No one should be getting rich off a class action; we should all be getting justice 🙃
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Is AirPods Max 'Condensation Death' a Widespread Issue? Report Offers Conflicting Evidence
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Ok let me rephrase. I forgot people would be pedantic about it.
Nobody wins a class action except the lawyers. You getting 15 cents in a settlement while the company admits no fault isn’t justice IMO. 🙃
Last edited:
Day 1 owner here. I use my AirPods Max mainly for gaming with my PS5. So far I’ve experienced some condensation but nothing major (I take little brakes every 2 hours and take the headphones off). The condensation disappears in a matter of minutes.
However, I always wonder why people wear them at the gym or on a treadmill. I think you can easily ruin the AirPods Max when used in the “wrong” environment. Apple should be more clear about that.
However, I always wonder why people wear them at the gym or on a treadmill. I think you can easily ruin the AirPods Max when used in the “wrong” environment. Apple should be more clear about that.
This is actually kind of gross; if there is that much condensation built up inside… imagine the mold growth. I use on-ear headphones, they have the benefit of being open on the sides, they don’t cover your entire ear….hence they don’t have any such condensation problem. Putting an air-tight seal around your ears just seems like a bad idea Long term.
why they complaining they praise apple so much the company wouldn't do anything wrong
Who are "they"?
Class actions are not just about monetary compensation for individuals, they are also to hold companies accountable and force them to do better going forward.
I find this bizarre.
I've owned several sets of APMs, often used them for 2-3 hours at a time, occasionally longer if watching a movie too. I'm a guy who naturally sweats a lot anyway, but condensation was never a problem. Even when my ears felt hot after wearing them for a couple of hours and taking off the pads to check, I never saw any, not a single drop.
So I find it odd that there are multiple complaints about this. Even if they did cause condensation, you would have to create a LOT of condensation for there to be sufficient amounts for the liquid to run and cause permanent damage to them.
I've owned several sets of APMs, often used them for 2-3 hours at a time, occasionally longer if watching a movie too. I'm a guy who naturally sweats a lot anyway, but condensation was never a problem. Even when my ears felt hot after wearing them for a couple of hours and taking off the pads to check, I never saw any, not a single drop.
So I find it odd that there are multiple complaints about this. Even if they did cause condensation, you would have to create a LOT of condensation for there to be sufficient amounts for the liquid to run and cause permanent damage to them.
I guess this also depends on the environment where you use them. I live in one of the most humid cities of my country, and I’m afraid this would be more likely to happen here than on drier conditions.
I’ve had them since launch and they are going strong. I wore them on many long international flights and had a lot of condensation inside as a result, but it didn’t affect them in any way.
Yeah I find it strange people use APMs at the gym or out running. They're heavy, they're expensive, and although they're very well made the metal cups are easily prone to scratching if dropped. Then you've got the apparent condensation issues some users have which would obviously be made much worse with exercise. APMs are not gym headphones.
It also serves as an important datapoint to keep issues in perspective.
Took 13 posts to get to "You're [blank]-ing it wrong." I think that, and the equally tired "Safari feels snappier" memes should be retired. Sadly, someone will always think that they're clever and drag them out.
Oh, and the equally tired "I'm complaining about tired Apple-bashing memes" should be retired, too. I suppose I think I'm being clever. Thirty-nine years of listening to Apple-bashing has taken its toll.
Oh, and the equally tired "I'm complaining about tired Apple-bashing memes" should be retired, too. I suppose I think I'm being clever. Thirty-nine years of listening to Apple-bashing has taken its toll.
I don't own any AirPod Max headphones - I nearly did - in fact, I would like some. But I refuse to spend that amount of money on them, whilst this issue exists. I would rather wait for next release, which will inevitably be waterproof! I wonder if Apple have considered how many other people are aware of this issue but aren't buying them, 'just in case', or are waiting for v2.
I notice slight condensation in mine occasionally. Have had mine since a few months after launch. They did start having connection problems last December but thankfully AppleCare sent me a replacement, which must've been a refurbished model because the telescoping arms were awful compared to what I was used to. I called AppleCare again they let me keep that pair and sent me a brand new box with the quality I expect from apple. Gave the defective max's to my friend who wasn't familiar with how the arms should be so it went unnoticed.
I need to take them off my head after 30 minutes.
They are heavy and they drive me nuts they feel so uncomfortable.
Wearing them for 6 hours.... you are like Frodo Baggins honestly.
I love the sound though.
It feels great and sad to read this article. I recently got my fourth pair of replacement AirPods Max, and none of them lasted more than a year each.
I’m happy to know what the problem is finally. I guessed at all sorts of things and it made me afraid to use my AirPods Max, which I love. I use them for gaming, music production, general media.
I guess I’m lucky that my AirPods never outlasted the warranty and I got new units after they gave out. Isn’t it pretty pathetic these things can’t even last a year? Still, it’s harrowing when they switch off while ON my head.
Maybe I’ll have to start wiping my AirPods down going forward.
I’m happy to know what the problem is finally. I guessed at all sorts of things and it made me afraid to use my AirPods Max, which I love. I use them for gaming, music production, general media.
I guess I’m lucky that my AirPods never outlasted the warranty and I got new units after they gave out. Isn’t it pretty pathetic these things can’t even last a year? Still, it’s harrowing when they switch off while ON my head.
Maybe I’ll have to start wiping my AirPods down going forward.
They clearly list it in their chart on the website. It says AirPods 3rd Gen and AirPods Pro 2nd gen are sweat and water resistant while AirPods Max is not.
Analyze that "condensation", it wouldn't surprise me that it's actually sweat from the user.
People forget their ears and surrounding areas can sweat too.
People forget their ears and surrounding areas can sweat too.
The point of the class action is to make consumers whole, deter future illegal conduct, and mete out punishment for the illegal conduct, in that order. It's true that the attorneys are richly compensated, but the consumers don't have to pay a dime or take any risk, the attorneys do it all. Obviously, some class actions are more effective than others.
Mine work fine, but recently I noticed the ear cushions have what appears to be mold growth on them. I looked for condensation a few times after first reading about this issue and never found anything, but obviously there was condensation forming. I only used them outside once and never when working out, so I’m not sure how it happened. New ear cushions are so expensive that right now they’re sitting unused. The next generation needs to address this for me to even consider them again.
I'd never consider wearing them even for a walk outside if the temp was above 70F. Why would I want to get sweat on my $500, heavy, explicitly NOT sweat-resistant... when there are 4 different models of sweat-resistant Beats that are great for working out, and have most or all of the AirPods "magic."
Whenever I see someone working out in APM's, I put them in the same mental category as people who run with their phone in their hand. Just take 5 minutes to think of a better solution... just b/c you did something yesterday, doesn't mean you have to do it the same every day.
I do get a lot of condensation in mine, no matter the time of year or activity. But fortunately, knock on wood, they haven’t failed on me.
