AirPods Max to Deliver Lossless and Ultra-Low Latency Audio in Upcoming Update

12:27 pm UTC March 27, 2025 Mar 27, 2025 | by: Apple | Electrical engineering

(Photo by: Apple)

Starting next month, AirPods Max will revolutionize the audio experience for musicians by becoming the first headphones to support creation and mixing in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking.

In April, a software update will introduce lossless audio and ultra-low latency capabilities to AirPods Max, offering an unmatched listening experience and enhancing performance for music production. The USB-C cable allows users to access the highest-quality sound across music, movies, and games. For creators, this update promises powerful upgrades to songwriting, production, and mixing workflows.

Audiophile-Grade Sound
With the forthcoming update, AirPods Max will support 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio, ensuring listeners hear music exactly as recorded. This brings clarity and depth to Apple Music’s vast catalog of over 100 million lossless tracks.

Enhanced Music Production
The update unlocks lossless and ultra-low latency audio for creators using tools like Logic Pro, allowing AirPods Max to serve as professional-grade headphones for the entire music production process. With the USB-C cable, these will be the only headphones capable of enabling musicians to create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking. This advancement offers artists a seamless recording and mixing experience without losing audio fidelity.

Immersive Gaming and Livestreaming
Gamers and livestreamers will also enjoy the benefits of ultra-low latency audio, which eliminates noticeable lag and rivals the performance of built-in speakers on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. This results in smoother and more immersive gameplay and live broadcasts.

Pricing and Availability
The lossless and ultra-low latency features will be available as a free firmware update in April with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4. AirPods Max, priced at $549, is available in five colors—midnight, starlight, blue, purple, and orange—via apple.com/store, the Apple Store app, and authorized retailers.

The USB-C to 3.5 mm audio cable will also be available for $39. It lets users connect AirPods Max to other audio devices, such as airplane audio ports or car stereos.