Apple to introduce lossless audio and ultra-low latency for AirPods Max in upcoming update

Apple announced on Monday that a new software update next month will bring lossless audio and ultra-low latency support to AirPods Max, enhancing audio quality for both listeners and music creators.

With the included USB-C cable, AirPods Max users will gain access to 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio, preserving the authenticity of original recordings for an immersive studio-quality experience across music, movies, and gaming.

The update will also integrate Personalized Spatial Audio, ensuring a more accurate and uncompressed sound, while Apple Music subscribers can enjoy more than 100 million songs in lossless quality.

Apple highlighted that these enhancements will significantly benefit music professionals, allowing seamless integration with Logic Pro and other music production apps, improving workflows for songwriting, beat-making, and mixing.

“Using the USB-C cable, AirPods Max will become the only headphones that enable musicians to both create and mix in Personalised Spatial Audio with head tracking. By delivering lossless, high-resolution digital audio with low latency, artists can seamlessly record and mix with AirPods Max without compromising fidelity,” said Apple.

Gamers and livestreamers can also benefit from ultra-low latency audio, which significantly lowers lag time, and is on par with the native built-in speakers on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. 

With no response delay, gameplay and livestreaming become reliably smooth and even more immersive for users.

Lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio will be available in April as a free firmware update with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 for AirPods Max with USB-C.

AirPods Max are currently available in five colours — midnight, starlight, blue, purple, and orange. IANS