Serious warning issued to Apple AirPods Max users

Apple’s upcoming AirPods 3 are considered much more expensive, but now warnings have been issued for the most expensive AirPods of all.

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Through Twitter, Reddit (1,2,3,4) and Apple’s website forums, owners of Apple’s $ 550 AirPods Max, are reporting problems with condensation inside their headphones after just a few hours of use. In addition, this can be caused by a non-correctable design failure.

“So, uhh … my AirPods Max forms condensation after prolonged use. They have never been used in any humid environment. Water enters the drivers and causes problems with ear detection. I’ve been using them inside a table, mostly, nothing crazy. Super worrying question ”- source

“I had exactly the same problem, with a light walk (40mn) and then again while watching a movie (1h30). I decided to return them after seeing that the water was also entering the driver and that the ring was turning red … too worrying for me ”- source

“I’m having exactly the same problem. I’m in Bradenton, Florida, work at a drugstore office and have had my AirPods Max on for 2.5 hours. I just removed the earmuffs while cleaning them and noticed all this condensation inside and on the driver as well. And it’s weird because I’m not moving. It really scared me. ”- source

“Why am I seeing condensation inside my headphones and also on the drivers ????” – source

“So I have had my AirPods Max for just under a week and I realized that after a long period of use, there is a decent amount of condensation inside the headset. It is very noticeable when you remove the magnetic pads from the headset. ”

It also gets worse. Not only has Apple (controversially) decided not to make the AirPods Max water resistant, but it appears that the company’s decision to make the aluminum earmuffs is the cause of the problem. Aluminum stands out, but it is a poor insulator that – as users have pointed out – probably creates the condensation problem due to increased heat due to the use of the (also heavy) AirPods Max over time. If this owner’s theory is correct, there is no easy way to fix it. Which may also explain why almost all competitors use plastic.

In addition, although Apple has not publicly commented on the problem (I submitted a press request), the company’s technical support response suggests that it will reach you in your pocket now:

“I talked to Apple about the coverage and they also said it’s a $ 29 fix in addition to the $ 59 AppleCare purchase. It’s $ 680 with taxes where I am, for headphones and coverage. She told me to make sure to clean them after each use. And I’m like – I can get the moisture out of the inside of the muffs area, but not from the pilots area NONE. And that is what concerns me. It may just be returning them and waiting for [the] second generation. ”- source

Given the potential of this condensation problem to affect the longevity of the headphones and cause additional expenses for a product that is already ultra-premium, the smart move would be to wait and see how it goes. With AirPods Max currently sold out by March, this shouldn’t be a problem, but it shows the danger of rushing to buy a first generation product.

Meanwhile, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3 will arrive soon, while Apple also seems to have something even better in the pipeline.

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