Here’s when to expect the next generation of AirPods Max, reportedly featuring a new lighter weight design

If you are a fan of Apple’s own-brand over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max, you may be wondering when to expect a new generation model. Apple revised the headphones last fall, adding a USB-C port, but the model was otherwise unchanged. Despite costing the most, AirPods Max lack features that are available in even the cheapest AirPods 4, and are driven by the outdated H1 chip.

And if you believe analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, you’ve still got a while to wait before Apple will be ready to release a next-generation model. In a tweet, Kuo reports that next-generation AirPods Max will not arrive until 2027.

Kuo says the 2027 AirPods Max will feature a new design. This suggests the 2027 generation will actually be a significant update, rather than a minor revision like the USB-C change.

Specifically, Kuo says the new AirPods Max will feature a lighter weight design. This would directly address one of the biggest complaints about the current Max, in that their liberal use of aluminium makes them rather heavy on the head, which some customers can find uncomfortable for long listening sessions.

For comparison, the current AirPods Max weigh in at 386 grams. The comparable Beats Studio Pro weigh just 260 grams.