A class action lawsuit alleging that sweat condensation damages AirPods Max has been largely dismissed by a judge. Plaintiff Arthur Apicella, who claimed his AirPods Max generated condensation after about 15 minutes of use, had all his claims rejected with prejudice by U.S. District Court Judge Orelia E. Merchant. The judge ruled that the plaintiff's ability to watch a movie with the headphones meant they met a "minimal level of quality" required under New York's implied warranty of merchantability, not perfection.

While Apicella's case was thrown out, Dustin Amundson, another plaintiff, retains two claims related to Washington state law and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Apple's motion to dismiss some of Amundson's fraud claims was also granted with prejudice, but other claims remain. Apple must respond to any amended complaints by September 4, 2026.

The ruling suggests that while condensation complaints exist for over-ear headphones, they haven't met the legal threshold for a widespread defect. Repair experts and Apple's service rates have not indicated a significant issue, and the company does not have specific repair programs for this alleged problem. This outcome limits the legal challenge against Apple concerning condensation issues with the AirPods Max.