AirPods Max

I JUST COPIED THIS FROM and . HE MADE ALL THE RESEARCH AND WROTE THIS ENTIRE THING. I JUST POSTED IT BECAUSE I THINK IT CAN BE USEFUL TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. ORIGINAL COMMENT:

It appears that Apple is quietly replacing or removing the noise cancellation tech in all of their products to protect themselves in an ongoing patent lawsuit.

Timeline:

• ⁠2002-5:

• ⁠2011-9: iPhone 4S released, introducing microphone noise cancellation using multiple built-in microphones

• ⁠2017-7:

• ⁠2019-10: AirPods Pro 1 released, Apple's first headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC)

• ⁠2020-10: iPhone 12 released, Apple's last phone to support microphone noise cancellation

• ⁠2020-12: AirPods Max 1 released, also featuring ANC

• ⁠2021-9:

• ⁠2021-9: iPhone 13 released, removing support for microphone noise cancellation

• ⁠2021-10: AirPods Pro 1 firmware update 4A400 changes its ANC algorithm, reducing its effectiveness - confirmed by Rtings measurements (patent workarounds?)

• ⁠2022-5: AirPods Max 1 firmware update 4E71 changes its ANC algorithm, reducing its effectiveness - confirmed by Rtings measurements (patent workarounds?)

• ⁠2022-9: AirPods Pro 2 released, with revised hardware and dramatic "up to 2x" improvements to ANC (much better patent workarounds in hardware?)

.

This happens all the time in software. You don't hear about it because nobody can talk about it. Everyone loses. Blame the patent trolls.

Thanks for writing all this. It helped me clarify why Apple reduced the noise cancellation effectiveness and I hope this will help a lot of other people. Also if you want me to remove the post for whatever reason just dm me.

Edit: If you want to give awards DON’T GIVE THEM TO ME, go to the original comment and give the award to , he deserves it!

The only reason I ordered off Amazon over Apple was because I had $490 in Amazon gift cards. Anyway - they came today and they were used. I bought them “new” for the new price. The box came with no shrink wrap. I opened it and the APM were ‘dusty’. When I paired them with my phone a message popped up saying “these are not yours. Pair now” when I finally paired they were already named “Jason’s AirPods Max” - not my name.

These were sold and shipped by Amazon.com. The listing had a direct link to “Visit the Apple Store” on Amazon.

I’m pissed. They sold used headphones for the new price. Needless to say, I am returning them.

They sounds great but I can’t support this shady crap.

For something that costs $600 it's junk. Mine lasted 18 months before dying from condensation death. Apple tried to deny the issue. I got Focal Bathys headphones for around the same price and so far no issues with them. Spare yourself the angst and either wait for Apple to fix the design flaw or get something from a well known audio brand.