AirPods Max firmware pulled before users could get new features
Apple appears to have pulled a major firmware update for the USB-C AirPods Max, and it's not entirely clear why.
AirPods Max
Apple appears to have pulled a major firmware update for the new USB-C AirPods Max after users began reporting that the update wouldn't install. The update, version 7E99, was announced in late March with high expectations.
However, the update has since disappeared from Apple's rollout schedule.
Originally revealed on March 24, the 7E99 firmware promised 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio and ultra-low latency for users pairing AirPods Max with Vision Pro or using Logic Pro on iPad and Mac. Apple said the update would arrive in April 2025, positioning it as a major feature unlock for creators and audiophiles.
The update was exclusive to the USB-C model of AirPods Max, which supports true 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio over a direct digital connection. The older Lightning-based version can access lossless content using Apple's Lightning to 3.5 mm headphone jack adapter.
For musicians and podcasters working on M-series Macs and iPads, the USB-C model's lossless and low-latency features would have offered a tighter, more accurate workflow when using Logic Pro.
But as of April 2, the update appears to have been quietly pulled. Apple's official firmware support page, which previously listed version 7E99 as live, now simply says "coming soon" under the USB-C AirPods Max firmware section. No new build is available for download.
Apple hasn't issued a formal statement, but user reports on Apple Support Communities suggest the issue stems from a bug in iOS 18.4 that blocks the firmware from installing correctly. Devices either fail to update or remain stuck on earlier firmware versions, regardless of standard update attempts.
Until Apple re-releases the update or issues a patch to iOS, USB-C AirPods Max owners will have to wait to take advantage of the features they were promised, particularly those relying on Apple's hardware ecosystem for creative work.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
I don't believe this is true. Here's what Apple has to say: "The Lightning to 3.5mm Headphone Jack Adapter is designed to transmit audio from the iPhone's Lightning connector. It contains a digital-to-analog converter that supports up to 24-bit/48kHz lossless audio."
Here's the irony: I can use this cable to listen to lossless with my Sony XM4 headphone which has an analog 3.5mm input. (Provided that I'm using either a Lightning iPhone or Lightning iPad as my source.) But I can't use this cable to listen to lossless on my Airpods Max v1, which only has a digital Lightning input. What I don't understand is why a simple USB-C to Lightning cable couldn't be used to stream lossless audio from a USB-C iPhone or iPad to the first gen AirPods Max. The output at the iPhone or iPad is a digital signal and the APM v1 accepts a digital signal at the input, so where's the problem? Is it possible that the input doesn't support a lossless digital signal? I suppose that's possible, but I can't think of a reason that should be the case.
Off-topic: I have found the Apple Insider site pretty wonky lately when it comes to trying to edit a post--it can take a half-dozen tries and reloading the site repeatedly before the edit button works. This has been going on for at least a couple of weeks.