The AirPods Max ear cushions are comfortable and easily replaceable thanks to a magnetic clamping mechanism, but be careful about keeping them, as Apple's AirPods Max warranty replacements do not include cushions unless they are absolutely necessary.

Twitter user Damien Menn shared a photo of his own warranty replacement unit showing that the new AirPods Max sent to replace a pair with a damaged digital crown did not include new ear cushions.

As Menn points out, this replacement policy is in contrast to that of the AirPods Pro, which includes a new silicone tip when you receive a warranty replacement. You don't get a new cushion, but you also don't have to return the old one.

In fact, the box Apple provided for sending AirPods Max that failed under warranty includes visual instructions to remove the cushion before placing the headphones in the box. The idea is obviously that if there is nothing wrong with the cushion itself, the cushion can be fitted into the replacement headphones.

As for replacing the cushion itself, Apple support seems to consider cushion replacement a separate process from replacing the entire set of AirPods Max. Presumably, unless both the headphones and the cushions fail at once, the failed cushions would need to be sent to Apple.

In any case, this does not look like a case of Apple trying to trick AirPods Max users into buying $69 ear cushions; if you own AirPods Max and need a replacement under warranty, don't make the mistake of mailing the ear cushions in. Be careful not to mail in the wrong ear cushion.