When Apple announce anupdated version of its AirPods Maxwirelessnoise - canceling headphonesearlier this year , I was anticipate somemuch - needed changes , like a redesigned case , light exercising weight , and a way to hear lossless audio . alternatively , we get USB - century charging ( useful , but not earth - shattering ) and a batch of new colour choices . Not exactly the update I ’d been hoping for .
I ’m not going to rain down on Apple ’s parade and narrate you to avoid the update AirPods Max alone . For a pile of folks , the move to USB - C might be the only reason they involve to buy them , specially if they ’ve been capable to purge the rest of their lives of Lightning - equip devices .
However , I am unwaveringly recommend that if you ’re a frequent airman , or you ’re thinking of a gift for someone who is , delay away from the updated AirPods Max . At least for now . Here ’s why :
Bluetooth will finally be useable on all seat - back entertainment system . Some of those systems may even useAuracastto make wireless listening even sluttish ( no Bluetooth pairing required).But that day is still many class into the hereafter . For most traveller , plugging your earphone into the uncommitted 3.5 millimeter jackass ( or the dreaded dual - seaman ) is still the norm .
The originalLightning - equipped AirPods Maxdidn’t ship with a 3.5 mm analog audio recording input cable , but Apple made one available as an optional $ 35 accessory . Unfortunately , there ’s no such accessory for the update USB - carbon translation of the AirPods Max . permit me say that another direction : the new AirPods Maxonlyconnect over Bluetooth .
I reached out to Apple to find out if maybe a 3.5mm - to - USB - coulomb overseas telegram is in the whole kit and caboodle . After all , we ’ve regard USB - C earphone fromBowers & Wilkins , Master & Dynamic , andSonosthat come with these overseas telegram , so we ’re not talking about some exotic technical school that no one has created yet . As of the publication of this postal service , I have n’t pick up back .
The good newsworthiness , if you’re able to call it that , is you still have an pick for in - flight entertainment even if you buy the USB - C AirPods Max . In fact , it ’s the same selection that owners ofApple AirPodsandAirPods Prohave had for years : corrupt aportable Bluetooth transmitterand pack it in your carry - on .
Bluetooth transmitters are battery - powered dongle that plug into an analog source ( like a seatback system , a TV ’s headphone jack , or a similar 3.5 millimetre output on a miscellany of other devices ) and then sends the audio recording to a partner off solidifying of wireless earbuds or headphones . Some transmitters permit you pair two of these equipment simultaneously .
WithBlack Friday dealsupon us , now ’s probably a safe time to bribe a sender , but that ’s beside the point — you should n’t need one when you corrupt a set of expensive , flagshipwireless headphonesfrom a troupe like Apple .
