AirPods Max may get new colors, second-gen not in the works, says report

Airpods Max Smart Case
Airpods Max Smart Case (Image credit: Christine Romero-Chan / iMore)

What you need to know

  • A new report says Apple isn't currently working on a follow-up to AirPods Max.
  • Bloomberg says it may, however, be planning on new colors for the current model.

A new report says Apple is not currently working on a follow-up to its AirPods Max headphones, but that it may release new colors for the current generation.

From Bloomberg:

The last AirPods-related hardware introduction from Apple was the over-ear AirPods Max headphones in December. That $549 pair earned criticism for bugs and its high price but praise for its materials and sound. Apple only recently caught up with demand for the product, and it is not currently working on a second generation of the AirPods Max, though it has discussed launching additional color variations in the future.

Apple's AirPods Max have proven immensely popular, and the company has struggled to meet demand for the product as the report notes. You can now pick up AirPods Max a bit cheaper than launch price thanks to some of the best AirPods Max deals currently available, including refurbished offerings for just $479.95.

Apple's AirPods Max drew controversy recently after it emerged that Apple's new lossless audio format for Apple Music woudln't be available on AirPods Max because of Bluetooth limitations. However, serial Apple leaker Jon Prosser says Apple is working on software update that would let AirPods stream music over AirPlay instead of Bluetooth, making them the first wireless headphones to support lossless audio.

Gurman's report says Apple is also working on new AirPods for this year, new AirPods Pro for next year, and a new set of recently-leaked Beats Studio Buds expected to debut next month.

Stephen Warwick
News Editor

Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design.

Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9