5 hours ago
1
By Simon Cohen Published November 21, 2024 12:53 PM
Caleb Denison / Digital Trends
When Apple announced an updated version of its AirPods Max wireless noise-canceling headphones earlier this year, I was anticipating some much-needed changes, like a redesigned case, lighter weight, and a way to hear lossless audio. Instead, we got USB-C charging (useful, but not earth-shattering) and a batch of new color choices. Not exactly the update I’d been hoping for.
I’m not going to rain on Apple’s parade and tell you to avoid the updated AirPods Max entirely. For a lot of folks, the move to USB-C might be the only reason they need to buy them, especially if they’ve been able to purge the rest of their lives of Lightning-equipped devices.
However, I am firmly recommending that if you’re a frequent flyer, or you’re thinking of a gift for someone who is, stay away from the updated AirPods Max. At least for now. Here’s why:
Bluetooth will eventually be available on all seat-back entertainment systems. Some of those systems may even use Auracast to make wireless listening even easier (no Bluetooth pairing required). But that day is still many years into the future. For most travelers, plugging your headphones into the available 3.5mm jack (or the dreaded dual-jack) is still the norm.
The original Lightning-equipped AirPods Max didn’t ship with a 3.5mm analog audio input cable, but Apple made one available as an optional $35 accessory. Unfortunately, there’s no such accessory for the updated USB-C version of the AirPods Max. Let me say that another way: the new AirPods Max only connect over Bluetooth.
The Sonos Ace come with a 3.5mm-to-USB-C cable. Simon Cohen / Digital TrendsI reached out to Apple to find out if maybe a 3.5mm-to-USB-C cable is in the works. After all, we’ve seen USB-C headphones from Bowers & Wilkins, Master & Dynamic, and Sonos that come with these cables, so we’re not talking about some exotic tech that no one has created yet. As of the publication of this post, I haven’t heard back.
The good news, if you can call it that, is you still have an option for in-flight entertainment even if you buy the USB-C AirPods Max. In fact, it’s the same option that owners of Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro have had for years: buy a portable Bluetooth transmitter and pack it in your carry-on.
Bluetooth transmitters are battery-powered dongles that plug into an analog source (like a seatback system, a TV’s headphone jack, or a similar 3.5mm output on a variety of other devices) and then sends the audio to a paired set of wireless earbuds or headphones. Some transmitters let you pair two of these device simultaneously.
With Black Friday deals upon us, now’s probably a good time to buy a transmitter, but that’s beside the point — you shouldn’t need one when you buy a set of expensive, flagship wireless headphones from a company like Apple.
Simon Cohen is a contributing editor to Digital Trends' Audio/Video section, where he obsesses over the latest wireless…
Apple’s newest AirPods 4 add affordable ANC and wireless charging
Apple's annual fall event (or close enough to fall, anyway) has arrived. And with it we have the iPhone 16, of course, a new version of the AirPods Max — and new entry-level and midrange AirPods (to go along with new features for the existing AirPods Pro).
Apple has said goodbye to the original long-stem AirPods design, with the new AirPods 4 looking a lot like the third-gen AirPods. It has also created a separate version called the AirPods 4 with ANC.
Read more
These AirPods alternatives from 1More are impossibly cheap
It won't come as a surprise to anyone that you don't need to spend Apple AirPods-equivalent money (about $130) to get a decent set of comfortable wireless earbuds. But I'll bet most folks will be stunned to learn that you can buy a set of AirPods alternatives for just $17.
And no, I'm not talking about some no-name brand on Amazon that didn't exist six months ago (and may not exist six months from now). The company in question is 1More, a brand that we are very familiar with here at Digital Trends. Over the years, it has consistently wowed us with its ability to produce great headphones and earbuds at prices that are always much lower than we expect.
Read more
How long do Apple AirPods last?
Apple AirPods are among the most popular (and most deservedly loved) wireless earbuds and headphones on the market. But wire-free listening, exceptional sound quality, and cutting-edge noise cancellation are laurels that wouldn’t be laurels without battery power.
The lithium-ion cells that run your Apple buds and cans are finite energy sources, and not every AirPods battery behaves the same. So now you’re probably wondering how long your Apple AirPods are going to last. That's a good question, with a ton a variables. And you probably should start by reading our AirPods 4 review, and our AirPods Pro 2 review.
Read more
English (US) ·