Apple's AirPods Max are excellent — albeit pricey — over-ear headphones with active noise-canceling, but they're facing a big problem: over-the-air firmware updates may be affecting the quality of active noise cancelation modes. Users first reported in October 2022 that a firmware update, itemized by the name '4E71,' made the effectiveness of their AirPods Max's noise-canceling and transparency modes worse. Though there was no perfect avenue to test these claims, evidence seemingly concluded that the quality of noise cancelation on the AirPods Max was worse after the firmware update.
While the loss in noise-canceling quality might have been attributed to a bug or mistake, AirPods Max users suspect otherwise. That's due to the timing of the update's release and Apple's tainted history with planned obsolesce. Firmware update 4E71 was released around the same time the second-generation AirPods Pro were unveiled, packing new and improved noise-cancelation features. Some users believed the worsened quality of their AirPods Max was intentional, drawing comparisons to Apple's prior admittance to slowing down iPhones produced between 2014 and 2016. With little information revealed about the purpose of AirPods software updates, users were left with questions.
Now, there's a new firmware update that could affect active noise-canceling. Apple sent out the latest version of AirPods Max firmware, numbered 5B58, and the update's release notes only cite "bug fixes and other improvements" as the changes included. Though this certainly could include a fix for the noise-cancelation issues that plagued the 4E71 release, it is not certain. In the week following the debut of AirPods Max firmware update 5B58, user experiences were mixed. While some users on a MacRumors forum reported their noise-canceling quality improved, others disagreed, saying that the AirPods Max’s sound improvements were likely due to external factors.
Why AirPods Firmware Updates Are Crucial For Users
There may be no true way to prove whether firmware update 4E71 caused the quality of noise-cancelation on the AirPods Max to worsen, or whether firmware update 5B58 fixed those issues. However, users can check the current firmware update of their AirPods Max if they are curious about how the updates are affecting their headphones.
To check the current firmware version of AirPods, first ensure that a paired iPhone or iPad is updated to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Then, navigate to 'Settings' > 'Bluetooth' and tap the information button next to the name of the AirPods. Finally, scroll down to the 'About' section to view the firmware updates. The intended or unintended effects of Apple's firmware updates on AirPods are incredibly important to all AirPods users — not only those wearing the over-ear AirPods Max. These firmware updates are sent out over the air and installed automatically, so users have no control over whether updates are made to their headphones.
"Firmware updates are delivered periodically," Apple says, "while your AirPods are charging and in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac." Essentially, this means that the quality and effectiveness of AirPods Max noise cancelation modes can change at any time after they are purchased, with no user input required. Recent AirPods Max firmware updates underscore the lack of control users have over select devices, and those updates might have worsened and subsequently fixed active noise cancelation modes on the headphones.
Source: Apple Support, MacRumors