PSA: New AirPods Max USB-C Model Is Missing Key Feature

Apple's AirPods Max update this year wasn't a full-fledged AirPods Max 2, but rather a move to USB-C and a color swap. Unfortunately, the new USB-C model also loses a key feature that the original supported.

Wired playback is not available on AirPods Max with USB-C

The original AirPods Max with Lightning are mostly identical to the new USB-C model, save for a different charging port and colors.

However, Apple's first AirPods Max have a key advantage.

They supported wired playback.

If you bought Apple's Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable, you could plug your AirPods Max Lightning into any headphone jack and listen via a wired connection.

This feature was great for airplanes, recording podcasts, and a variety of other use cases. It didn't technically provide lossless audio, but having a wired option was still nice.

But as discussed on the recent 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, Apple made a change with the newest AirPods Max.

There is now no way to do wired playback with USB-C AirPods Max.

The USB-C connection doesn't work, and Apple doesn't offer any adapters that enable the feature. Various Reddit threads have documented user attempts to get wired playback via various third-party adapters. None have been successful.

Could Apple Bring Back Wired Support?

Best comment by bcom77

3 people like it

I'm a little confused by the AirPods Max. They seem to lag even behind the basic AirPods in terms of features and technology. I thought these were supposed to be the flagship of the AirPods line, but it seems like only the Pros have all the features.

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All is not lost.

It’s always possible that Apple will make wired playback available via a new adapter or firmware update for the AirPods Max. Although I definitely wouldn’t make a purchasing decision based on that possibility.

For now, at least, the new USB-C AirPods Max are missing a key feature that was supported by their Lightning predecessor.

Are you excited about this change? Do you think Apple will enable wired playback in the future? Let us know in the comments.