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bunce66

macrumors regular
Original poster
Aug 13, 2008
114
229
My birthday is coming up in a month and I wanna buy myself the AirPods Max. Who is is astonished that this product has not been updated in so long, since it's initial release? 3.5 years seems like an eternity. They've sold pretty well, so I don't know what the delay is. Any chance for an update in the next 1-3 months? I think it's getting ridiculous at this point.
 

Funny Apple Man

macrumors 6502a
May 1, 2022
617
1,305
Strange that it's taking longer than usual for these to get refreshed. Late 2024 is what I'm hearing from leaks. They're still good headphones so you can get them now if you don't want to wait, just don't buy it in full price.
 
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kyriostrife

macrumors regular
Sep 19, 2010
139
29
Strange that it's taking longer than usual for these to get refreshed. Late 2024 is what I'm hearing from leaks. They're still good headphones so you can get them now if you don't want to wait, just don't buy it in full price.
I just got some for $320 brand new through a recent deal. But all the issues make me think I shouldn’t open them and maybe return them. On the other hand, I won’t be able to get the gen 2 version later this year for that price. So even if these fail in 2 years after Apple care, maybe I’ll find a deal on the gen 2s?
 

bruce316

macrumors newbie
Oct 26, 2018
24
35
I purchased them for $449 just over two years ago and I have been happy with them. No problems, they still work and look like new. Unless they break I doubt that I would replace them even when Apple comes out with an updated version.
 

drober30

macrumors 6502a
Jul 5, 2007
846
105
I've been waiting for the addition of USB-C, anything else is a bonus but I've been holding out for almost a year now.
 
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erasr

macrumors 6502a
Sep 18, 2007
743
644
Yeah I’m keen to get a pair now that I have the new iPad Pro and watching more stuff on that.

Surely tons of people are just waiting for gen 2. Apple could easily do a stealth drop upgrade. Odd.
 
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tstafford

macrumors 6502a
Sep 13, 2022
989
908
I purchased them for $449 just over two years ago and I have been happy with them. No problems, they still work and look like new. Unless they break I doubt that I would replace them even when Apple comes out with an updated version.
I bought a pair for $449 from AMZN recently. The looming update made me pause, but I have a long trip coming up and wanted them for the flights. More importantly they do what I want so I don't think an upgrade would matter all that much. I've been happy with my AirPods Gen 2 (same reason). My advice - if you like the product and price, it's fine just to pull the trigger.

At $449 they are still more expensive than other competitive options. But only by ~$100. For that the integration in the Apple ecosystem was enough for me to pay the premium. Overall I'm happy with them, but they aren't w/o flaws. The case is weird but doesn't bother me. They're a bit bulky/heavy but maybe that's a trade off for the sound. The sound quality is off the chart. Almost too good for some Audible books because they expose the flaws in the recording.
 
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Sirious

macrumors 68000
Jan 2, 2013
1,660
2,823
United Kingdom, London
If they don't fix the silly case and the fact that you need to use it to bring the headphones into low power mode, then they have a lot of nerve.
I am not the target audience for the AirPods Max, but that case is actually laughable. £550, and not a proper way to look after them and/or turn them off.

I know Apple doesn't like on/off switches, but there has to be a better way! Why not a toggle in the Bluetooth settings to choose an automatic power off scenario ....
 

jb310

macrumors 6502
Aug 24, 2017
297
749
Other than USB-C and maybe doing something about the silly-looking case, I'm not sure what features Apple can add to the AirPods Max... it's already an awesome product (other than the case). :cool:
 

Mackilroy

macrumors 601
Jun 29, 2006
4,053
898
I bought a pair for $449 from AMZN recently. The looming update made me pause, but I have a long trip coming up and wanted them for the flights. More importantly they do what I want so I don't think an upgrade would matter all that much. I've been happy with my AirPods Gen 2 (same reason). My advice - if you like the product and price, it's fine just to pull the trigger.

At $449 they are still more expensive than other competitive options. But only by ~$100. For that the integration in the Apple ecosystem was enough for me to pay the premium. Overall I'm happy with them, but they aren't w/o flaws. The case is weird but doesn't bother me. They're a bit bulky/heavy but maybe that's a trade off for the sound. The sound quality is off the chart. Almost too good for some Audible books because they expose the flaws in the recording.
I compared a pair of Maxes to Sony’s XM5s - the Max was better overall, but I kept the Sony headphones because it had USB-C and longer battery life. If a future AirPods Max rectifies both of those issues I’d get a pair. Interestingly the Max did not feel much heavier than the Sonys, the band is really good at distributing weight.
 

whsbuss

macrumors 601
May 4, 2010
4,264
1,094
SE Penna.
Other than USB-C and maybe doing something about the silly-looking case, I'm not sure what features Apple can add to the AirPods Max... it's already an awesome product (other than the case). :cool:
How about the H2 chip or even better could they come up with lossless Bluetooth-like wireless in the upgrade and iphone16
 

tstafford

macrumors 6502a
Sep 13, 2022
989
908
There's got to be a handful of things Apple can do to improve them - case, USB-C, lossless all sound right.

But it's kind of like other Apple products - they are pretty darn good and upgrading frequently has become less compelling. Price surely factors in to that too because the cost of upgrading is really high. I used to buy a new iPhone every other cycle, now I'm more like every four or five years. My M1M Studio will be with me for years because I see no compelling reason to upgrade. I used to upgrade when a new feature or speed caught my attention. Now I upgrade when the things wear out or lose support.
 

tomacwhite

macrumors regular
May 1, 2009
212
70
England
I see a lot of people at my gym with these headphones and they do look good. One person commenting on the fabric/mesh headband not being super durable though. No idea if that’s a common issue with them or not.

I’ll definitely consider a potential V2 release. Needs a better case though imo to keep em as fresh as possible when not wearing them.
 

tstafford

macrumors 6502a
Sep 13, 2022
989
908
I see a lot of people at my gym with these headphones and they do look good. One person commenting on the fabric/mesh headband not being super durable though. No idea if that’s a common issue with them or not.

I’ll definitely consider a potential V2 release. Needs a better case though imo to keep em as fresh as possible when not wearing them.
There are a lot of 3rd party cases including ones that put the headset in low power mode. But it's annoying at this price point to need to consider that! I'm rolling with the original.
 

Eric Idle

macrumors 6502a
Jan 4, 2020
593
473
There are a lot of 3rd party cases including ones that put the headset in low power mode. But it's annoying at this price point to need to consider that! I'm rolling with the original.

The original case is just fine. I travel 100k+ miles a year using the Apple case and my airpods max look brand new.
 

tomacwhite

macrumors regular
May 1, 2009
212
70
England
That’s good to know!
I currently have AirPod Pro 2’s and Sony wh1000xm3 and I love both of them. The Max’s look hot!

I wonder if they’ll add water resistance to them? Good for when walking the dog in the rain!
 
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tstafford

macrumors 6502a
Sep 13, 2022
989
908
That’s good to know!
I currently have AirPod Pro 2’s and Sony wh1000xm3 and I love both of them. The Max’s look hot!

I wonder if they’ll add water resistance to them? Good for when walking the dog in the rain!
It came down to the Sonys and the AP Max for me. I would have gone Sony if the AP Max weren't on sale when I was shopping.
 

DiegoVLatam

macrumors member
Nov 20, 2020
45
67
The original case is just fine. I travel 100k+ miles a year using the Apple case and my airpods max look brand new.

I don’t travel as often I taken my AirPods Max to work every day. I had to change my ear cups twice in a year because of the case not been good at protecting the headset in my backpack. After switching to a 3rd party rigid case, that issue was solved. I bought them on September 2021.
 
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addictive

macrumors 6502
Jul 6, 2008
371
357
If the AirPods Max v2 get released this year I imagine they'll get USB-C and H2 chip as their most obvious updates but the H2 chip is going to be two years old by then. Are Apple gonna put the H2 chip in their most premium headphones? It's rumoured the H3 chip is coming in 2025. If thats the case Apple might not release the AirPods Max v2 until 2025 and give them the H3.

It's rumoured that the AirPods Max v2 are gonna be a small, incremental update but I do wonder whether Apple wants a much more comprehensive update since Sonos has entered the headphone market and Apple intends to blow the competition out of the water.

My guess is we will see v2 in September/October with H2 and USB-C.
 
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