You can remove the AirPods Max backing tape only with a standard SIM card eject tool, suggesting the possibility of swapping tapes to get a different color.
In December, MacRumors unveiled the wide variety of AirPods Max color combinations for ear pads when it became clear that they were magnetically attached and available for sale separately. Now, it seems that “AirPods Max” have a more modular design than previously understood, as raised by MacRumors member of the “MayaTlab” forum, which highlighted the information on the Chinese YouTube channel Prelook.
As mentioned in iFixit since the demolition of the AirPods Max, it is possible to easily remove the support strip from the “AirPods Max” without disassembling the headphones. Users simply need to remove the magnetic ear pads, fold the headphones flat, and insert a SIM card outlet into a small hole above the speaker.
Here’s the trick and the best part: despite the complexity of the joint, you can detach the entire support band from irAirPods Max with just a SIM card removal clip or clip without even opening the ear cup.
When fully assembled, a small blow in the right place compresses two small springs inside the joint, releasing the clamp that secures the tape.
Once removed, the spokes on both sides of the tape reveal a small connector for transferring power and possibly data between the headphones. It is also interesting that the connector bears a fleeting resemblance to the Lightning connector. It seems that users could change the headbands of different AirPods Max units to get colors lighter than expected.
Replaceable headbands were one of the features believed to have been removed from the AirPods Max before launch. Before it was announced, it was speculated that irAirPods Max would offer unique customization with interchangeable bands and headphones, repeating the concept behind the Apple Watch bands.
Apple Vice President for Industrial Design Evans Hankey said Apple has prototyped hundreds of AirPods Max models over a long period of development. Against the background of significant delays, Bloomberg correctly predicted that Apple would abandon the concept of replaceable tape to speed up production:
Apple has also reduced some of the interchangeable features of the headphones, which were a hallmark of the original concept. The latest version of the product may not have a replaceable support band, but it may still include interchangeable ear pads.
Therefore, this band removal system may be a remnant of the original and more modular approach of ‘AirPods Max’. On the other hand, this hidden feature may simply exist to facilitate repairability and may not be intended at all for general user interaction.
However, it is extremely unusual for headphones that transfer energy over the tape to make the part so easy to disassemble. The ease of removing the support tape and the small connector on both sides seems to be a particularly well-developed concept and contrasts sharply with the otherwise challenging repairability of the device.
Users who want to try to remove the headband from irAirPods Max should be extremely careful, as it is not yet clear whether this will void the product warranty.