Apple is giving its AirPods Max a major upgrade next month—but not everyone will benefit.
According to Apple on Monday, a free software update arriving in April will bring lossless audio and ultra-low latency support to AirPods Max. This means users will be able to enjoy high-resolution 24-bit/48 kHz sound, better suited for music lovers, gamers, and even professional creators.
But here’s the catch: the update only applies to the new USB-C version of AirPods Max. If you have the older Lightning model, you’re out of luck.
With the update and a USB-C cable, users will be able to experience top-tier sound quality across Apple Music, games, and movies. Musicians using Logic Pro or similar apps will also be able to create and mix music in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking—something no other headphones currently offer, says Apple.
Gamers and streamers can expect near-instant audio response, on par with built-in Mac and iPad speakers. Apple says this makes the experience smoother and more immersive, especially for real-time gameplay and live broadcasts.
AirPods Max first launched back in December 2020. Almost four years later, Apple updated the headphones with only USB-C and some new colours, while retaining the same price (reminds us of the Nintendo Switch’s consistent price over the year). Now, legacy users will miss out on this major audio update. Blame Lightning, right?
The update will roll out in iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4. Just make sure your AirPods Max has a USB-C port—or you won’t hear the difference.
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A hearing aid mode f/w upgrade would be nice too.