AirPods Max: Still waiting for a proper redesign
According to a report, there are no concrete plans to make any major changes to the over-ears. Recently, only the Lightning connector was replaced with USB-C.
Woman with AirPods Max: Here is the old version, which is actually also the current one.
(Image: Apple)
Apple will apparently leave the AirPods Max in their current form in the range for the time being without fundamentally redesigning them. This is the assumption of well-known Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. In the paid version of his newsletter on Sunday, he writes that the manufacturer currently has "no concrete plans" to update the 579 euro over-ears "in a meaningful way".
The (very) old model remains
Apple launched a new edition of its most expensive headphones on the market in September. However, this was a minimal update: USB-C was installed instead of the proprietary Lightning connection, which was probably also due to the EU's USB-C obligation. Even functions such as wired audio have been omitted, and the manufacturer does not yet offer an adapter cable with DAC. Nothing has changed in terms of noise suppression (ANC) either. The only changes apart from USB-C were new colors, which disappointed many fans of the over-ears.
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According to Gurman, this situation will not change in the foreseeable future. The headphones are "not such a big seller that it is worth investing a lot of money in their development", but at the same time they are not such a flop that they "should be discontinued immediately". Despite the minor innovations, the AirPods Max, even in their new model version, can often be seen in everyday life, especially in large cities – Users even use them during sporting activities, although they are not designed for this. Ultimately, with the "new" AirPods Max, you are buying a (very) old model: the hardware was first released in December 2020, almost four years ago.
Smaller AirPods are more important for Apple
According to Gurman, there is hope that Apple is looking for new sources of revenue, particularly in the accessories sector. The subsidiary Beats is now developing its audio products faster and with some newer functions than the parent company. After all, Gurman does not believe that Apple will discontinue the AirPods Max in the foreseeable future. They will remain in their old form.
Changes can only be expected if competitors such as Sony, Samsung, Bose or Sonos come out with new products that make the category more popular again. Otherwise, Apple is likely to concentrate on its earbuds, which have recently even been given a hearing aid function. Incidentally, price reductions for the Max are not expected – despite the old technology.
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