Apple products are notoriously difficult to deconstruct and reassemble, but that hasn’t stopped people from taking apart the new AirPods Max to see how it works.
It turns out that these people are the talented iFixIt team, as well as a Chinese YouTube channel, and what they found inside is not surprising: two 40mm dynamic drivers designed by Apple; two magnetic ear pads of corresponding color; two Apple H1 chips; and eight microphones for active noise cancellation.
But there was a surprise in the headset that left them confused: the headband can be removed quite easily by applying pressure to a small hole near the top of the headphones. The bandana comes out smoothly, leading some to suspect that Apple could launch interchangeable bandanas.
One of the main features of the AirPods Max is its interchangeable earmuffs, but this is the first time we’ve heard that the headband itself can be removed – and possibly exchanged – although Apple hasn’t said anything publicly about it yet.
Why trade bandanas in the first place?
The reason this is noteworthy is that tiaras are notoriously fragile, and when they break, owners often have little choice but to buy brand new headphones.
It would not be the case with AirPods Max if you could change them.
Of course, this is not yet a feature that Apple officially released, but it is something that the company may exaggerate later if it decides to launch substitutes – or, given its tendency to launch many Apple Watch bracelets, customizable variants. However, this means that your $ 549 / £ 549 / AU $ 899 investment will not become an expensive paperweight if someone accidentally sits on it – which is a good consideration.