Some AirPods Max Owners Complain of Condensation in Ear Cups
Since the AirPods Max headphones were released on December 15, there have been a growing number of complaints from MacRumors readers who have run into a problem with condensation.

Some AirPods Max owners who have been wearing their headphones for a prolonged period of time have noticed condensation forming inside the ear cup. From
MacRumors reader
ssong:
So I've had my AirPods max for just under a week and have noticed that after prolonged usage there's a decent amount of condensation inside the ear cup.
it's quite noticeable when you detach the magnetic ear cushions from the ear cup.
The condensation seems to happen regardless of temperature, and most people have reported seeing it after several hours of use, but for some, it shows up within an hour or two. One user has claimed that the condensation has led to issues with Active Noise Cancellation, but this has not been echoed by other AirPods Max owners and no one else has reported problems caused by condensation.
Other AirPods Max owners have said that the same issue has happened with headphones from other brands. From MacRumors reader JBGoode:
I get this on my Sony WH1000XM3. I've had them for a long time and it's no big deal. Have none of you owned over the head cans before? Your ears are gonna a sweat and there will be some condensation. I think it's pretty common for this type of headphones.
The AirPods Max are not water resistant and those who are affected by the condensation are concerned about the longevity of the headphones with the water droplets pooling inside. The ear cushions are not affected and remain dry despite the condensation inside the ear cups.
Some AirPods Max owners have returned the headphones, while others have picked up AppleCare+ in case of future problems. Apple has not yet commented on the issue.
Popular Stories
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has high expectations for Apple's first foldable iPhone.
In his Power On newsletter today, he said the foldable iPhone will be "the most significant overhaul in the iPhone's history."
"iPhone 4, iPhone 6 and iPhone X were clearly a big deal, but this is a whole new design," he said.
Like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, the foldable iPhone will reportedly open up like ...
iOS 26.5 is now available for developers, and while it doesn't include any new Siri capabilities, there are some major changes for the European Union, and smaller tweaks for features available worldwide.
Suggested Places
In the Maps app, there's a new "Suggested Places" feature that recommends locations to visit based on trending places nearby and recent searches. When Apple launches ads in ...
Apple has been celebrating its upcoming 50th anniversary by hosting surprise performances and other events around the world over the past few weeks, and now Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has revealed details about the company's grand finale.
In a social media post, Gurman said Apple's celebrations will conclude this week with a finale at its Apple Park headquarters for employees.
A special...
Popular Stories
While the AirPods Max were just updated with an H2 chip, the over-ear headphones could receive another update next year, if a previous rumor is still accurate.
In May 2025, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that he expected lighter-weight AirPods Max to enter mass production in 2027. However, following the AirPods Max 2 announcement this week, it is unclear if Apple's plans have...
AirPods Max 2 will be available for pre-order on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app starting this Wednesday, March 25 in the U.S. and more than 30 other countries and territories. Apple said the headphones will launch in early April, but it has yet to provide a specific release date. In the U.S., AirPods Max remain priced at $549.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. ...
Apple today unveiled AirPods Max 2, with key upgrades including the H2 chip, increased active noise cancellation, improved sound quality, and features such as Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation.
The new AirPods Max have the same overall design as the previous generation, with most of the new features coming from the upgrade to the H2 chip:- Adaptive ...