Condensation in the Airpods Max

Oh that sucks I have large eats but fit me fine actually your next option would be the Bose 700 which if you look on Amazon are on sale (UK) maybe try those. I tried the AirPods Max again whilst putting them in the box I still can’t decide if they are better than the XM4 as I can adjust settings on the XM4’s.

I was also affectless by this issue, and after a while they stopped working altogether. I don’t know if what was related to condensation or because it was a faulty one I got. Now I’m expecting for the replacement, the new ones Apple will send to me prior March 12th. I hear a lot of opinions (except from Apple) ranging from the ones who say this is normal because of the material (metal, in this case aluminum) and there are older headphones that had condensation but not affecting the product, to others that advise to return the AirPods Max. I don’t know what to do and Apple is not being very helpful. I guess that the only solution- if this is in fact a damaging issue - is to use another material for the earcups.

Had and am still having this issue as well... in the Boston winter with very dry inside air. After 3 weeks of moisture build up, there was a crackling sound in Transparency mode or in ANC mode (not in OFF mode). I contacted Apple support via online chat (no wait), and after many check this-and-that steps, they advised me to get a replacement set. They indicated it would be 3 weeks for mail delivery or I could try a local Apple store to see if they had any in stock. I was able to get a Genius Bar appointment for the same afternoon (security-controlled during COVID, strict social distancing), and I received a replacement set that same day.

By this time, with this new replacement pair, I was aware of the condensation issue — and that if left unchecked, it could lead to a deterioration in audio or ANC quality. Armed with that knowledge, I purchased a full-size protective case with a zipper that fully encloses the AirPod Max. Into this new protective case I placed several silicon gel packages, and each night I charge my AirPod Max in this case. Additionally, after a few hours of wear, I’ve gotten in the habit of taking off the ear cushions to check for moisture, and I wipe with a paper towel if/when I find anything. (So far, I’ve found moisture/condensation on the metal edge under the ear cushions every day.) Now, a month later, they’re still going just fine with this (somewhat tedious) daily care.

Hoping someone will develop an improved ear cushion that has some moisture-absorbing properties. I’ve read a rumor that Apple is considering selling a “Sports” version of the ear cushions that could be more absorbent, but I can find no authoritative source on this.

Finally, I thought that perhaps a soft silicone protective cover on the metal exterior ear cups might help equalize the temperature of the metal/ear barrier, but they had no effect on the condensation. Rather, even a tiny bit of the protective cover over one of the microphones messed up with the ANC and the Transparency Mode. Bye-bye, silicone covers!

The Transparency mode is outstanding, and when I switch to my XM4s while the AirPod Max is drying out, I get sad when the speak-to-chat only has 60% of the transparency. Still, both excellent headphones.

talhauzi Said:

"I put on the headphones and after half an hour my whole ear is water “

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Condensation is the Culprit:

That is no more than condensation from heat. So, were you working out (IOW Exercising) while using these? Were you swimming recently? Did you take a shower. It could be sweat; who knows. But it is condensation, nonetheless.

If Covered with AppleCare:

We-re all just volunteers here - So, I’m not certain what role an ear would play in this. So, contact Apple Support, seeing if a swapout is an option.

Good question. How many other headphones do you know that are made almost entirely of metal? :) This is the reason most over the ear headphones are either made of plastic or are open back. The heat from the human head over an extended period of time, combined with lack of ventilation causes the airpods max to condensate. It will not condensate after short listening sessions. And you will only find the condensation if you remove the earcups, but it will be there. Granted, it is possible this problem does not occur with the lighter color airpods max, as they reflect more heat.

Do you actually own a pair of these and have worn them for a long constant period of time and removed the earcups? If not, you’re just speculating. The rest of us have collected evidence from the field

Yes, i own the airpod max i live in florida, a high humidity area. I have never seen water, condensation, sweat, vapor, or the like in my ear cups or under them. It is a user issue in my opinion. What else can i tell you.

The likelihood of it being a user issue when numerous people have reported no perspiration or use while being wet is less likely than the very simple scientific explanation that the all metal design causes condensation.

Also if i may, ears get hot they also have a hole in them if i’m not mistaken. In addition the human body contains A LOT of h20 i don't think one has to physically perspire under the arms etc for an ear and normal physiology to “give off” heat through the ear canal and get trapped in the headphone

Early January I got my AirPods Max; before the end of the month I returned it for a replacement. The ones I returned got condensation after an hour or so of use; after a week they become unstable despite the fact that I was always cleaning the water inside the earcups; I went online; there were others complaining and reporting the same issues; it didn’t matter if you were exercising or seating in your living room, it happened the same; I read somewhere the issue was due to the aluminum which is a cold metal and that also happened with other brands that used metal on the earcups but as the cushions weren’t removable people usually didn’t notice; after about three weeks I had problems connecting to my iPhone and my iPad; then I decided to ask for a replacement. I got a new pair for more than a month now, on February 22. Up until now I’ve only noticed condensation twice and only a droplet, nothing compared with what happened to the previous ones. So this is a issue that randomly affects people but I guess has nothing to do with the environment or with what you’re doing when you wear them (humidity remain the same in the first two weeks since I received the new ones) Also the replacement AirPods are blue as the ones I’ve returned. I’m a lawyer and my knowledge of physics is very basic and my knowledge of tech is limited to what is accessible to an end user. Despite that I can say without hesitation this has nothing to do with perspiration.

I have had the AirPods max since the beginning of February. After only one month of using them the moisture ruined them. I had apple care on them and It was a nightmare trying to get them to send me a new pair. Took about 3 weeks to get my replacement! Do not use the AirPods max for exercise! Bose soundsport wireless headphones are cheaper and are made for exercise!

I’ve experienced the same issue with my first set, but I didn’t use them for exercise and the condensation also ruined them. My new ones are fine and received them on February 22. I’ve only saw a droplet once or twice and they are fine. I just wanted to tell that what happened to my first AirPods Max had nothing to do with exercise. In fact I was reading in bed when I first noticed a lot of condensation inside the earcups.

I bought Airpods Max in march, the box printed “produced in February 2021”. In less than one month, it started condensation, and then the sensor went crazy-switching between ANC off and on, sometimes only one-side work, etc. I wear it in my study only, with air-condition, no exercise. There is definitely something wrong with the design itself.

I’d like to add some info about condensation. SONY's WH-1000XM4 had mentioned this problem in their help guide, it’s not a problem only Airpods Max has; but at least other company warn about it, some of them tried to make it better with sweat-absorbing covers or what. But Apple does not respond to this problem, and still selling it while people around the world complain about it (I’m Taiwanese, came here coz we don’t have our own Apple discussions page).

All I need is Apple allow me to ALWAYS turn on ANC, instead of letting their headset decide when should I turn on ANC or not. When I focused on something, and the next second my headset suddenly switches itself to transparency mode, the unexpecting sound changing is freaking scary.

For me, it’s my living room or home office in the somewhat dry New England winter and spring. I do a twice-a-day wipe of condensation, and I put them in a case with silicon gel packs at night. I’m typically wearing them 12+ hours/day for home video conferencing use, and I’ve already had to return one set that failed.

talhauzi Said:

"Condensation in the Airpods Max: I put on the headphones and after half an hour my whole ear is water. AirPods Max"

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Condensation is the Culprit:

It's no more than condensation from heat. So, what to do is use a dehumidifier in your house. In the winter it is much colder out (supposedly nowadays 😁). So, wheat will always reside. A pure downside, in technology.