Warranty Replacements for AirPods Max Don't Include New Ear Cushions

If you run into trouble with your AirPods Max and need to get a replacement pair under warranty, it looks like the new set will be delivered without a refreshed set of ear cushions.

airpods max in green
A 9to5Mac reader sent in a pair of ‌AirPods Max‌ for repair due to an issue with the Digital Crown, and the replacement set that he received back did not include ear cushions.

Apple instead expects users to keep the ear cushions from the damaged set of ‌AirPods Max‌ to use them with the replacement pair, unless of course the ear cushions themselves have also experienced damage. Given the modular design of the ‌AirPods Max‌, it is possible for Apple to ship just the headphones or just the ear cushions for replacement purposes.

Apple's instructions for mailing in the ‌AirPods Max‌ include a diagram that instructs users to remove the ear cushions before shipping the ‌AirPods Max‌ in a repair box.

airpods max packaging instructions

Image via 9to5Mac

With replacement AirPods Pro models, Apple does provide new ear tips, but ear tips for the ‌AirPods Pro‌ are priced at $8 rather than $69 like the AirPods Max ear cushions, so it's no surprise these are delivered separately.

At the current time, Apple is not selling ear cushions on a standalone basis, but they will presumably be available when stock improves. ‌AirPods Max‌ purchases from Apple continue to have March delivery dates at the current time.

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

TheDailyApple Avatar
46 months ago
Makes sense. When you send an Apple Watch in for warranty you don’t get a new band.
Score: 35 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
46 months ago
That makes sense to me.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
46 months ago

Over $500 and no warrantied replacement ear cushions...?!?!?

Just buy the Sony headphones. Cheap feel, better sound.
If there is a problem with the ear cushions, Apple will replace them. When the problem doesn't involve the ear cushions, there is no need to replace them.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
46 months ago

Apple absolutely despises its customers
What in the world does that mean in regards to this policy with the headphones?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ikramerica Avatar
46 months ago
News: Apple only replaces the broken part under warranty if possible...

If your watch band fails they only replace the band. If the watch fails, only the watch.
Replacement phones do not come with headphones, chargers or cables even if the original did.

We got a toy from FatBrainToys that was missing 2 parts (wrong items inside). They sent only those parts, not a whole new toy.
We got a kids playhouse that was missing a small part. They sent us the part, not playhouse.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kirk.vino Avatar
46 months ago
Pretty standard with many other vendors: they ask you to ship only the headphones and keep the ear tips, etc.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)