Apple is upgrading the AirPods Max with lossless audio and ultra-low latency support through a free firmware update coming in April. This significant upgrade will allow the headphones to deliver 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio when connected via USB-C cable, solving a limitation that has long frustrated audiophiles.
The Big Changes
The update brings two major improvements to the AirPods Max:
- Lossless Audio Support: When connected with the included USB-C cable, AirPods Max will now reproduce audio exactly as recorded, without compression that degrades sound quality. This preserves all the subtle details in music that typically get lost with wireless Bluetooth connections.
- Ultra-Low Latency Audio: The update dramatically reduces the delay between when sounds are generated and when you hear them – a critical improvement for gaming, video editing, and music production.
These upgrades are made possible by the switch to USB-C connectivity, which enables wired lossless listening – something even the previous Lightning connector version couldn’t fully achieve due to signal conversion issues.
Why This Matters
This update transforms the AirPods Max from premium wireless headphones into versatile studio-quality equipment. For regular users, this means hearing music closer to how artists intended. For professionals, it enables the headphones to be used throughout the entire music production workflow.
According to Apple, the AirPods Max will become “the only headphones that enable musicians to both create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking.” This positions them as tools for both consumption and creation.
The ultra-low latency feature puts the headphones’ response time on par with built-in speakers on Mac, iPad, and iPhone, making them much more useful for gaming and livestreaming where audio-visual sync is crucial.
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How It Works
Lossless audio preserves all the original data in music files, unlike compressed formats like MP3 that discard information to save space. When music passes through a wireless Bluetooth connection, compression is unavoidable – that’s why the USB-C cable is essential for this feature.
The built-in Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) in the AirPods Max converts digital audio signals to analog waveforms that the speakers reproduce. The quality of this conversion directly impacts sound quality, and the wired connection allows the DAC to receive complete, uncompressed audio data.
Coming Soon
The update will be available in April alongside iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 updates. The AirPods Max remain priced at $549 and come in five colors: midnight, starlight, blue, purple, and orange.
For those wanting to connect to standard audio jacks, Apple now offers a $39 USB-C to 3.5 mm audio cable, useful for airplane audio systems or car stereos.
This update addresses a key limitation since the switch to USB-C last year, when the headphones temporarily lost support for wired audio playback. Now they not only regain this capability but significantly improve upon it with true lossless quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lossless audio preserves 100% of the original recording data, so you hear music exactly as the artist intended without any quality loss from compression. Regular Bluetooth audio compresses music files to transmit them wirelessly, removing subtle details that audiophiles value. With lossless audio (24-bit, 48 kHz), you’ll hear more detailed instrument separation, deeper soundstage, and nuances in vocals that compressed formats miss.
No, you don’t need to buy new hardware. The lossless audio feature will come as a free firmware update to existing AirPods Max with USB-C. However, this feature won’t be available for the older Lightning-connector version of AirPods Max. The update will arrive in April alongside iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4.
You must use the USB-C cable to experience lossless audio. Bluetooth technology, even with the latest codecs, cannot transmit true lossless audio due to bandwidth limitations. The included USB-C cable allows for a direct digital connection that bypasses Bluetooth compression, enabling the full 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio quality.
Ultra-low latency means there’s minimal delay between when a sound is generated and when you hear it. This is particularly important for gamers (audio syncs perfectly with on-screen action), music producers (real-time monitoring without delays), and video editors (perfect audio-visual sync). Apple claims the latency will be on par with built-in Mac, iPad, and iPhone speakers, which is significantly better than typical Bluetooth headphone latency.
This update positions AirPods Max competitively against other high-end headphones that offer wired lossless playback. According to Apple, AirPods Max will become “the only headphones that enable musicians to both create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking” – a unique selling point. However, at $549, they remain more expensive than many competitors like Sony’s WH-1000XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, both of which offer some form of wired high-resolution audio support at lower price points.
Most casual listeners will notice some improvement, particularly in complex musical passages, classical music, or high-quality recordings. The difference will be more noticeable with good source material (like Apple Music’s lossless catalog) and in quiet environments. However, the benefits are most significant for audiophiles, music professionals, and those with trained ears. For everyday listening on the go, the convenience of wireless might still outweigh the quality benefits of wired lossless audio for many users.
