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AirPods Max (Lightning) came out in December 2020. AirPods Max (USB-C) came out in September 2024, almost 4 years later.

Note on AirPods Max (Lightning): One H1 chip in each ear cup. Apple gives the 20-hour listening time with Active Noise Cancellation or Transparency mode on; it publishes no figure with noise control off. Apple brought lossless audio over USB-C only to the USB-C model.

Note on AirPods Max (USB-C): Lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio need a wired USB-C connection. They arrived in a free firmware update in April 2025. Apple gives the 20-hour listening time with Active Noise Cancellation on.

Audio

None → 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio via USB-C (added by a free firmware update)

The only change here

Battery & charging

Same rating

20 h → 20 h listening time

Price check

AirPods Max (USB-C) launched at $549

Used on eBay Refurbished Apple Trade In and recycling

Not currently sold refurbished by Apple.

All 3 differences

Show all specs

Price Audio Battery & charging Durability

PriceSame

Price check

AirPods Max (USB-C) — launched at $549

Used on eBay
Refurbished on Back Market
Apple does not currently sell this model refurbished

What your AirPods Max (Lightning) sells for

Apple Trade In and recycling
Apple recycles devices that are not eligible for trade-in credit, for free.
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Launch price (US)
$549›$549same
What does this mean?
The price Apple charged in the US on launch day, before tax.
This is not what it costs today. Older models drop in price over time, so check the used and refurbished links for current prices.

Noise controlSame

Active Noise Cancellation
Yes (same on both)
What does this mean?
Active Noise Cancellation blocks out noise around you: microphones pick up outside sound, and the AirPods play an equal "anti-noise" sound to cancel it.
Noise like airplane engines and city traffic gets quieter. How much noise is removed differs by model: Apple says AirPods Pro 3 have up to 3 times the noise cancellation of AirPods 5.
Matters most if: You fly, commute by train or bus, or work in a noisy place.
More in the glossary →
Transparency mode
Yes (same on both)
What does this mean?
Transparency mode lets you hear the sounds around you while you wear your AirPods and listen.
Hear what is going on around you without taking your AirPods out. To switch between Transparency and noise cancellation, press and hold the stem until you hear a chime (on AirPods Max, press the listening mode button).
More in the glossary →
Adaptive Audio
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
An extra listening mode that mixes noise cancellation and Transparency, and changes the mix by itself as the noise around you changes.
Apple suggests it for places where sound levels change, like city traffic or a commute. A slider on iPhone, iPad or Mac lets you set it to let in more sound or block more noise.
Matters most if: You move between quiet and loud places during the day and do not want to keep switching modes.
More in the glossary →
Conversation Awareness
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
When you start speaking to someone, your AirPods turn down what you are playing and bring forward the voices in front of you.
Music stays at a low volume while you talk, and a podcast pauses after a few seconds. When the conversation ends, the volume goes back to where it was.
More in the glossary →
Loud Sound Reduction
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
Turns down harsh, loud noise around you when you use Transparency or Adaptive Audio.
It works automatically. On AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3, turning it off also turns off Hearing Protection.

Audio1 change

Lossless audio
None›24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio via USB-C (added by a free firmware update)
What does this mean?
Apple says lossless audio keeps every detail of the original recording. Apple gives the format as 24-bit, 48 kHz on AirPods Max with USB-C: 48 kHz (kilohertz) means the sound is measured 48,000 times per second.
On AirPods Max it works only over a wired USB-C connection, with lossless content such as lossless songs on Apple Music. Apple lists lossless audio for AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) only when used with Apple Vision Pro.
Matters most if: You make or mix music, or listen at a desk with a cable.
Personalized Spatial Audio
Yes (same on both)
What does this mean?
Spatial Audio makes sound seem to come from all around you, like in a movie theater. "Personalized" means you use the TrueDepth camera on your iPhone to capture the shape of your ears and head, so the sound is tuned to you.
It works only with supported movies, shows, music and games. Setup needs an iPhone with the TrueDepth camera and iOS 16 or later. Apple says the camera data is processed on the iPhone and the images are not stored.
Matters most if: You watch a lot of movies and shows with AirPods.
More in the glossary →
Dynamic head tracking
Yes (same on both)
What does this mean?
Motion sensors follow how you move your head. With Spatial Audio on, the sound stays anchored to your device, so it seems to come from your iPhone or iPad even when you turn your head.
When you watch a movie on an iPad and look away, the sound stays with the screen. You can turn it off for each app in Control Center.
Head gestures
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
Nod for yes or shake your head for no when Siri announces a call, a message or a notification.
Answer or decline a call, or reply to or dismiss a notification, without speaking or using your hands. Announce Calls and Announce Notifications must be on.

Hearing healthSame

Hearing Aid feature
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
On AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3, what Apple calls a clinical-grade hearing aid for people with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss. It uses your hearing test result to adjust sounds to how you hear.
You set it up with the Hearing Test on iPhone or iPad, or with a result from a hearing health professional. Sounds around you are boosted in real time. Apple says it is intended for people 18 and older and has received FDA authorization.
Matters most if: You or someone you buy for has perceived mild to moderate hearing loss.
More in the glossary →
Hearing Test
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
A hearing test you take at home with AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3 and an iPhone or iPad. Apple calls it scientifically validated.
It takes about 5 minutes in a quiet room. The result is stored in the Health app, you can share it as a PDF with a hearing health professional, and you can use it to set up the Hearing Aid feature. Apple says it is intended for people 18 and older.
Hearing Protection
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
Lowers how much loud noise around you reaches your ears, in Noise Cancellation, Transparency and Adaptive modes.
It is on by default and needs a good fit to work as intended. Apple gives a live sporting event or a fitness class as examples, and says it is not suitable for extremely loud impulse sounds like gunfire or fireworks.
Matters most if: You go to concerts or sports events, or spend time in loud places.
Heart rate sensing
No (same on both)
What does this mean?
AirPods Pro 3 have heart rate sensors that rest against the skin inside your ear and shine invisible infrared light.
Apple says it is intended for workouts, with the Fitness app and compatible third-party apps on iPhone (iOS 26 or later). You can track heart rate and calories with just AirPods Pro 3 and an iPhone, even wearing one AirPod.
Matters most if: You work out with AirPods and want heart rate without wearing a watch.

Battery & charging1 gain

Charging port
Lightning›USB-C
What does this mean?
The port for charging with a cable: Lightning on older models, USB-C on newer ones. On AirPods Max, the port is on the headphones.
With USB-C, the case uses the same kind of cable as an iPhone 15 or later. Apple lists the USB-C cable as sold separately for some models, such as AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3.
Listening time
20 hours (same on both)
What does this mean?
The longest time the AirPods play audio on one full charge, from Apple's own tests. For models with Active Noise Cancellation, the figure is with it turned on.
Real battery life depends on your settings and use. Turning noise control off can add time; the notes under each model give Apple's figure with it off where Apple publishes one.
Matters most if: You take long flights or listen for hours at work.

Durability1 change

Weight
384.8 g›386.2 g
What does this mean?
The weight of one AirPod in grams (g); 28 grams is about 1 ounce. For AirPods Max, it is the whole headphones. The case is not included.
Earbuds weigh from 4 grams to 5.55 grams each, so models differ by less than 2 grams. Apple says AirPods Max's knit mesh canopy spreads the weight to reduce pressure on your head.
Sweat and water resistance
None listed by Apple (same on both)
What does this mean?
An IP rating is a standard test result (IEC standard 60529) for how well something keeps out dust and water. Apple calls IPX4 AirPods sweat and water resistant, and IP54 and IP57 AirPods dust, sweat and water resistant.
Rated AirPods are for non-water sports and exercise: Apple says not to swim or shower with AirPods. Resistance wears down over time and cannot be restored. If AirPods get wet, Apple says to let them dry for at least two hours before using or charging them.
Matters most if: You sweat a lot during workouts or run in the rain.
More in the glossary →
Ear tip sizes
None (same on both)
What does this mean?
AirPods Pro come with silicone ear tips in several sizes, so you can pick the one that seals your ear canal. Standard AirPods have no ear tips.
A good seal gives stronger noise cancellation and fuller bass. A test on iPhone or iPad checks the fit, and you may need a different size in each ear. Ear tips only fit the model they came with.
Matters most if: Earbuds tend to feel loose or fall out for you.

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2026-10-12
Added Apple Watch and AirPods
Apple Watch and AirPods models checked against Apple's tech specs pages, with comparisons that show only what changes, a page for each model, and their model numbers in Find my model. Apple Watch pages say which iPhone each watch works with; AirPods pages say what the hearing and translation features need. Older models appear on the timeline.
2026-10-12
Added information for owners and used buyers
Spec pages now show each model's last security update from Apple's list, any current Apple service program, and for iPhone, the SIM type by country, hearing aid compatibility and Apple's battery lifespan figure. A new page lists ten checks from Apple's support pages before you buy a used iPhone or iPad. The site never asks for a serial number or IMEI.
2026-10-11
Added Mac mini, iMac, Mac Studio and Mac Pro
33 desktop Macs from 2017 onward, checked against Apple's tech specs pages, in one Mac section with the laptops, so you can compare a Mac mini with a MacBook Air. Specs a model does not have, such as a screen on Mac mini, show as Not applicable.

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