A new higher-quality audio codec is leaked in the AirPods Max beta



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The AirPods could improve their audio with the new LC3 codec, which is already visible in the AirPods firmware beta.

Just like we have beta versions of iOS 16, macOS Ventura or watchOS 9, Apple has also shared a beta version of the AirPods firmware. And after investigating the code of this update, a developer has been able to confirm that this beta version can support a higher quality Bluetooth codec.

As revealed @marajobsessionManzana you have enabled the LC3 codec on the AirPods Max through its beta firmware. In case you haven’t heard of it, the LC3 codec is the future low-power, high-quality Bluetooth codec coming soon to wireless headphones. A codec that will be able to transmit at much lower bit rates without dropping the audio quality that we currently see with the Bluetooth standard.

AirPods are the most popular headphones in the world



Also read: Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro Problems and How to Fix Them

It looks like this LC3 codec will improve audio calls, making them sound much better, though the true potential of this technology will need Bluetooth 5.2 and a new generation of hardware in AirPods. Something that could arrive with the second generations of AirPods Pro and AirPods Max that could arrive next year.

The next AirPods will have support for Bluetooth 5.2

Taking full advantage of this new codec will require an update to the AirPods hardware, as the current ones do not support Bluetooth 5.2. As revealed ShrimpAppleProthe upcoming H1 chip used by AirPods Pro is expected to support this technology.

Also, Bluetooth 5.2 and the LC3 codec could improve the battery life of AirPods thanks to the low energy standard. It is true that we are not clear that this codec allows lossless audio over Bluetoothbut at least it will improve the audio experience of the AirPods Pro 2. Although seeing the importance that Apple has given to Spatial Audio, over lossless audio, it may not be something that worries too much in Cupertino.

It is expected that throughout 2023 updates of the new AirPods Pro and AirPods Max arrive, since the AirPods 3 were recently updated. We will see if we find news related to audio, which is perhaps the only weak point of the AirPods.

Related topics: AirPods

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