On Monday, Apple revealed plans to introduce lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio to its AirPods Max headphones, but only when used in conjunction with the provided USB-C cable.

The upcoming update will enable AirPods Max headphones to support 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio, thereby preserving the original recording quality. Additionally, lossless audio will be integrated with Personalized Spatial Audio to provide a more immersive and accurate listening experience, as stated by the company.

With this update, Apple Music users will have access to over 100 million songs in lossless audio format.

In terms of ultra-low latency audio, Apple claims that the AirPods Max will be more suitable for music production. By utilizing the USB-C cable, musicians will be able to create and mix music with Personalized Spatial Audio and head tracking, allowing them to record and mix without compromising audio quality, according to Apple.

Gaming enthusiasts will also benefit from the ultra-low latency audio feature, as it will result in reduced lag time when using the AirPods Max.

The lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio features are scheduled to be released in April as a free firmware update, compatible with iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4, exclusively for AirPods Max models equipped with a USB-C connection.

It’s worth noting that these new features will only be available for the USB-C version of the AirPods Max and not the Lightning variant.