The latest AirPods Max offers nothing more than a shift from the Lightning port to a USB-C one while retaining the same internals and flaunting fresh colors at a higher price tag. Given that the company has already launched the AirPods 4 sporting a newer chip, there must have been speculation about the company introducing some upgrades to its premium wireless headphones. Unfortunately, one report states that Apple has ‘no concrete plans’ to incorporate any meaningful upgrades, suggesting that we should look at the current-generation AirPods Max being a part of the lineup for at least a couple of years.
The high price of the AirPods Max likely means that Apple’s premium headphones will only target a certain audience, which may not give the company sufficient motivation to introduce a newer version
The plans for an AirPods Max update were revealed thanks to Mark Gurman’s ‘Power On’ newsletter, with the details spotted by MacRumors. The Bloomberg reporter stated that sales of the wireless headphones were too low to give Apple sufficient encouragement to introduce a newer model. It is possible that the Cupertino firm will reach its sales target in a couple of years, after which we should bear witness to an updated model. For now, we should keep our expectations low.
While the majority of potential buyers looking to upgrade to the AirPods Max will appreciate the change to USB-C, those who like to dive into the technical specifications will be livid to learn that Apple has stuck with the older-generation H1 chip found in the previous version. The company’s AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 range are treated to the newer H2 silicon and are significantly more affordable. For those who do not know, the custom chip allows for better Active Noise Cancellation, with Apple’s Adaptive Transparency Mode also receiving better on-device processing to help you hear better.
Then again, if you do not mind the lack of an H2 chip but prefer the premium construction paired with a high battery life, we have some excellent news for you. Both the Lighting and USB-C versions of the AirPods Max have been discounted on Amazon. The variant touting the older port going for $399 after a $150 discount, with the newer generation listed on the online retailer for $499 after a $50 price cut.
Alternatively, if you want to experience the advantages of Apple’s custom H2 chip, those can be found in the AirPods Pro 2, which are currently going for $169.99, making them one of the lowest prices for wireless earbuds. Best of all, these ship with a USB-C charging case.
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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