At Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” iPhone event in September 2024, the company not only introduced the AirPods 4 but also refreshed the AirPods Max. However, if you already own the original AirPods Max from 2020, it’s not worth the upgrade, and here’s why.
AirPods Max Gets USB-C and New Color Options, but That’s It
The only noteworthy change to the AirPods Max is that Apple has finally ditched the Lightning connector and replaced it with a USB-C port. This move is likely to comply with the EU’s USB-C mandate because Apple hasn’t advertised any charging speed improvement with the USB-C model.
The refreshed AirPods Max is also available in five new colors: starlight, orange, purple, blue, and midnight. That means you can no longer buy the AirPods Max in its iconic silver color unless you buy the 2020 model from third-party retailers like Amazon before they run out of stock.
Besides these two changes, the refreshed AirPods Max is exactly the same as the original model. You still get the H1 chip, the same impractical charging case, and 20 hours of battery life—all for the same $549 asking price. It’s safe to assume there’s no improvement in sound quality because of the same chip, and Apple didn’t mention anything about it during the announcement at the “It’s Glowtime” iPhone event.
Who Should Buy the AirPods Max (USB-C)?
The refreshed AirPods Max is for those who’ve upgraded to one of the USB-C iPhones (iPhone 15 and later) and don’t want to carry around a Lightning cable just to charge their expensive headphones. This move from Apple is similar to the AirPods Pro 2 refresh in 2023 with the USB-C charging case.
If you don’t have the AirPods Max yet, this USB-C model is still a reasonable future-proof purchase. However, if you want to save some money, you can find the original AirPods Max on sale at major third-party retailers like Amazon as long as the stock lasts. As of this writing, the AirPods Max is available for $469, which is $80 less than its MSRP.
If you already have the AirPods Max—like me—I recommend sticking with it until Apple updates it with the H2 chip, improves the battery life, and offers a more practical case. I don’t mind carrying around an extra Lightning cable, but if that’s a dealbreaker for you, I can’t stop you from upgrading.
