Some AirPods Max Owners Complain of Condensation in Ear Cups

Since the AirPods Max headphones were released on December 15, there have been a growing number of complaints from MacRumors readers who have run into a problem with condensation.

airpods max condensation

Image via MacRumors reader Jordan921

Some ‌AirPods Max‌ owners who have been wearing their headphones for a prolonged period of time have noticed condensation forming inside the ear cup. From MacRumors reader ssong:

So I've had my AirPods max for just under a week and have noticed that after prolonged usage there's a decent amount of condensation inside the ear cup.

it's quite noticeable when you detach the magnetic ear cushions from the ear cup.

The condensation seems to happen regardless of temperature, and most people have reported seeing it after several hours of use, but for some, it shows up within an hour or two. One user has claimed that the condensation has led to issues with Active Noise Cancellation, but this has not been echoed by other ‌AirPods Max‌ owners and no one else has reported problems caused by condensation.

Other ‌AirPods Max‌ owners have said that the same issue has happened with headphones from other brands. From MacRumors reader JBGoode:

I get this on my Sony WH1000XM3. I've had them for a long time and it's no big deal. Have none of you owned over the head cans before? Your ears are gonna a sweat and there will be some condensation. I think it's pretty common for this type of headphones.

The ‌AirPods Max‌ are not water resistant and those who are affected by the condensation are concerned about the longevity of the headphones with the water droplets pooling inside. The ear cushions are not affected and remain dry despite the condensation inside the ear cups.

Some ‌AirPods Max‌ owners have returned the headphones, while others have picked up AppleCare+ in case of future problems. Apple has not yet commented on the issue.

Related Roundup: AirPods Max
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Max (Caution)
Related Forum: AirPods

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
icloud private relay outage

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Thursday July 25, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the iCloud Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all iCloud users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning iCloud Private Relay off, while others are...

Top Rated Comments

now i see it Avatar
46 months ago
Watergate?
Score: 57 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Craptastic Avatar
46 months ago
“..Growing number of complaints from MacRumors users..”

LOL but of course. What’s an Apple product without a number of complains from MacRumors users? :rolleyes:
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
-DMN- Avatar
46 months ago
Condensation comes from the person not the device, that's just user error.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannyyankou Avatar
46 months ago
This happens with most over ear headphones. I'm a big critic of AirPods max but this is quite normal.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LeadingHeat Avatar
46 months ago
Isn’t that normal? Basically earmuffs over your ears, of course they’ll sweat. If it’s noise cancelling, it blocks out most outside air I’d guess. Where else do you expect it to go other than to be soaked up by the ear cup sponges?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kilimanjaro Avatar
46 months ago

This happens with most over ear headphones. I'm a big critic of AirPods max but this is quite normal.
This has never happened with my Sony XM4s, or, Bang & Olufsen H95s.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)