Apple Has 'No' Plans Yet for AirPods Max 2 With 'Meaningful' Changes

[S.B.G]

It's fairly obvious. Their strategy is to create barriers to using non-Apple products and services. If there's an opportunity to create points of friction, that is what they will do. They want users to be in their ecosystem so they can have complete vertical integration, anything that allows otherwise is the antithesis to this endgame.

In fact, having shed much of Apple's products and services (though not all) in recent years, I have realized that other companies genuinely do things better, but only in their respective niche. If a user is willing to give up some of Apple's integration (which, let's be honest, is hit or miss these days) they can have a much better experience elsewhere.

Yup.

Music is one area where I will not go back to Apple for.

I have a very respectable HiFi 2-channel system, and a nice desktop setup. I use a combination of Qobuz streaming, my local FLAC (some WAV and some DSD as well) library and Roon to enjoy my music. Apple Music doesn't integrate and play seamlessly the way I want it to. Plus, I dont' want to move my FLAC library back into iTunes, or Apple Music (whatever it is today) and have it mess it all up again. I have my library curated, sorted and tagged precisely the way I like it.

 

[QuarterSwede]

I will stick to my $100 Sony headphones from Best Buy. I have been an Apple user since 1998 but I will never spend that much on headphones especially when when less expensive ones will do an adequate job.

If the $100 Sony headphones appeal to you then you aren’t in the target market for the APMs.

 

[Dave-Z]

I use a combination of Qobuz streaming

Thank you for sharing this. I have been looking for an alternative to Apple Music that provides lossless audio and hadn't heard about Qobuz before.

 

[MacAddict1978]

Gee, maybe sales wouldn't be so low if the price weren't so high... for tech half a decade old.

I also can't imagine it takes hardly any resources at all the plug in an updated chip and few features that are literally software driven. I have this same gripe with the "let's upgrade pro macs ever ten millions years." The Studio and Pro don't need reengineered for spec bumps.

 

[Diamond_Dog]

Hi all, asking your support to take a decision: I already own APP2 and just bought APM Usb C for 370USD including taxes… My question is should I keep them or return them? Because I am not sure keeping them because the APP2 are better than them. Please let me know your comments to take the best decision !

 

[MacAddict1978]

If the $100 Sony headphones appeal to you then you aren’t in the target market for the APMs.

He clearly said they do an "adequate" job in comparison. He is also not wrong.

As most product reviews also agree, $100-$200 headphones don't sound much different to people who aren't audiophiles than the $400 and up models... where spatial/ATMOS is their main advantage - for what is also a small catalogue of options.

I'd bet if you blindly had 100 people wear the Sony and then the Apple, it would be a coin toss for which ones people identified as better... same with Grey Goose Vodka blind tastings where most people pick the cheap one.

 

[Jimmy Bubbles]

Hilarious how mad people are about this. I still am enjoying my 1st generation Maxs.

 

[Rogifan]

To me the AirPods Max are like the HomePod. Not good enough for Audiophiles yet too expensive for most everyone else.

 

[Rogifan]

It's fairly obvious. Their strategy is to create barriers to using non-Apple products and services. If there's an opportunity to create points of friction, that is what they will do. They want users to be in their ecosystem so they can have complete vertical integration, anything that allows otherwise is the antithesis to this endgame.

In fact, having shed much of Apple's products and services (though not all) in recent years, I have realized that other companies genuinely do things better, but only in their respective niche. If a user is willing to give up some of Apple's integration (which, let's be honest, is hit or miss these days) they can have a much better experience elsewhere.

On Threads Christina Warren said she keeps buying AirPods Max because of the auto switching between Apple products. I have Sennheiser Momentum 4’s and I can easily switch between my iPhone and iPad when using them. What special sauce do AirPods Max have that would make them worth the money?

 

[hybrid_x]

Not surprising. There are better and less expensive (and no less premium) offerings available from Bose, Sony, and even Beats. High price and heavy weight make them a no-go for many wearers.

 

[Harry Haller]

Hilarious how mad people are about this. I still am enjoying my 1st generation Maxs.

Mad?
No.
Disappointed at Apple's laziness and take it or leave it attitude?
Yes, for less than a minute.
Surprised at Apple's half baked update of expensive, old chip tech?
Nope.

 

[Jeeve Stubbs]

Why bother investing in the upgrade of AirPods Max when your fans keep buying them at full price while your costs have gone down? Same story for the Pro Display XDR. Small wonder Apple is so profitable. The company has long understood that its large fanbase wants nothing else but in-house products even when they're outdated, more expensive, or simply inferior to similar offerings from competitors. This cult mentality doesn't encourage Apple to keep innovating.

 

[Student of Life]

I have the B&O H100. They are expensive but sound fantastic. So much so that ‘lossless’ is becoming less relevant as everything sounds excellent. I had the APM at launch and they went back. Heavy and uncomfortable. Condensation after minutes of use. I’m sure Apple have the ability to match the sound quality (and price) of the H100

I’m glad you like the H100, how are they with noise cancellation? I do like the B&O sound signature. I read they are an improvement over the H95 but maybe not worth the price for the subtle improvements?

 

[Student of Life]

I just pulled the trigger on B&W Px8. In black they are down to $470 on an Amazon Black Friday deal.

I never liked APM v.1 - too heavy, too ugly, nothing but a "bra" included in the box. APM v.1.1 are a joke of an update.

I tried to get by with the new Beats Studio Pro. Even when they were $170 or so on Amazon this Summer I still feel ripped off. Half-assed Apple integration, cheap construction, and a disappointingly flat (dull, muddy, lifeless) sound.

The walled garden ain't what it used to be.

Px8 are good but remember the headband has "issues" and the Px9 is projected to come out next year, but for that price its not a bad buy, maybe get the extended amazon warranty if you dont want to deal with B&W.

 

[Tripps9000]

With the price being so high what is the point on spending so much money on a pair of headphones that have such an old design 🤨

 

[flybass]

Instead of doing the typical bashing of Tim, I think the real answer here is the technology is just not at the state where it would meet Apple standard.

All year I have read of the qualcomm chip that will give headphones lossless, the year is almost over and silence. Even the new H100 from Bang and Olufsen costing almost an obscene amount can’t do lossless.

Lossless will be one of the main features as well as better noise cancellation and battery life for the next version. Thats something that will get APM users to upgrade, not just throwing in the H2 chip.

Remember Apple Vision and the APP2 can do lossless but look at the proximity between both devices, a fingers length at most unobstructed, just to reach one’s pant pockets, you are looking at 10 times the distance and that’s not counting the signal having to go through your pants and whatever material they are made of, denim etc. that’s not touching battery life etc, the technology is just not ready unfortunately.

Confused. This article from 2022 references lossless audio over Bluetooth. The products were tested out by the reviewer. The mentioned company has their earbuds for sale right now..

 

[Dave-Z]

On Threads Christina Warren said she keeps buying AirPods Max because of the auto switching between Apple products. I have Sennheiser Momentum 4’s and I can easily switch between my iPhone and iPad when using them. What special sauce do AirPods Max have that would make them worth the money?

🤷‍♂️

My XM4's also switch between multiple devices with ease.

 

[Johnstrass2]

Disappointing. I refuse to spend so much money on headphones like this & that also come with a bra to store them.

Just make sure you don’t lose that bra. Turns out if you lose that cover then there is no way to actually power off the headphones. And the only way to buy a replacement cover is not through the Apple Store, but you actually have to call it and order it as if it were a broken part of your computer. Takes a long time.

so it seems now they’re not selling a lot of the product so they’re not gonna improve the product. I wonder how that’s gonna turn out..


oh yeah, and the headband mesh stretches out within a year so now you have two metal bars digging into your skull. So if you wear more than an hour, it becomes incredibly uncomfortable.

Whatever happened to Apple design?

 

[Johnstrass2]

I would consider this a big win for current Max owners. That huge price tag gets to be justified for quite a bit more time.

Always look on the bright side of life

 

[smulji]

Apple created 2 great products: iPhone (48.7% of total revenue) and Services (26.3% of total revenue). Those 2 segments made up 75% of total revenue last quarter.

Every other category represents less than 10% of total revenue.

Apple Reports 4Q 2024 Results: $14.7B Profit on $94.9B Revenue

Apple today announced financial results for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2024, which corresponds to the third calendar quarter of the year. For the...

www.macrumors.com

And Services is Apple's most proofitable segment where margins are over 70%

Apple’s services unit has become a critical part of Apple’s appeal to investors over the past decade. Its gross margin was 74% in the September quarter compared to Apple’s overall margin of 46.2%.

Apple needs to diversify unless it wa to to become a glorified Nokia

 

[svish]

Don't think much can change or new features can be added. This will be similar to HomePod or HomePod mini. Apple will not bother updating the product and will continue to sell for years without any change. Not expecting any change in price too.

 

[xyz01]

Without any significant updates it is a hard ask at that price point. There are so many great headphone options out there at all prices ranges.

In this particular class, wireless, Bluetooth and ANC, the Bose QC45's at half the price are a great alternative.

Same with the Sony WH-1000XM5 - their sound is on par, their NC is better, and the price is lower. The competition has improved the last four years, and the Max hasn't.

I was waiting for updated Airpods Max, and ended up with the Sony set after Apple didn't bother to do meaningful work.

 

[xyz01]

Don't think much can change or new features can be added. This will be similar to HomePod or HomePod mini. Apple will not bother updating the product and will continue to sell for years without any change. Not expecting any change in price too.

They should support lossless audio, replace the case, improve the noise cancelling (Sony and Bose are now ahead), add their latest chipset, improve audio, and make it more robust - people wear it outdoors, it should handle rain/moisture. And it needs a power button - the ones I have often got in bad states, e.g. not detecting it was on me or not visible for the device. I did the reset 3-4 times during a workday and commute.

 

[3304614]

It’s really difficult to justify purchasing the AirPods Max right now.

Even if you specifically want over-the-ear headphones made by Apple, it is still difficult to justify the AirPods Max when Apple’s cheaper “Beats Studio Pro” headphones exist (as well as the significantly cheaper “Beats Solo 4”).

Obviously there are to consider other than price. And not everybody likes Beats. But… still… difficult to justify buying these old AirPod Max headphones right now at the current MSRP.

 

[sartorius]

Long since ditched my APMs and moved on to actually comfortable and wearable cans.