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The AirPods Max were once Apple's flagship headphones, but the latest update has left many users disappointed. At a time when innovation is at the heart of technology, you expect more than minimal tweaks from a company like Apple. But that's exactly what happened: a meager upgrade that barely lives up to expectations. What's particularly disappointing is that after four years, Apple has barely changed its premium headphones and yet still charges full price.
If you're a tech lover and eagerly follow every new Apple event, then the "It's Glowtime" event may have been a disappointing experience for you too - at least if you were hoping for a significant update to the AirPods Max. After four years without any notable changes, many users were finally expecting significant innovations. Instead, Apple presented only a small change: the switch from Lightning to USB-C ports and a few new colors. But that's not nearly enough to live up to expectations.
The weakest update in the AirPods series
While the AirPods Pro 2 and other devices like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 received some minor upgrades, progress with the AirPods Max has almost stalled. The only notable update: the switch to USB-C and new color options. Yes, USB-C is a long overdue change and makes charging easier with standardized cables. But the real core problems remain unsolved. One particularly big shortcoming: There is still no way to enjoy high-bitrate lossless audio content wirelessly. This is particularly disappointing because Apple has an offering with Apple Music Classical that benefits from lossless audio - a feature that is still missing from the AirPods Max. Although the technology (Bluetooth 6) has been available for years, Apple is sticking with Bluetooth 5.0 and thus not delivering what would be technically possible.
Where is the Adaptive Audio?
Another missed opportunity is the lack of introduction of Adaptive Audio, which is already present in the AirPods Pro 2. This feature, which allows intelligent adjustment of noise cancellation and transparency, would have been a real highlight for the AirPods Max. The headphones could adapt optimally to noisy city environments or quiet offices - a capability that many users would appreciate in everyday life. Instead, the AirPods Max remain in their original form: large, heavy and without the functionalities that Apple's other headphones now offer. Many of these improvements would have been easy to implement, such as the integration of the H2 chip, which is already used in the new AirPods 4 and Pro models.
The price remains unchanged
One of the biggest annoyances for many users is the unchanged price. When the AirPods Max were launched in 2020, they cost a whopping €612 (€579 today), which was already considered expensive back then. Despite the minimal update, Apple continues to charge the same price. This is particularly striking given that many retailers have been offering the AirPods Max at significantly lower prices for some time now— for example, Amazon has a whopping 10 percent discount. It's difficult to understand why Apple is sticking with this price when competitors are launching innovative models at significantly lower prices. This inevitably leads to the question of whether Apple still considers the AirPods Max a strategically important product or whether they are slowly being sidelined.
New Colors, Old Problems
Apple has at least updated the color palette of the AirPods Max. The new colors midnight blue, purple, orange and starlight offer a fresh look. But cosmetic changes alone are not enough to increase user satisfaction. The basic problems, such as condensation inside the ear cups and the lack of improved audio quality, still remain. Many users have hoped that Apple would address these problems - but instead there are only cosmetic changes.
Missed opportunities: AirPods Max fall short of expectations
Apple missed the opportunity to equip the AirPods Max with significant technical improvements and thus meet user expectations. While the AirPods Max remain solid headphones, they lag behind the advancements of other Apple models and the competition. The unchanged price and lack of innovative new features leave many users disappointed. If you were hoping for a truly groundbreaking update, then the latest AirPods Max model is unfortunately not what you were hoping for. Nevertheless, it remains to be hoped that Apple will show more innovation in future versions and finally elevate the AirPods Max to the level they deserve. Until then, the current model remains a solid but expensive choice – with many missed opportunities. Time for fresh accessories? Visit our Amazon Storefront and discover a wide selection of products from leading manufacturers, including HomeKit-compatible ones! (Image: Apple)
