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Apple unveiled the new AirPods Max headset wireless headphones at its September 2024 event.

The headphones were announced by CEO Tim Cook alongside the iPhone 16 series phones and AirPods 4 wireless headphones. The updated model appears to be a very mild tweak to the first-generation AirPods Max, rather than an entirely new model.

They have the exact same design, with the only difference being a switch from the old Lightning connector to USB-C connectivity and a wealth of new colour options. These include new midnight (blue), starlight (purple) and orange options.

The shift to USB-C will be welcome, but sadly it appears Apple hasn’t made any wider improvements, instead promising they would continue to offer the same “highest fidelity sound quality” and “personalised spatial audio for film and music” as the first generation. The new version will also retail for the same $549 as the original AirPods Max when they launch in September. They will cost £499 in the UK.

This goes against past rumblings that the company would launch a more significant next generation of its wireless headphones, commonly referred to in pre-event rumours as the AirPods Max 2.

They are expected to address some of the shortcomings of the original, such as the inability to deliver lossless audio, even when connected via cable to a compatible Apple source. This has been a desired feature from the What Hi-Fi? review team since Apple added lossless audio tracks to Apple Music in 2021. As such, the lack of a lossless-supporting upgrade feels like a key omission.

We haven't had a chance to test the AirPods Max to check for any sound improvements. But even if there aren't, if their sound quality is comparable to the original AirPods Max, they should still be a solid choice for Apple fans.