Findings in the beta version for the next major AirPods Max software update make you sit up and take notice: Apple apparently supports a new Bluetooth codec called LC3. This ensures better listening experiences for owners of the headphone flagship. At the same time, it gives a hint of what Apple could build into the next version of the AirPods Pro.
Which gets better with LC3
LC3 stands for Low Complexity Communication Codec and will be introduced together with the Bluetooth 5.2 LE standard. The advantages of the new technology are higher audio quality and improved handling of packet losses, which leads to the impression of better connection quality. With suitable hardware, energy consumption can also be reduced.
A Twitter user posted a photo proving that they found LC3 from their AirPods Max in the future firmware and were able to activate it as well. The new AirPods firmware is due to be released in the fall along with the other big new software releases like iOS 16. Registered developers can already try them out for their purposes.
The Apple news blog 9to5Mac also has hints in the iOS 16 beta found on the LC3 codec and future low-energy support. That raises the suspicion that at least the AirPods Max will get some improvements from LC3 in the fall.
Notes on new hardware
However, new AirPods hardware that supports Bluetooth 5.2 LE is required to unlock the full potential of LC3. A successor to the H1 chip will probably also be required for this. According to 9to5Mac, the next generation of AirPods Pro, codenamed B698, is in development and is set to handle all of this.
Which is also speculated about
Some time ago there were rumors that Apple would also like to offer lossless sound – Lossless Audio – with future AirPods Max and AirPods Pro. Whether LC3 is suitable for this or at least comes closer, nobody can say at the moment. In the past few months, there has been a wide variety of speculation about the earplugs and headphones. Fitness and health sensors were also discussed here.
In June, Auracast was introduced, an extension of Bluetooth that should enable several headphones to be connected to an audio source at the same time. This new technology will probably also require new hardware. Apple already offers Bluetooth audio sharing for a total of two connected wireless headphones, which must be Apple or Beats devices.
(mki)