Apple is rolling out a firmware update next month that brings lossless audio and ultra-low latency support to AirPods Max with a USB-C port. The update will coincide with the release of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS 15.4.
At first glance, this sounds like a game-changer for audiophiles. Lossless audio means you get all the original sound data without compression, unlike formats like MP3 or Apple’s Advanced Audio Codec (AAC), which sacrifice some quality to keep file sizes smaller. Apple Music already offers its 100-million-song catalog in both AAC and the lossless Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC).
Apple’s marketing chief Greg Joswiak hyped up the update on X, calling it the “ultimate” upgrade for AirPods Max. He even promised “mind-blowing sound quality.” But Apple’s own support documents tell a different story.
According to Apple, AAC already delivers audio that is “virtually indistinguishable” from studio-quality recordings. The company also states that the difference between AAC and lossless audio is, in practical terms, almost imperceptible. If that’s the case, is lossless really the game-changer Apple claims?
Ultra-low latency might be useful for reducing audio delays, but it doesn’t directly impact sound quality. So while this update brings improvements, it may not be as revolutionary as Apple suggests.
In the end, lossless audio on AirPods Max is more of a nice-to-have than a must-have. If you’re expecting a dramatic leap in sound quality, Apple’s own fine print suggests you might be disappointed.
