Dina Bader: Apple confirms importance of AirPods Max Smart Case

After 72 stationary hours out of the Smart Case, your ‌AirPods Max‌ go into a lower power mode"

What you need to know

Apple has updated its AirPods Max support document to detail how the Smart Case works.
Out of the Smart Case, your AirPods Max take 72 hours to go into an 'ultralow' power state to preserve the battery.

Apple has updated its AirPods Max support document to confirm how important the accompanying Smart Case is for preserving the battery's life and lifespan.

As reported by MacRumors:

According to Apple, when ‌AirPods Max‌ are taken off but not put in their Smart Case, they enter a "low power mode" after five minutes of being left stationary. If left untouched, they remain in this low power mode for three days, after which the headphones enter an "ultralow" power state that disables Bluetooth and Find My location data to help further retain their remaining charge.

By contrast, if you put your AirPods Max in the Smart case, the 'low power mode' kicks in immediately, rather than after five minutes, and the 'ultralow' power state comes into effect after 18 hours in the Smart Case, as opposed to 72 hours out of them.

That means that whilst it might look a little silly (we've seen the memes), the AirPods Max case is actually vital to preserving your AirPods Max battery life. Not only that, by reducing the number of times recharge them over their lifespan you will increase the durability of the battery by limiting the rate at which the battery deteriorates. It costs around $75 to replace the battery in the AirPods Max, and you'll certainly be able to put off replacing the battery if you take better care of them by using the Smart Case.