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AirPods Max finally gets lossless audio support and wired playback via USB-C
Published onMarch 24, 2025
- Apple’s AirPods Max will support lossless audio (24-bit/48kHz) via USB-C starting in April with iOS 18.4
- A new $39 USB-C to 3.5mm cable will enable connections to standard headphone jacks
- To be clear, this update only works with the 2024 USB-C model, not the original 2020 Lightning version
Apple has announced a significant firmware update coming to AirPods Max next month, finally addressing a major criticism of its premium headphones: the lack of lossless audio support.
The update, arriving in April alongside iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4, will enable 24-bit/48kHz lossless audio playback for the 2024 USB-C model through the included USB-C cable. This allows listeners to experience uncompressed audio from digital sources like iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
With the update, AirPods Max users can access Apple Music’s catalog of over 100 million songs in lossless quality. The feature also extends to Personalized Spatial Audio, delivering uncompressed spatial audio with head tracking.
While the original 2020 AirPods Max with Lightning could be used for wired playback with a special Lightning to 3.5mm adapter, the 2024 USB-C model launched without this capability. That’s now changing, too.
Apple has started selling a new USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable for $39. This cable enables AirPods Max owners to connect to standard headphone jacks found on airplanes, car stereos, and other devices with traditional audio ports.
This gives 2024 AirPods Max owners two wired options:
- Digital lossless via the included USB-C cable (for digital devices)
- Analog connections via the new 3.5mm adapter (for traditional audio jacks)
The firmware update will be available as a free download in April, while the new USB-C to 3.5mm cable is available today. AirPods Max remains priced at $499 at Amazon in five colors: midnight, starlight, blue, purple, and orange.
