The next AirPods Max should arrive this year without support for Apple’s latest Adaptive Audio features, according to a sketchy rumor out of Asia.
Only the second-generation AirPods Pro support Adaptive Audio because the other models are stuck with the outdated H1 chip. You would assume the next AirPods Max would solve this by using Apple’s H2 chip, but that might not be the case.
As spotted by MacRumors, Weibo user “Instant Digital” claims the new AirPods Max will only swap a Lightning port on the bottom-right earphone for a USB-C port. The new AirPods Max will allegedly continue using the outdated H1 chip that’s not powerful enough to support the latest Adaptive Audio features in iOS 17.
What is Adaptive Audio?
Adaptive Audio is an umbrella term for a trio of computational audio features that are available with the second-generation AirPods Pro—Adaptive Noise Control, Personalized Volume and Conversation Awareness.
By taking advantage of computational audio and the power of the H2 chip, these features respond to changes in your environment, dynamically fine-tuning your audio experience in real time. Adaptive Noise Control adjusts active noise cancellation and Transparency Mode to adjust external noise without silencing everything.
Personalized Volume learns your listening preferences over time, adjusting the volume according to changes in your environment. Conversation Awareness automatically lowers your media volume and boosts the voice of the person speaking in front of you as soon as you start talking, and vice versa.
A very sketchy rumor
Apple hasn’t revised its over-ear headphones since their December 2020 debut, so why would the company release pricey new headphones four years later without supporting the Adaptive Audio enhancements in iOS 17?
It doesn’t make much sense to me. Besides, how hard could it be to throw in an H2 if you’re already updating the design and replacing Lightning with USB-C?
At least three different AirPods models coming in 2024
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple’s plan to release fourth-generation AirPods models along with the new AirPods Max this year is still underway. He expects the new headphones will use USB-C charging instead of Lightning and support wired audio playback via USB-C. Apple may offer them in new colors, too.