Highlights
- AirPods Max update brings lossless audio and ultra-low latency with iOS 18.4.
- Users can now enjoy 24-bit, 48 kHz audio and improved audio lag, enhancing sound quality and gaming experiences.
- Apple also introduces a $39 cable for wired connections to 3.5mm jacks.
- The update rolls out in April, exclusively benefiting USB-C models.
Apple made a surprise announcement for AirPods Max users recently. The company says that a software update coming next month with iOS 18.4 will add lossless audio when using the included USB-C cable, along with ultra-low latency audio.
Lossless Audio Support on AirPods Max
Apple says, “With this update, AirPods Max will unlock 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio, preserving the integrity of original recordings and allowing listeners to experience music the way the artist created it in the studio. Lossless audio also extends to Personalized Spatial Audio to deliver a more sonically accurate, uncompressed, and immersive experience, and users can enjoy more than 100 million songs in lossless audio with Apple Music.”
Ultra-Low Latency for a Smoother Experience
The update will also bring support for ultra-low latency audio, which Apple says will “significantly” lower lag to a level that is “on par with the native built-in speakers on Mac, iPad, and iPhone.”
Apple adds, “Gamers and livestreamers can also benefit from ultra-low latency audio, which significantly lowers lag time, and is on par with the native built-in speakers on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. With no response delay, gameplay and livestreaming become reliably smooth and even more immersive for users.”
New USB-C to 3.5mm Cable for Wired Playback
The update will roll out in April as part of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4, but these features will be exclusive to AirPods Max with USB-C. If you have the Lightning model, this might be a good reason to upgrade.
Alongside this, Apple has started selling a new USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable.
Wired Playback Support and Apple’s New Cable
Apple last year introduced AirPods Max with USB-C but with very few changes. These included –
- New colours
- USB-C port instead of Lightning
- Support for Personalized Spatial Audio
That was it. Many users were disappointed, especially since the original Lightning AirPods Max supported wired playback with a special Lightning to 3.5mm cable, but the USB-C version did not.
Now, Apple is addressing that with the upcoming firmware update and the launch of the USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable.
The new cable costs $39 and is available now on the Apple Store.
Apple writes, “It can be used to connect AirPods Max to 3.5 mm audio sources, like the audio-out port on an airplane. Users can also connect their iOS or iPadOS device to 3.5 mm audio ports, like audio-in ports on car stereos or other speakers.”
If you want to connect your AirPods Max to a device using its included USB-C cable, that will work too. But if you need to connect to a 3.5mm headphone jack, this new cable is the way to go.
FAQs
Q1. What new features does the AirPods Max update bring?
Answer. The update adds 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio and ultra-low latency, improving sound quality and reducing lag for gaming and livestreaming.
Q2. What is the purpose of the new USB-C to 3.5mm cable for AirPods Max?
Answer. The $39 cable enables wired playback for USB-C AirPods Max, allowing connections to devices with a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Q3. Who will benefit from the latest Apple AirPods Max update and cable?
Answer. These features are exclusive to the USB-C AirPods Max, encouraging Lightning version users to consider upgrading.
Also Read: Apple isn’t planning any meaningful refresh of AirPods Max after adding USB-C
Also Read: iOS 18.4 Beta 2: Apple is testing review summaries on the App Store