The AirPods Max is already starting to lag behind Apple's AirPods Pro 2, but it looks like we won't get a fully upgraded version for a while. In fact, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a new version of the AirPods Max may not appear until late 2024. Worse, there apparently won't be much in the way of upgrades.

Garman said this in the latest issue of his newsletter, Power On. Apparently, the next AirPods Max will have USB-C instead of Lighting and some new colors. However, as with the USB-C AirPods Pro 2, these are apparently the only things Apple will actually change.

This is disappointing to say the least: the AirPods Max currently costs $550 and already lacks features due to aging hardware; the AirPods Pro 2 offers adaptive noise control, personalized volume, Adaptive Audio, including Conversation Awareness. Unfortunately, these features are driven by the H2 chip, which is not present in the AirPods Max.

According to Garman, there are currently no plans to add the H2 chip to the AirPods Max before the new model launches. However, he said it is "possible" that plans will change in the coming months.

However, this is likely to be the Max equivalent of the new USB-C AirPods Pro 2, so don't expect too much; the AirPods Pro 2 offers some changes, including slightly improved sound quality, but the "new" AirPods Max will simply appear to be coming to meet EU regulations regarding USB-C.

It is not clear why Apple would wait a full year to do so. Unless a more substantial upgrade is planned, it seems much wiser to make the change sooner rather than later.

Thankfully, we have information that the rest of the AirPods lineup should get their long-awaited upgrade this time next year. The fourth generation AirPods will include ANC, a new design and case, and better audio; the AirPods Pro 3 will reportedly come out in 2025 with a new design and a different chip. Perhaps Apple could throw a wrench in the works for headphone users this time around and add that chip to the AirPods Max.