Apple today announced that its premium over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max, are slated to receive a significant software update next month. The update will introduce support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio, aiming to enhance the listening experience for audiophiles and boost performance for music production and gaming enthusiasts.
The upcoming update will enable the AirPods Max to handle 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio. This means listeners will be able to experience music with the full integrity of the original recordings, hearing tracks as the artists intended. The enhancement extends to Personalized Spatial Audio, promising a more sonically accurate, uncompressed, and immersive experience. Apple Music subscribers will be able to tap into a vast library of over 100 million songs in lossless audio.
For music creators, the update unlocks the full potential of the AirPods Max within professional workflows using Logic Pro and other music creation applications. When connected via a USB-C cable, the AirPods Max become the only headphones that allow musicians to create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking. By delivering lossless, high-resolution digital audio with ultra-low latency, artists can seamlessly record and mix without sacrificing audio fidelity.
Gamers and livestreamers will also benefit from the ultra-low latency audio support. The reduced lag time will match the performance of the built-in speakers on Macs, iPads, and iPhones, ensuring a smoother and more immersive experience during gameplay and live broadcasts.
The lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio features are scheduled to arrive in April as a free firmware update. To take advantage of these enhancements, users will need to be running iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4, and will need to connect their AirPods Max via USB-C.
The AirPods Max are currently available for $549 in five colors: midnight, starlight, blue, purple, and orange, through Apple’s official channels. A USB-C to 3.5 mm audio cable will also be available for $39, allowing users to connect the AirPods Max to a wider range of audio sources.
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