The Bose UltaQC is miles ahead of the Apple Max, costing less and weighing less. And I'm an Apple fan boy ha!
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Why Apple Isn't Making New AirPods Max Anytime Soon
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Save this article and you can cut and paste in: Apple Vision Pro, iPhone Fold, HomePod, iPad Robot Thingy, AppleCard (current form) and Apple Intelligence when there’s a slow news day in the future.
Using stainless steel on something you wear on your head is insanity
Have they at least (quietly) fixed the condensation issue? Mine died because of it and I refuse to buy another one or recommend it to anyone until they fix this issue.
Strange, Sennheiser, Sony and Bose think this is a good area to play in. Maybe Apple don't like strong competition ?
I loved my AirPods Max but after only 3 years the small connector between the ear cups and the headband was corroded. I only wore them in doors and not during exercise but just watching TV. I wasn't about to buy another pair until they changed the connector, which I guess isn't going to happen. I expect my headphones to last longer than 3 years when I've paid £500 for them. I feel let down by Apple. This is an example of design over function sadly.
Spot on. The market is full of very high quality headphones that have the benefit of evolving over several decades. It makes little sense Apple being in that space. Jobs had more than a dozen product goofs over his period of leadership. Cook has one - though comparatively, it's still selling somewhat well.
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Say what you want, but I enjoy mine on the regular. I have the first generation and haven’t had a single issue yet. They’re reliable, durable, and comfortable. AirPods Pro are cool, but I don’t always want something stuck in my ear canal. These truly fit around my ear, not mashed up against my ear like others do.
I agree. My connectors corroded badly. If I'd know it could be a problem I would have done more maintenance on them. Putting them into the case just made it worse. The condensation never had anywhere to go. I'm keeping mine on the off chance they admit their error and offer some kind of repair. I know it's not likely but they should.
Please take my advice and watch out for the condensation corroding the connectors. I wish I'd know about it. I saw someone come up with a way to use magnets instead of the case which would help dissipate the condensation better. Glad yours are still working great.
ah yes an Hub - one device to handle all your household systems, network, storage, and everything else. Apple wants to be a leader in all these devices but abandons key pieces that could link them all together.
When you say “connector” do you mean the ball & socket part where the metal of the headband goes into the top of the can?
Or pull some dirty tricks like using forced firmware upgrades to degrade the ANC and bring it back in the second gen and claim it improved.
You have that backwards. Product innovation first. That's what a healthy R&D budget, currently $33 Billion for 2025, enables. Tempered by being able to show a business case that makes sense. Without the latter, the company would not be successful.
Also, Apple effectively competing with more than two dozen high-end headphone manufacturers with products that have evolved (with a ton of knowledge gained along the way) over 30+ years isn't going to happen.
Is there another over-ear headphone that does Personalised Spatial Audio for superb 3D audio for watching films etc on TV? If so, I'll give them a try. My AirPods Max have enabled me to get rid of the surround system I previously had. Please don't tell me Sony 360 Reality Audio.
Yes, there's a small flat connector on the headband that slots into the can. That's the part that corroded on mine. Although it could also be in the can part which I can't easily access.
I love my Bose Quiet Comfort Ultras. Have tried the Sony's and the AirPods Max. If I'm not wearing AirPods Pro's, then I am wearing my Bose headphones. The most comfortable by far.
« Not enough popular to invest a ton of time and money » I think Apple doesn’t understand that millions of people are just waiting for AirPods Max 2 and won’t buy the current ones.
AirPods Max fans hoping for a second-generation version of Apple's over-ear headphones shouldn't hold their breath, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman suggests Apple's wireless noise-canceling cans are stuck in commercial limbo – "too popular for Apple to stop selling them, and not popular enough for the company to invest a ton of time and money into creating a new version."
The reality check follows a report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo earlier this year indicating AirPods Max 2 could enter mass production in 2027. Gurman's assessment paints an equally bleak picture (if not more so), claiming that Apple's audio team is more focused on annual AirPods updates and supporting audio components across other products. Apple is expected to release new AirPods Pro 3 this coming fall.
Apple's minimal commitment to the AirPods Max line became apparent last year when the company only updated the headphones with USB-C charging to comply with EU regulations, as well as some new color options. No other meaningful improvements were made.
It's already been nearly five years since the original AirPods Max launched in December 2020 – "a remarkably long time for an Apple product" to go without a real upgrade, Gurman notes.
Article Link: Why Apple Isn't Making New AirPods Max Anytime Soon
Apple perfectly understands their markets (which includes the market for AirPods Max). That is why Apple is one of the most successful companies in the world, with 1+ Billion active and repeat customers.
Don't jump to the conclusion Apple is stupid.
they can experiement w/ this.. or **** like vision pro.. waste bazillion dollars(not even gonna mention stupid apple car).. YET, it's beneath them to bring some foldable phone before technology is perfect... wow.. really?
They have been coasting on many things the past few years. Eventually it’s going to catch up with them. Nothing lasts forever.