Apple AirPods Max earbuds didn’t receive U1 chip for precise positioning
Despite the rumors circulating about this, the full-size Apple AirPods Max headphones announced on December 8, according to the resource MacRumors, did not receive the U1 chip. Therefore, they do not support Ultra WideBand (UWB) technology, Apple’s Bluetooth alternative.
Apple only mentions that the AirPods Max has an H1 processor in each earbud to provide effective noise cancellation and other smart features like other AirPods. However, the U1 chip is not even listed on the AirPods Max technical specifications web page.
The U1 chip was introduced in 2019 along with an iPhone 11 smartphone. It is also used in Apple Watch Series 6 smartwatches and iPhone 12 smartphones. The chip enables UWB to accurately position the device, allowing it to determine its exact position relative to other devices. For example, this technology enables the AirDrop tag to be shared with the nearest device, and iPhone users can also unlock the car without taking their smartphone out of their pocket.
In September, blogger Jon Prosser announced that the U1 chip will appear in several new Apple devices, including the Apple Watch Series 6, HomePod mini, and AirPods Max. While he was right about the Apple Watch Series 6 and HomePod mini, the AirPods Max lacks support for UWB technology.
Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman said on Twitter that Apple had more ambitious plans for the AirPods Max, but some features had to be dropped during the development of the device.
