Apple has announced a significant upgrade for the AirPods Max with USB-C that will arrive in April. The upgrade will enable the headphones to play 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio when connected through a USB-C cable. This will provide listeners with the option to listen to high-quality music that preserves the fidelity of original recordings so that listeners may hear music exactly the way artists intended. The lossless audio feature overflows into Personalized Spatial Audio, which provides a more amplified and soundingly realistic experience.
The update will also introduce ultra-low latency audio, equal to built-in speaker quality. This will be particularly helpful for artists, as it will enable them to create and mix music in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking without compromising on audio quality. Players will also benefit from the reduced lag time, which will enhance their playing experience.
AirPods Max with USB-C will be able to pair with devices like iPhones, iPads, and Macs using the included USB-C cable. The wired connection will allow users to stream over 100 million songs on Apple Music as lossless music. The feature will arrive with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4.
To complement connectivity options, Apple is also offering for sale a USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable. This adapter allows the AirPods Max to connect with devices that have no USB-C connector, such as in-flight entertainment systems or gaming consoles. Even more intriguingly, the adapter can be used backwards, enabling one to connect their iPhone or iPad to audio-in ports on cars, for example.
The addition of this capability fixes an earlier shortcoming of the USB-C version of AirPods Max, which initially did not include wired audio playback after a switch from the Lightning port. The update represents a significant improvement over the initial Lightning edition, which could not deliver true lossless audio because of analog-to-digital conversion when playing using a Lightning-to-3.5mm dongle.
The distinction between the USB-C and Lightning models of the AirPods Max is greater now. While the Lightning model offers good sound via a Lightning-to-3.5mm audio cable, it doesn’t have true lossless audio and ultra-low latency support. The USB-C model, however, has support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency and thus it’s a good option for users looking for good sound and low-latency performance.
In general, this update is an excellent addition to the AirPods Max with USB-C, giving consumers a better quality of audio experience that is consistent with Apple’s offering of high-quality sound for all its products.
