Apple Releases New AirPods Max Firmware With Lossless and Low-Latency Audio Support [Updated]

Monday March 31, 2025 3:49 pm PDT by Juli Clover

Update 4/2/25: Apple has updated an AirPods support page to indicate that the AirPods Max (USB-C) firmware update version 7E99 is now "coming soon." The original article continues below.

Apple today released a new firmware update for the USB-C version of the AirPods Max headphones. The new firmware is version 7E99, up from the prior 7A291 firmware the device was previously running.

Airpods Max Feature Green Triad
When paired with the iOS 18.4 update, the new AirPods Max firmware brings lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio to the USB-C version of the headphones. The USB-C AirPods Max support 24-bit 48 kHz lossless audio, which is designed to allow listeners to experience music the way the artist created it in the studio. Apple says lossless audio and Personalized Spatial Audio offer a “more sonically accurate, uncompressed, and immersive experience.”

With lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio support, music creators are able to use the AirPods Max to create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking, with just a USB-C cable and a Mac with Logic Pro or other music creation software.

Lossless audio and ultra-low latency is only available for the USB-C AirPods Max. The headphones need to be running the latest firmware and need to be paired with a device running iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, or macOS Sequoia 15.4.

Firmware can be installed by putting the AirPods Max in Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that’s connected to Wi-Fi, and then plugging them in to charge. It can take up to 30 minutes for firmware to update.

You can check your firmware version by going to Settings > Bluetooth and selecting the Info button next to the AirPods Max when they are connected to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Related Roundup: AirPods Max 2

Buyer's Guide: AirPods Max (Buy Now)

Related Forum: AirPods

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Top Rated Comments

nicolas17

21 months ago

Looks like the doubters are wrong, Apple can do lossless over bluetooth on their own headphones after all.

Where did you see that lossless is over Bluetooth? Apple's announcement makes it quite clear you have to use the USB-C cable.

Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)

swrobel

21 months ago

The new functionality, no.

So it's literally plug into your iPhone with a USB-C cable and you can have lossless? We truly have come full circle. Courage.

Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)

novagamer

21 months ago

So is this available over Bluetooth or not...?

The update, yes.

The new functionality, no.

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

wwinter86

21 months ago

Not enough bandwidth.

Lightning can support USB 3.0 speeds, but in most of the controllers only USB 2.0 is supported. No idea why they did this. The only Lightning device I know of with USB 3.0 was the OG iPad Pro, but there may have been others.

USB 2.0 can support 48 kHz 24 bit lossless audio.
“
USB 2.0 can handle 48 kHz lossless audio without any issues. USB 2.0 provides a maximum data transfer rate of 480 Mbps (megabits per second). Lossless audio at 48 kHz with 24-bit depth in stereo typically requires around 2.3 Mbps. Even if you have multiple audio channels or higher sample rates, USB 2.0 offers more than sufficient bandwidth for lossless audio streaming.

It's worth noting that USB 2.0 is widely used in professional audio interfaces and equipment.”

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)