Some AirPods Max Owners Complain of Condensation in Ear Cups

[MacRumors]

Since the AirPods Max headphones were released on December 15, there have been a growing number of complaints from MacRumors readers who have run into a problem with condensation.

Image via MacRumors reader Jordan921​

Some AirPods Max owners who have been wearing their headphones for a prolonged period of time have noticed condensation forming inside the ear cup. From MacRumors reader ssong:

So I've had my AirPods max for just under a week and have noticed that after prolonged usage there's a decent amount of condensation inside the ear cup.

it's quite noticeable when you detach the magnetic ear cushions from the ear cup.

The condensation seems to happen regardless of temperature, and most people have reported seeing it after several hours of use, but for some, it shows up within an hour or two. One user has claimed that the condensation has led to issues with Active Noise Cancellation, but this has not been echoed by other AirPods Max owners and no one else has reported problems caused by condensation.

Other AirPods Max owners have said that the same issue has happened with headphones from other brands. From MacRumors reader JBGoode:

I get this on my Sony WH1000XM3. I've had them for a long time and it's no big deal. Have none of you owned over the head cans before? Your ears are gonna a sweat and there will be some condensation. I think it's pretty common for this type of headphones.

The AirPods Max are not water resistant and those who are affected by the condensation are concerned about the longevity of the headphones with the water droplets pooling inside. The ear cushions are not affected and remain dry despite the condensation inside the ear cups.

Some AirPods Max owners have returned the headphones, while others have picked up AppleCare+ in case of future problems. Apple has not yet commented on the issue.

Article Link: Some AirPods Max Owners Complain of Condensation in Ear Cups

 

[dannyyankou]

This happens with most over ear headphones. I'm a big critic of AirPods max but this is quite normal.

 

[farewelwilliams]

right on time with another overblown Apple issue after a new product release. what else is new?

 

[FilmIndustryGuy]

the iPhone 4 effect

 

[LeadingHeat]

Isn’t that normal? Basically earmuffs over your ears, of course they’ll sweat. If it’s noise cancelling, it blocks out most outside air I’d guess. Where else do you expect it to go other than to be soaked up by the ear cup sponges?

 

[Craptastic]

“..Growing number of complaints from MacRumors users..”

LOL but of course. What’s an Apple product without a number of complains from MacRumors users?

 

[tokajilover]

at 550$ there is better a buid in sauna 😂

 

[Mac Prodigy]

Meh, I’m still keeping both of my pairs. Gotta wow the Starbucks crowd. Just kidding, I would never drink that trash I do have two pairs though. They’re okay. The build is better than the sound.

 

[0s and 1s]

I hope this doesn’t affect warranty as they could be eager to blame moisture for any issues. Does anyone recall of water damage indicator stickers inside the ear pieces during any APM breakdown reviews?

 

[-DMN-]

Condensation comes from the person not the device, that's just user error.

 

[kilimanjaro]

The physics of it all says this is possible.
I came to comment but also will be interested to see those who pile on this misery, and those who defend Apple - just because that’s what they do.

 

[kilimanjaro]

This happens with most over ear headphones. I'm a big critic of AirPods max but this is quite normal.

This has never happened with my Sony XM4s, or, Bang & Olufsen H95s.

 

[now i see it]

Watergate?

 

[inigou]

Aluminium ear cups and low temperatures might be helping with condensation?

 

[JPack]

Kind of like oily keyboards with some people.

Some of you guys might be excreting too much sweat.

 

[TroyBoy30]

What else would you expect from a trillion dollar company

 

[Dammit Cubs]

wow, i been wearing mine for 12 hours and i don't get a single sweat. Some of Yall have some sweaty heads...

 

[Apple_Robert]

This happens with most over ear headphones. I'm a big critic of AirPods max but this is quite normal.

You beat me to the obvious. This kind of thing has been going on for decades. The question is what will Apple do when one of the ears stops working due to condensation over time?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Meh, I’m still keeping both of my pairs. Gotta wow the Starbucks crowd. Just kidding, I would never drink that trash I do have two pairs though. They’re okay. The build is better than the sound.

Do you have a split personality?

 

[FightTheFuture]

This has never happened with my Sony XM4s, or, Bang & Olufsen H95s.

According to the article it happens with the Sony XM3’s. I wonder how Sony solved sweat?

 

[480951]

The way I’m reading this is that this is occurring regardless of activity or temperature, even after a few hours of just sitting at a desk. The hypothesis is that the design is trapping heat and creating condensation (the ear pads themselves aren’t even wet), so it has nothing to do with sweating and might actually be due to a faulty design.

 

[dogg]

So since receiving my APM I definitely have had less “noticeable” condensation due to the cloth cups. When wearing for longer periods with my XM4 and NC 700 it’s noticeably more and sometimes I would need to dry my face off as the pleather material doesn’t aid in dispersion. But on the point of the thread, the condensation is only noticeable on the APM because you can remove the cups to view it. On any other cans that don’t have removable cups you can’t actually remove them to see the condensation build up which inevitably dries into the material. My personal opinion.

 

[brianlee]

I wonder if this may lead to increased ear infections.

 

[goobot]

The question here is if the lack of water resistance will cause failure with this or not.

 

[eoblaed]

For what it's worth, this has never happened to mine.