AirPods Max Condensation Lawsuit Largely Dismissed by NY Judge

A federal judge in the Eastern District of New York dismissed the majority of claims in a proposed class action that accused Apple’s AirPods Max headphones of a condensation defect. The lawsuit, filed in April 2025 by two plaintiffs, alleged that condensation builds up inside the ear cups during normal indoor use, degrading sound, breaking ear detection and active noise cancellation, and interfering with charging. The judge found that the New York implied warranty of merchantability only requires a minimal level of quality, not perfection, and noted that one plaintiff had successfully used the headphones to watch a movie. Consequently, the New York resident was removed from the case, while the Washington resident may still pursue claims under Washington law and the federal Magnuson‑Moss Warranty Act. The condensation issue has been widely reported since the headphones’ launch in December 2020, but it has not been conclusively linked to widespread failures, and Apple has not admitted an inherent defect. The case is the second AirPods Max condensation class action to falter, following a California case that was dismissed after individual settlements.

(Source：MacRumors)