any main upgrades to AirPods Max anytime quickly. The corporate plans to maintain the headphones round in its present iteration for the “foreseeable future.”
No main AirPods Max improve coming quickly
The AirPods Max debuted in December 2020 for $549. They obtained a minor refresh in September 2024, with Apple swapping the Lightning connector to USB-C and new colours. Regardless of the refresh arriving 4 years later, it didn’t deliver another significant enhancements to sound high quality or options.
In contrast to the AirPods 4 and AirPods Professional (2nd gen), the AirPods Max nonetheless makes use of an H1 chip and never the newer H2 chip. Whereas the headphones offered first rate sound high quality and ANC at launch, that’s not the case 4 years later. Bose and Sony have surpassed Apple’s premium headphones, making it troublesome to justify the steep $549 price ticket.
Sadly, in the event you have been anticipating Apple to launch the AirPods Max 2 to switch its getting older premium headphones, that apparently gained’t occur.
Within the newest version of the Energy On publication, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says Apple has no “actual plan to meaningfully replace AirPods Max.” Seemingly, the headphones usually are not promoting in huge numbers that the corporate can justify pouring cash into creating a brand new mannequin. On the flip aspect, additionally it is not a flop that Apple discontinues them.
Apple ought to cut back the AirPods Max value
Given the situation, Apple is content material with promoting the AirPods Max of their present iteration. That is regardless of competing merchandise from Bose, Sony, and others delivering higher efficiency and expertise.
The one power of the AirPods Max is its seamless integration with different units in Apple’s ecosystem. In any other case, you’re higher off shopping for premium headphones from different manufacturers.
With no updates in sight, Apple ought to contemplate making the AirPods Max cheaper. Whereas nonetheless costly, a $100 value lower would justify the headset’s value and efficiency, particularly for an Apple product.