Apple’s premium over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max, are unlikely to receive any significant upgrades in the near future, as reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. According to Gurman’s latest edition of the Power On newsletter, the Cupertino giant is not planning a major refresh of the AirPods Max due to their relatively poor sales performance. Reportedly, the headphones have failed to garner the popularity Apple expected making it unlikely that the company will invest in a major update for the product.
Launched in December 2020, the AirPods Max were priced at Rs 59,900 in India and touted as Apple’s high-end option for audiophiles, competing with other premium noise-cancelling headphones. However, despite the premium pricing, the headphones have not seen the kind of sales success Apple anticipated. As a result, the company has shifted its focus toward other products in its audio lineup, such as the AirPods Pro and the AirPods 3.
Earlier this year, Apple introduced a slight refresh to the AirPods Max, replacing the proprietary Lightning port with a USB Type-C port, aligning with its broader push for standardisation across its devices. The company also introduced new colour options for the headphones. However, beyond these minor updates, there have been no meaningful changes to the AirPods Max’s functionality. Key features found in Apple’s more affordable AirPods Pro, such as the new H2 chip, Adaptive Audio, and conversation awareness, are absent from the AirPods Max.
In terms of features, Apple has yet to include improved active noise cancellation (ANC), better battery life, or a new chip in the AirPods Max. While there are no plans to discontinue the product, its lack of significant upgrades reflects Apple’s cautious approach, given the limited demand for these high-end headphones.
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