- New AirPods Max to be unveiled in 2024 or 2025
- Supply chain issues delayed AirPods Max color refresh last year
- The refresh could include new colors, new H-series chip, USB-C port
- Current AirPods Max stock continues to be limited
Apple is reportedly working on a new version of its AirPods Max over-ear headphones that could be unveiled next year at the earliest, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
Gurman reported the development in a live Twitter Space audio conversation held last Tuesday. He stated that Apple was working on a minor color refresh for the AirPods Max meant to be unveiled in 2022. However, the efforts got “lost in the wind” as Apple had to allocate engineering and production resources to more critical projects as the company grappled with supply chain issues stemming from COVID-19 and subsequent lockdowns.
The upcoming AirPods Max refresh is set to arrive in 2024 or 2025, added Gurman without delving into details. The new AirPods Max is likely to come with a refreshed palette of colors, a new audio processing chip to replace the four-year-old H1 chip, and a USB-C port for charging instead of Lightning.
Announced on December 8, 2020, AirPods Max represents Apple’s first entry into the over-ear headphones market. The $549 headphones come with the H1 chip, Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive EQ, and 20-hour battery life. Dwindling shipping and in-store stock led to speculation that Apple was preparing a refresh that is yet to take place.