Even though I really like the AirPods Max and they are a must-pack for me on flights, I’ve wanted a new pair as of late. So, imagine my delight when I witnessed the company finally announce its new AirPods Max with USB-C in person at the iPhone 16 press event titled “It’s Glowtime.” Unfortunately, my glee was short-lived when I actually learned what is (and isn’t) in this 2024 update to one of the best noise-canceling headphones.
The AirPods Max with USB-C are available for preorder now and scheduled for a Sept. 20 release date, so there’s no better time to explain the pros and cons of these cans. Allow me to replay the rollercoaster of emotions I experienced in the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park.
Apple’s 2024 update to its over-ear AirPods switches its color options and updates its charging port to the new modern standard.
That said, you can get fantastic deals on the original AirPods Max right now, which we’ve seen as low as $429 in the past 24 hours.
The AirPods Max finally get USB-C charging
Nearly four years after their initial December 2020 release, Apple finally updated its $549 AirPods Max headphones. The primary new feature for this 2024 update is arguably the most obvious omission from before, as Apple ripped the Lightning charging port out and swapped it for USB-C — a standard that’s gradually replacing the company’s proprietary port in all its tech. For those keeping track at home, only the iPhone SE, Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad and Magic Mouse still use the older port.
This is great because now you can charge the AirPods Max with the same cable that refuels the iPhone 15 and 16, as well as all the modern iPads and MacBooks.
There are new AirPods Max colors to choose from
Additionally, Apple refreshed the AirPods Max color options, with Midnight (which is practically black), Starlight (a silvery hue), Blue, Purple and Orange replacing Space Gray, Silver, Sky Blue, Green and Pink. Except that old pink was basically coral orange.
I saw them all in person at the hands-on room after the iPhone 16 launch event, and while they all look neat in their own ways, I’ve already earmarked the Midnight version since it should go with just about everything I wear. I also wish a real pink or bright green option were available because the year of Barbie and Brat summer aren’t over till we say they’re over.
The features that I wanted most aren’t there
So, why am I so disappointed? Well, it starts with tricks the other AirPods pack that the Max don’t. For example, the cheaper AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 both offer Adaptive Transparency, which switches between Transparency and Noise Canceling automatically when you’re talking.
I’m also wondering why the AirPods Max don’t pack Apple’s H2 chip, which enables improved noise canceling, including reduced environmental noise. Over in the AirPods 4, the H2 chip also enables Voice Isolation for clearer phone calls, head gesture controls for interacting with Siri and lower wireless latency.
There’s also the matter of how some original AirPods Max features have always felt a little ripe for improvement. The minimally protective travel case is ready for an overhaul, especially because it’s a fingerprint magnet. Also, I’d love to see these headphones get an actual power button so you don’t need to have the case on you at all times. Yes, if you’ve never owned the AirPods Max, they need to be inserted in their magnetically closing case to activate what Apple’s press release calls an “ultra-low power state” that stops them from just draining out. Those looking to properly protect or give personality to their cans are still better off picking up a third-party AirPods Max case or cover.
The takeaway
For as much as I’m aching for a more substantial upgrade to the AirPods Max, there’s a specific and personal reason that has me itching to replace my pair. An accidental drop outside the LAX airport dinged up my pair’s metallic cups, and there’s also a bit of inexplicable cosmetic damage to the headband that’s become a bit of an eyesore. I’m not the type who needs his tech to look as untouched as it was when I unboxed it, but I cringe a little when I see how my pair has changed after more than two years of use.
For everyone with a clean pair of AirPods Max, though, I’d advise holding off for now — unless you’re really drawn to one of these hues or you’re sick and tired of packing Lightning cables on trips. For anyone who doesn’t own AirPods Max yet, this is a pretty decent time to pick up an older Lightning model on discount, while supplies last.