AirPods Max Still Lack H2 Chip Following Minor Update With USB-C Port and New Colors

While the AirPods Max were updated this week, some fans of Apple's over-ear headphones have expressed disappointment about the lack of major changes.

airpods max 2024 colors
There are only two changes with the updated AirPods Max: a USB-C charging port instead of Lightning, and new color options, including Blue, Orange, Purple, Midnight, and Starlight. The headphones did not receive Apple's H2 chip that debuted in the AirPods Pro 2 a few years ago, meaning that they will continue to miss out on Adaptive Audio features, and there are no improvements to active noise cancellation either.

Apple first released the AirPods Max in December 2020, so the headphones are nearly four years old and continue to have the H1 chip from 2019.

The updated AirPods Max can be pre-ordered now and launch on Friday, September 20, with U.S. pricing remaining set at $549. Competing over-ear headphones include the Sony XM5, Sonos Ace, and Bose QuietComfort Ultra, for customers who may consider alternatives after the AirPods Max failed to receive any major changes this week.

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

Popular Stories

iphone 17 dummies sonny dickson

iPhone 17 Air Almost as Thin as Its Buttons, New Images Show

Thursday April 24, 2025 2:14 am PDT by
If you missed the video showing dummy models of Apple's all-new super thin iPhone 17 Air that's expected later this year, Sonny Dickson this morning shared some further images of the device in close alignment with the other dummy models in the iPhone 17 lineup, indicating just how thin it is likely to be in comparison. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be around 5.5mm thick – with a thicker ...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 13 New Features

Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iPhone 17 Air Pastel Feature

iPhone 17 Air Launching Later This Year With These 16 New Features

Thursday April 24, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the ultra-thin device. Overall, the iPhone 17 Air sounds like a mixed bag. While the device is expected to have an impressively thin and light design, rumors indicate it will have some compromises compared to iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, a...
ipad air windows 11 arm

M2 iPad Air Runs Windows 11 ARM via Emulation, Thanks to EU Rules

Tuesday April 22, 2025 5:01 am PDT by
A developer has demonstrated Windows 11 ARM running on an M2 iPad Air using emulation, which has become much easier since the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations came into effect. As spotted by Windows Latest, NTDev shared an instance of the emulation on social media and posted a video on YouTube (embedded below) demonstrating it in action. The achievement relies on new EU regulatory...
Global Close Your Rings Day Pin

Apple Stores Giving Away a Limited-Edition Pin For Free Today

Thursday April 24, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Starting today, April 24, Apple Stores around the world are giving away a special pin for free to customers who request one, while supplies last. Photo Credit: Filip Chudzinski The enamel pin's design is inspired by the Global Close Your Rings Day award in the Activity app, which Apple Watch users can receive by closing all three Activity rings today. The limited-edition pin is the physical...
Apple Logo Spotlight Blue

White House Hits Back at Apple's Massive EU Fine

Thursday April 24, 2025 5:57 am PDT by
Apple's $570 million fine from the EU has triggered a sharp rebuke from the White House, which called the fine a form of economic extortion, Reuters reports. The fine was announced on Wednesday by the European Commission, following a formal investigation into Apple's compliance with the bloc's Digital Markets Act (DMA), a landmark piece of legislation aimed at curbing the market dominance of ...

Top Rated Comments

Etc_ Avatar
8 months ago
They could've at least lowered the price. The keynote speaker almost seemed proud that the price remains the same.
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sniffies Avatar
8 months ago
The fact that Max received minimum updates is a max disappointment.
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrJR Avatar
8 months ago
I've been wanting a pair since they came out and I keep waiting for a proper update to spend that kind of money. Senheiser or some other company will get my money. Rediculous.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rymc02 Avatar
8 months ago

They could've at least lowered the price. The keynote speaker almost seemed proud that the price remains the same.
Tim's not lowering the price on anything now that they owe the EU $13B ?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macmyworld Avatar
8 months ago
Too many strong options out there to consider them anymore. Product is outdated.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MayaUser Avatar
8 months ago
Apple should never even mention at the event Airpods max and Apple watch ultra just for these garbage "news"
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)