Serious warning issued for Apple AirPods Max users

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

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Opposite Twitter, Reddit (1,2,3,4) and Apple Web Forums, owners of Apple’s $ 550 AirPods Max, report condensation builds up in their earbuds after only a few hours of use. Furthermore, it can be caused by a fixable design flaw.

‘So, uhh … my AirPods Max forms condensation after prolonged use. They have never been used in a humid environment. The water gets inside the drivers and has caused problems with over-detection. I wore them mainly to a desk, nothing crazy. Super regarding issue ”- source

‘Had exactly the same problem, with a light walk (40 minutes) and then again while watching a movie (1:30). Decided to send them back after seeing that the water also enters the driver and that the ring turns red … too worrying for me ”- source

‘I have exactly the same problem. I’m in Bradenton Florida, I work in a dr office and turned on my AirPods Max for 2.5 hours. I just happened to remove the earmuffs while cleaning it and spotted all this condensation inside and the driver. And that’s weird, because I’m not moving around at all. Really freaked me out. ”- source

“Why do I see condensation in my ear cups as well as on my drivers ????” – source

‘So I only had my AirPods Max for less than a week and noticed that after prolonged use there is a decent amount of condensation in the ear cup. This is noticeable when you detach the magnetic cushions from the ear cup. ”

It’s getting worse, too. Apple has not only (controversially) decided not to make the AirPods Max water resistant, it seems that the company’s decision to make the aluminum earbuds is the cause of the problem. Aluminum stands out, but it’s a weak insulator that, as users have noted, is likely to create the condensation problem due to heat that the (also heavy) AirPods Max carries over time. If this owner theory is correct, there is no easy way to correct it. It may also explain why almost all competitors use plastic.

While Apple has not yet commented publicly on the issue (I submitted a press release), the response from the company’s technical support indicates that it will hit you in the long run:

‘I talked to Apple about the coverage and they also said it was a $ 29 repair in addition to the $ 59 purchase from AppleCare. That’s $ 680 per tax where I am, for headphones and coverage. She told me I should just wipe it off after every use. And I’m just like: I can get the moisture out of the inside of the socket area, but not in the driver’s area at all. And that’s what worries me. Maybe they can just return and wait for [the] second gen. ”- source

Because of the potential that this condensation problem can affect the longevity of the headphones and cause extra cost for a product that is already ultra-premium, the smart way to wait is to see how it plays out. Since AirPods Max is currently on sale until March, this should not be a problem, but it does show the danger of buying a first generation product quickly.

Meanwhile, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3 are coming soon, while Apple also envisions something better.

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