New AirPods Max rumored to hit shelves in 2024 without giant feature changes

AirPods Max

A new rumor suggests that Apple will be refreshing its AirPods Max before the year ends — but only to swap out its Lightning port.

Apple released its high-end AirPods Max in 2020 and still hasn't released a second generation yet. However, a recent social media post suggests that Apple is preparing to release an updated version.

In a post on social media platform Weibo, spotted by MacRumors, Instant Digital said that the AirPods Max will "definitely come out this year."

Credit: Instant Digital on Weibo

However, they predict that the only real change will be that the headphones will swap the Lightning port for USB-C, likely to comply with international laws.

Like other rumors we've heard, Instant Digital predicts that the chip very well could still be the H1, and says that the refreshed AirPods Max will not get Adaptive Audio.

Adaptive Audio utilizes both Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes to provide an intelligent mix of audio. It uses external noise to determine the appropriate audio mix for any given moment, whether it's cancelling loud engine noise or improving voice capture for conversations. The feature is currently exclusive to the second-generation AirPods Pro.

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8 Comments

entropys 4167 comments · 13 Years

About 2 months ago

The most needed features:

a big drop in price
usbc (both charging and data)
fold up for more compact travel
a compact, full body case
a big drop in price

deckert63 5 comments · New User

I do think it will receive a new chip along with USB-C.

But - the most important feature will a much better way to collapse the headset into a much better case.

Today's version is more Apple telling you to just wear it 100% of the time because the case is crap. Come to think of it - I think they did the same thing with the AVP carrying case. It really feels the whole "case design department" should be fired.

chasm 3308 comments · 10 Years

entropys said:

The most needed features:
a big drop in price
usbc (both charging and data)
fold up for more compact travel
a compact, full body case
a big drop in price

1. Likely for the leftover stock of first-gen, unlikely otherwise. The first gen seems to have sold rather well.

2. Yep

3. Nope, as that would require a redesign. Did you read the article?

4. Could be offered as an extra accessory, but no chance of being included

5. See also point 1.

Appleish 692 comments · 8 Years

My pair collects dust. AirPods Pro 2 were a shockingly big sound quality upgrade over v1. The AP2s sound almost as good as the Max and are a Lot easier to wear and carry.

I was hoping for some big technology upgrades for Max 2, including some flavor of wireless lossless sound. If not, I'm done with that product.

xyzzy01 134 comments · 15 Years

That would be disappointing.

USB C is a given - it should have been used on the first release, but now they've finally migrated the iPhone off the obsolete Lightning port as well.

Not updating it with the latest chips would be disappointing, especially in what is their highest-end offering.

What I would like:

1) Lossless sound - it's a marquee feature of Apple Music, and your best headset isn't good enough to use it. Fix that.

2) Support sound via a USB C cable, not just bluetooth. Would be great on e.g. planes for the on-board entertainment. Could also help with 1).

3) Better noise cancellation. The competition has improved, so should Apple.

4) Better case

5) Off button. The "we'll handle everything via autodetect" has issues, an on/off button is an easy way to fix that. The current way too often results in a need to re-pair with e.g. the office PC.

If I'm dreaming, multiple, simultaneous connections would be great - so it could stay connected to the Windows PC while I listen to music from my iPhone, to give one example. Having to re-connect manually whenever someone wants to talk on Teams is annoying.

EDIT: Forgot the most important thing - weatherproofing. It could start raining while you're out wearing your headset, that shouldn't have a destructive potential.