The AirPods Max is the oldest current-generation AirPods product still in Apple’s lineup. It’s been more than three years since Apple launched the AirPods Max in December 2020, and we’ve only recently started to hear rumors about Apple’s plans for a next-generation model arriving later this year.
According to Bloomberg’s well-connected journalist Mark Gurman, Apple will introduce a new version of the AirPods Max in late 2024.
Here’s what we expect from the new version of Apple’s premium over-ear headphones, followed by some potential features we expect to see.
but they are not yet confirmed for the AirPods Max 2.
AirPods Max 2024: what to expect
USB-C
According to Gurman, Apple will replace the Lightning port found on the current-generation AirPods Max with a USB-C port. This will ensure that the headphones comply with European regulations and provide consistency across the company’s AirPods line.
Of course, this means that the AirPods Max 2 will come with a USB-C to USB-C charging cable, instead of a Lightning to USB-C cable. Apple will also need to offer a USB-C to 3.5mm audio accessory cable so users can connect the AirPods Max 2 to 3.5mm audio ports.
Bluetooth 5.3
The Bluetooth 5.3 specification can already be found on the AirPods Pro 2, the iPhone 15 line, and the latest Apple Watch models. It is also compatible with all Mac models released in 2023. Therefore, it is almost inevitable that the second-generation AirPods Max will similarly feature the latest Bluetooth standard.
Bluetooth 5.3 includes enhancements that can improve wireless connection reliability and power efficiency. The specification also includes LE Audio, but Apple does not appear to have implemented support for LE Audio in its devices yet.
New colors
Apple will offer second-generation AirPods Max in new colors, according to a Bloomberg report from October 2023. Although it is currently unknown what those colors could be.
The AirPods Max are currently available in space gray, silver, green, sky blue, and pink, although the interchangeable ear tips allow for many color combinations. Apple sells separate ear pads for $69 a pair.
AirPods Max 2024: what to expect
The latest rumors suggest that no other major changes are expected for the AirPods Max 2, although Apple’s plans could always change between now and their launch in late 2024. Here are the improvements and changes we hope Apple eventually includes.
H2 chip
It would seem reasonable that the AirPods Max 2 would include the H2 chip, Apple’s custom silicon chip designed specifically for headphones and earphones. The H2 chip enables enhanced computational audio to improve sound quality on current-generation AirPods Pro and improves battery life with better power efficiency.
Despite the introduction of the H2 chip with the AirPods Pro, Gurman’s latest report suggests that Apple is not currently planning to include the technology in the AirPods Max 2, which would also deprive the headphones of adaptive audio features, including custom volume and knowledge of the conversation.
More recently, a rumor out of China claims that the AirPods Max 2 will not feature Adaptive Audio due to the presence of Apple’s older audio processor. Of course, Apple’s plans could change between now and the launch of the second-generation headphones, so watch this space.
U2 chip and precision search
Apple’s U2 Ultra Wideband chip can be found in the latest iPhone 15 series, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2, and enables precision search in the Find My app.
The current AirPods Max have basic support for Find My, but they don’t even have the previous generation’s U1 chip. Therefore, Apple adding a U2 chip to the AirPods Max 2 would allow for a much more accurate way of locating the earbuds when they are nearby.
Redesigned smart case
When Apple introduced the $549 AirPods Max, the included Smart Case generated a lot of chatter online for its strange appearance and poor overall protection compared to traditional hard cases that come with other premium headphones.
The much-satirized Apple case generated an avalanche of memes, which have irreverently compared it to everything from handbags to lingerie and even body parts. There are no rumors that Apple plans to redesign the case, although an Apple patent describes how a future model could come with a case that offers a more traditional portable shell.
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