Say what you will about AirPods Max falling behind AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 in terms of software features, but the sonic performance of Apple’s wireless over-ear headphones remains unmatched. As much as I adore AirPods Pro 2 for their peak earbud performance and ability to go anywhere, AirPods Max always impress me when I want to hear every detail of every instrument in a song.
Apple revised the hardware for the first time ever in September, replacing Lightning charging with USB-C and introducing new colors. Short of some wireless charging option, USB-C and an update from space gray to midnight topped my request list. For that reason, I turned my space gray AirPods Max with Lightning into cash and paid the difference for midnight AirPods Max with USB-C.
Midnight is closer to black than space gray was, and the hint of blue satisfies my temptation to go for a more colorful option instead. USB-C means the same cable to powers up my iPhone and iPad now can recharge AirPods Max. The Apple TV remote and Mac keyboard and mice still use Lightning, but those need charging weekly or monthly instead of every few days.
Otherwise, these are the same AirPods Max I’ve raved about since 2020. Someone else got a good deal on my old Lightning AirPods Max, and I got a cool new color and a convenience I’ll appreciate until AirPods Max 2 someday exist. For folks buying AirPods Max for the first time now, you’ll never have to wonder why they use a different charging port than new iPhones, and they sound exceptional. Anyway, read on for some hands-on shots of the new midnight finish.
You can charge USB-C AirPods Max from an iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 using a USB-C cable. However, this wired connection doesn’t appear to support audio sans Bluetooth. There doesn’t seem to be a USB-C to 3.5 mm Audio Cable from Apple for wired connections. Apple still sells the Lightning to 3.5 mm Audio Cable for Lightning AirPods Max, though.
A detail I love is how AirPods Max and Apple Watch Ultra share the same design cues (and not just the Digital Crown).
As you can see in the featured image and below, midnight definitely has that blue hue like hardened lava.
For comparison, here’s an old shot of mine of the space gray AirPods Max with Lightning:
The Digital Crown controls volume and Siri. The other button switches between Transparency and Active Noise Cancellation.
Finally, here are some more midnight AirPods Max shots to enjoy:
AirPods Max with USB-C are available in midnight, starlight, blue, orange, and purple.
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