- AirPods Max USB-C’s Tabsfree Update is available now
- You need iOS 18.4 to get the update to your maximum
- Instructions to check the update is below
Apple has announced that the lossless audio update to AirPods Max with USB-C launches today along with the release of iOS 18.4 for iPhone.
Apple revealed that AirPod’s Max update with loss-free and latency-free personal spatial sound had come earlier, but without an exact date and here it is.
This is the first completely loss-free sound support ever for a few AirPods, and it gives 24-bit 48 kHz lossless support over USB-C, with a promise that this also brings the latency down to effectively zero, making it good for audio production or games.
(The original AirPods Max were loss-free-ish with support for wired connections, but via an active cable that took analog signal, converted it to digitally, then converted back to analog in the headphones, so too much conversion to be Indeed lossless.)
Apple says you can connect to a Mac, iPhone or iPad to get loss-free sound, but we check if it works with all other USB-C sources.
Apple has also finally launched its own 3.5mm to USB-C cable also to enable AirPods Max with USB-C to work with analog audio output (which eventually makes them work with Airplane Entertainment Systems).
How to make sure you have the update
AirPods updates must be automatic, although Apple recently explained for the first time how to kick AirPods updates in gear if you need it.
You need iOS 18.4 on your iPhone and then follow these steps:
- Put your AirPods Max in the Bluetooth series on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, which should be connected to Wi-Fi
- Put your AirPods Max on to charge
- Wait 30 minutes
- Check if you have the new update
To check if you have the update, put your AirPods on, open the Settings app, press your AirPods Max, then scroll to the bottom and check to see if the version reads ‘7e99’.
AirPods Max with USB-C still ranks among the best wireless headphones despite their age thanks to strong audio quality (even at their high price) and tons of unique features for Apple users, including personal spatial sound, auto-switching between Apple devices and finding my support.
We Actually Had To Remove Them From Our List of the Best Travel Headphones Since the USB-C Version Arrived, Though, Due to Their Lack of Wired Input for Airplane Journeys. This update means we can finally add them back.
