Apple's $550 over-ear AirPods Max headphones are less effective at blocking out outside noise when using Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) following their latest firmware update, according to results from a detailed audio test.
A recent update to testing by RTings.com reveals that the AirPods Max ANC "blocks out a bit less noise between the mid-bass to high-bass range" after the 4E71 firmware update, which was released in May. "When it comes to the mid and treble ranges, this firmware update has slightly changed the level of isolation, but it's a relatively minor difference," RTings.com said following its test.
The decrease in ANC effectiveness was highlighted in an article by The Verge last month following months of discussion and complaints from AirPods Max users on Reddit and other discussion forums.
It's unclear why Apple adjusted the ANC performance in the latest update or if it plans to restore ANC effectiveness in a future update. Apple occasionally updates the firmware on AirPods Max and other AirPods models to deploy new features, fix bugs, and tweak performance.
Apple has been providing developers with beta versions of AirPods firmware since WWDC earlier this year, with the most recent beta version having been released earlier this month, but there's no word on whether there are any changes to ANC performance in the update.
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Release Date
Given that Apple has yet to seed an iOS 26.1 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, the...
Wednesday October 29, 2025 4:22 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
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Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
We've rounded up all the latest Apple TV rumors.
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Test Settings
I did four separate tests using the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and I kept the parameters as similar as possible. Here are the...
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I wouldn't be surprised that there will be an updated firmware that restores the original ANC.
On the contrary. Apple did the same with the first AirPods Pro. The noise cancelation was great but then they pushed an update like this one and now it’s subpar and they never fixed it.
Hey Apple here's an idea: How about no more automatic hidden firmware updates? How about Airpods firmware updates be treated through an App or in Settings just like the Apple Watch is?
I've never tried Active Noise Cancellation. What's so great about it? As I understand it, it can only cancel out continuous background noises like air conditioners and the drone of airplane engines and such. Do those sounds really bother people that much?
I'm bothered by people talking, honking horns, things like that. And as I understand it, ANC will help me hear those things *better* because they're removing other noise that might serve to drown those other sounds out.
Nope that’s not how it works. It lessens all external noise, not just continuous noises.
I think you’re thinking of the brand new AirPods Pro 2 feature of Adaptive Transparency. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210643
