Apple's AirPods Max likely lacks U1 Ultra Wideband chip

Contrary to rumors leading up to Tuesday's AirPods Max release, the high-end headphone does not appear to incorporate Apple's U1 Ultra Wideband chip for orientation awareness.

Though it features a slew of sensors, AirPods Max lacks Apple's specialized U1-based positioning technology, according to a device specifications webpage.Apple notes each ear cup holds an optical sensor, position sensor, case-detect sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope and nine microphones. The type of position sensor used in AirPods Max is not revealed, but if the company did include a U1 chip — referred to as a positioning system — it would likely be referenced by name in the tech specs breakdown.

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