Apple Has Finally Made the New AirPods Max Worth Buying
Last year, I told readers that the “second generation” AirPods Max were actually worse than the original pair . Apple charged $549 for headphones that were virtually identical to a pair released in 2020, only with USB-C instead of Lightning. What’s more, Apple actually removed a feature from the USB-C pair: unlike the Lightning AirPods Max, the USB-C model wasn’t compatible with a 3.5mm adapter, meaning you couldn’t use them for wired playback.
Considering that the Lightning AirPods Max often retail for around $150 , it would be foolish to recommend the newer, more expensive AirPods Max—unless you really can’t live without USB-C. That was until today, when Apple made a great announcement about AirPods Max . When Apple releases iOS 18.4 next month (as well as macOS Sequoia 15.4), the company will release a rare update to the AirPods Max: these headphones will support both lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio, as Apple now allows wired connections via USB-C.
Lossless sound compared to Bluetooth
Let’s start with lossless audio. While AirPods’ wireless performance is excellent, it’s not perfect. To transfer music from a device like an iPhone or Mac to AirPods via Bluetooth,these files need to be compressed . Although compression has come a long way since the days of MP3 files, you do lose information when you do so. You might not notice it, especially with a good pair of wireless headphones, but if you directly compare a lossy codec like AAC (what Apple uses for Bluetooth streaming) and ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) to high-quality headphones, you can hear the difference.
AirPods Max will support ALAC streaming and downloading over a USB-C connection. You can connect AirPods to your Mac, iPhone or iPad and listen to music without losing data. However, keep in mind: these files will be much larger than the compressed music you’re used to, so keep that in mind before downloading or streaming large amounts of lossless music.
Apple wants professionals to create music with AirPods Max
Another big upgrade is ultra-low latency audio. Traditionally, wireless headphones couldn’t be used for anything that required real-time audio feedback. This is because Bluetooth audio has a “lag” or delay between the audio source and the target output. This isn’t an issue when streaming music or audiobooks, or even when watching shows and movies, since the latency is low enough to be unimportant.
However, if you are a professional musician, this delay is not workable. Try recording a track while listening to real-time feedback through wireless headphones and you’ll have problems.
Now that AirPods Max with USB-C can be used with a wired connection, that changes. With iOS 18.4, you can connect AirPods Max directly to a source, like a Mac, via USB-C and take advantage of ultra-low latency audio. Apple even claims that this AirPods Max model is the only headphone that offers musicians the ability to create and mix music using Personalized Spatial Audio based on head tracking. I’ve never been a big fan of this feature, but perhaps once artists are able to create head-tracking tracks while using the AirPods Max, things might improve.
The company also touts the benefits of reduced latency for gaming and live streaming. Apple says there’s no response lag and the sound quality is “on par” with the built-in speakers on your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
OG AirPods Max left behind
If you’re an original AirPods Max owner (like me), none of this news applies to you. Unfortunately, lossless wired playback and ultra-low latency audio are exclusive to AirPods Max with USB-C, although the original AirPods Max support wired playback via a 3.5mm to Lightning adapter.
Apple hasn’t specified why this is – there may be a technical limitation between Lightning and USB-C – but I suppose it also helps that the company now has two new benefits to highlight in its “new” AirPods Max. Remember, these headphones were basically the same except for the port and some new colors, so now Apple can point to these features as exclusives and reasons to buy the AirPods Max over the old AirPods Max.
If you’re an audiophile rooted in the Apple ecosystem, then yes: this is a reason to buy a new model. Lossless audio support is great, especially if you have lossless audio files to play. And if you have an interest or need for headphones for making music, so much the better.
However, barring those needs, I’d still recommend comparing prices between Lightning and AirPods Max with USB-C. Stores are slashing prices on the new model more than before, but if you find Lightning headphones at a significant price, consider them. If you don’t care about USB-C, lossless audio, or ultra-low latency, and just want a pair of high-quality wireless headphones that work well with your Apple devices, you’ll benefit from an original pair, especially if you can shave a few digits off the price.