If you are a fan of Apple’s own-brand over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max, you may be wondering when to expect a new generation model. Apple revised the headphones last fall, adding a USB-C port, but the model was otherwise unchanged. Despite costing the most, AirPods Max lack features that are available in even the cheapest AirPods 4, and are driven by the outdated H1 chip.
Top comment by Nathanael Davenport
I’ve had a pair since they first came out. I’m an audio engineer and have higher end passive cans that I use for mixing, but generally, I’m happy with them… they just need a few tweaks to be great:
Custom 10-band EQ. They’re voiced more appropriately for cinema sound, but for pop music their high frequency voicing is a little overbearing. I would appreciate dialing it in to my own tastes.
More extension from the headband for larger heads. They just barely fit me.
The headband mesh gets overextended over time. I bought a custom silicone surround to protect it, and it makes it rest better on my head. They should rethink the headband design.
Their low-end extension is amazing, the ANC and transparency modes are the best I’ve heard, and unlike nearly everybody in the world it seems, I actually like the case design (other than the charging port is slightly misaligned when the earpieces are fully extended). And being able to mix in a pinch in Spatial Audio with Logic Pro - cord-free - with my MacBook Pro, is amazing.
I had tried nearly every comparable Bluetooth headphones prior to these, and the APMs were far and away the best for me. Apple is close, and if they improve the fit/finish and customization, they’ll have a real hit.
And if you believe analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, you’ve still got a while to wait before Apple will be ready to release a next-generation model. In a tweet, Kuo reports that next-generation AirPods Max will not arrive until 2027.
Kuo says the 2027 AirPods Max will feature a new design. This suggests the 2027 generation will actually be a significant update, rather than a minor revision like the USB-C change.
Specifically, Kuo says the new AirPods Max will feature a lighter weight design. This would directly address one of the biggest complaints about the current Max, in that their liberal use of aluminium makes them rather heavy on the head, which some customers can find uncomfortable for long listening sessions.
For comparison, the current AirPods Max weigh in at 386 grams. The comparable Beats Studio Pro weigh just 260 grams.
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