Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable has only one length which is 1.2m and is available in two colors, Black and White. It retails for S$49. For some reason, Amazon.sg is selling the black one for only S$40. So I decided to get that.

Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable - Box Front
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable – Box Front
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable - Box Back
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable – Box Back
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable - Box
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable – Box
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable - Box Contents
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable – Box Contents

I have an existing Lighting to 3.5mm audio cable, which is the Belkin 3.5mm Audio Cable With Lightning Connector. But it doesn’t work with my AirPods Max.

At first, I thought there was an issue using my AirPods Max as my wired headphones, so I went to Google. After that, I realized that AirPods Max only could work with Apple’s Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable (damn you, Apple).

Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable - Lightning End
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable – Lightning End
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable - 3.5mm End
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable – 3.5mm End

I will be using my AirPods Max as wired headphones plugging into my Rode NT-USB Mini.

Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable - With AirPods Max
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable – With AirPods Max

There are two irritating things about using the AirPods max as a wired headphone. One, it needs to be powered on. If the battery is drained, AirPods Max will not work even if it is wired. Two, you need to plug out the cable when keeping the AirPods Max back in the case. If not, the cable will block the cutout, which will not fit.

Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable - With AirPods Max
Apple Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable – With AirPods Max

I think AirPods Max is not designed to be used as wired headphones.