We waited for years, expecting Apple to dazzle us with a second generation of AirPods Max that would change the game. However, as the saying goes, “the winds blow in ways the ships do not desire,” or in our case, in ways tech enthusiasts do not desire. The famous repair site iFixit recently shared a comprehensive teardown of the new AirPods Max 2, and the results were shocking to some and expected by others: the headphones are literally a carbon copy of the model released in 2020, with a few minor, barely noticeable tweaks.
Internal design: Is it just recycling inventory?
According to the iFixit report, the internal components of the AirPods Max 2 and the previous Lightning-port version are identical. The process of opening the headphones requires the same complex steps and the same tools, as if you are living in a technical time loop. The only significant difference observed is the update to the H2 chip inside each ear cup, and of course, replacing the charging port with a USB-C port in line with new laws and trends.
This striking similarity raises a legitimate question: did Apple put any real effort into re-engineering these headphones? The answer from the perspective of internal structures is a big “no.” It seems the company simply changed the port and upgraded the small processor, leaving everything else as is, including the complexities that make the repair process a nightmare for both the average user and the professional alike.
Old problems in a new guise
The matter does not stop at the similarity in design; it extends to Apple’s disregard for known failure points that users have complained about for years. One of the most prominent of these problems is the accumulation of condensation and moisture inside the ear cups in humid environments, a problem Apple did not touch in the new update. This means that users who suffered from their headphones failing due to moisture may face the same fate with the stylish new model.
Furthermore, Apple still refuses to provide spare parts or official repair manuals for these headphones within its Self Service Repair program. This stubbornness makes the headphones, which cost over $500, at risk of becoming “e-waste” once the battery dies or the charging port fails after the warranty period expires, given the difficulty of accessing and replacing these parts.
Is there any hope for repairability?
The iFixit team clearly points out that if Apple had made the battery and USB-C port more accessible and the design more modular, the AirPods Max 2 could have been long-lasting headphones. But the bitter reality is that the headphones received a low repairability score of 6 out of 10, the same score the previous generation received. No progress, no change, just the same old struggle.
It is very frustrating to see a company that claims to preserve the environment and reduce electronic waste, then release a product that is deliberately difficult to repair. The headphones are great in terms of sound, there is no doubt about that, but from a sustainability perspective, it remains a step backward compared to what Apple could achieve with advanced engineering.
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