Apple AirPods Max Review

The Apple AirPods Max are their design; They look very different from any other headphones on the market, with large, flat stainless steel ear cups and a carrying case that is instantly recognizable. They are generally very heavy and the clamping force can become tiresome over time.

The Apple AirPods Max will be released in late 2020, but have been the subject of rumors and speculation for years. Since the Apple AirPods and AirPods Pro were very successful, expectations were high for Apple’s first over-ear headphones. Headphones are hardware devices that can be plugged into a computer, laptop, smartphone, MP3 player or other device to listen to audio privately without disturbing anyone nearby.

They are plug-and-play devices that do not require installation for use. Headphones come in different shapes and styles. The traditional style looks like the one pictured above. Headphones use Styrofoam or some other soft material around the ear cups to ensure they are comfortable on the ear. They also have a plastic or aluminum headband to connect them. The simplest type of headphones, earbuds, are small and fit in your ear.

They are usually shaped to be as comfortable as possible. Some earbuds come with several sets of different rubber inserts. Depending on the size of the user’s ears, they can choose the size of the rubber insert that fits best in their ear canal. The original AirPods were a hit, even if they were terrible, and the AirPods Pro are some of the best wireless earbuds you can get.

When Apple announced its long-awaited over-ears, the AirPods Max, we were excited but skeptical. The Apple AirPods Max have been in Apple’s lineup for over a year now, but the company doesn’t release new AirPods models regularly or particularly often. Apple has only released one generation of AirPods Max headphones so far, so it’s hard to speculate on a timeline for the upgrade cycle, but it’s unlikely that a new model will be released anytime soon. Here we will show you Apple AirPods Max review.

Design

The Apple AirPods Max are their design; They look very different from any other headphones on the market, with large, flat stainless steel ear cups and a carrying case that is instantly recognizable. The ear cups have an unmistakable “Apple” quality to them; Some would describe them as stylishly minimalist, while others say they are rather featureless. Those looking for a little more impact from their headphones should try the AirPods Max in one of the lighter color options, including silver, sky blue, green, and pink.

We weren’t sure about the overall design at first, but we have to say we’ve come to love them; They look pretty special compared to the competition, with a build quality that feels fairly premium for the price. As special as they are, those stainless steel ear cups mean that the AirPods Max are pretty heavy at 385g by comparison, the Sony WH-1000XM4 weighs 254g.

Sure, that extra weight makes the AirPods Max feel solid and well made, but it’s a lot of weight to carry around on your head all day. To compensate for this extra weight, the Apple AirPods Max come with a knitted mesh headband designed to reduce pressure on the head. The appearance of the headband is certainly new, but having spent some time with the AirPods Max, we appreciate it – they are very comfortable to wear despite their relative weight.

Comfort

They are generally very heavy and the clamping force can become tiring over time. However, the ear cups are well padded and can be removed if needed. The headband is also comfortable for short listening sessions, but some users may feel that the two metal parts put pressure on the head. If the fit is right, they are really comfortable for long listening sessions without that weight leading to major fatigue.

However, this hard clamp style doesn’t seem to work equally well for everyone. For example, this reviewer found them perfectly comfortable when he started listening with them for hours, but changed glasses after a few months and then found them less comfortable for extended periods. And while other people wear the glasses, there are those who just find them immediately awkward.

Conversely, we have yet to meet anyone who did not find the Sony WH-1000XM4 immediately wearable. We’re not saying there’s a big problem with the comfort of the AirPods Max, just that their fit may not be to everyone’s taste, and you should schedule a test if you’re able to wear them.

Connectivity

The Apple AirPods Max have decent Bluetooth connectivity. While they don’t support NFC pairing and you can’t connect them to more than one device at a time, they do have an H1 chip. This chip allows you to seamlessly pair them with other devices in your Apple ecosystem. If you like to stream videos, their latency is low on iOS and Android devices, so you shouldn’t experience significant audio lag.

On PC, however, latency is much higher, which can negatively impact video streaming or gaming. However, some apps and devices compensate for latency in different ways, so your real-world experience may vary. Unfortunately, these headphones do not support lossless audio over Bluetooth. Connecting the AirPods Max to iOS devices is as easy as connecting to any other device that supports H1.

All you have to do is hold the headset about two inches from the device you want to connect to and wait until a map icon appears. Just click the “Connect” button there and you’re good to go. The AirPods Max and AirPods Pro will now automatically connect to all devices in your iCloud account, so you don’t have to repeat the process each time.

Noise Cancelling

The active noise cancellation on the Apple AirPods Max is very strong, and we’d say it’s on par with the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700. Each ear cup has three outward-facing microphones to detect ambient noise, while a microphone in the ear cup checks to see if the sound is reaching your ear. Apple says the AirPods Max use computational audio to continuously adjust the noise-canceling effect based on “the fit and movement of the headphones in real time.” It certainly seemed effective when we tested them in a number of situations.

While commuting, the rumble of the train was largely suppressed, and because our music was playing, we didn’t hear it at all. You really get a sense of calm when using the AirPods Max in a noisy environment, whether you’re working in your kitchen while the washing machine rumbles in the background or trying to steal a few moments of solitude during a busy commute. Transparency mode is also convenient; simply press the noise-canceling button on the right earcup to let ambient noise filter through the headphones and take advantage of your surroundings.

Audio Performance

AirPods Max sound starts with a custom 40mm dynamic driver in each shell, designed to deliver deep bass, accurate mids and clean highs. There’s also a dual neodymium ring magnet motor that limits harmonic distortion to less than 1%, even at maximum volume. When we turned the AirPods Max all the way up, the music sounded balanced as usual, although my Apple Health sound notifications increased.

Apple uses an H1 chip in each ear, a custom acoustic design and advanced software to achieve computational audio performance comparable to the iPhone 12’s computing power. Each of the chips has 10 audio cores that can perform 9 billion operations per second, supports Adaptive EQ for custom listening and adjusting the sound appropriately on the fly.

But enough about the technical details. As wireless headphones, the AirPods Max are probably not the choice for true audiophiles or audio professionals who need lossless playback. Apple’s headphones still sound high-end, perhaps not as high-end as wired recording devices, but offer more complexity than most popular headphone models.

Call Performance

It’s no surprise that those who own other Apple devices are able to get the most out of their AirPods Max experience. When you take these headphones out of the case, the H1 chip instantly pairs them with your iPhone, and soon you can control your AirPods Max from your Apple Watch or transfer playback between your iPad or HomePod mini.

You also get Siri, which is not my favorite voice butler, but is still useful for sending text messages and answering calls. Apple’s AI Assistant also lets you control the best HomeKit devices through the AirPods Max. We found that the AirPods Max are better than other AirPods models in terms of phone call quality because they eliminate most of the background noise we called to test. I realized I could hear myself talking, so I wouldn’t accidentally yell. In fact, the AirPods Max even increase the volume of my own voice in my ears when in transparency mode.

Battery and Charging

The best over-ear headphones typically have a battery life of about 30 hours, although many very good models only get about 20 hours, either way, it’s enough for a full day or two, depending on how married they are to your ears. The listed battery life seems about right to us, and we like that the smart case puts the headphones in a power-saving mode; however, the inability to actually turn off the AirPods Max is puzzling. However, the inability to actually turn off the AirPods Max is puzzling.

However, after leaving it in the smart case overnight several times, we did not notice a significant drop in battery life. During the time I worked with the headphones, they did an excellent job, which is just as well, because you can’t really turn them off! Of course, we will always disapprove of any headphone that wastes energy, especially considering that this is bad for the life of the technology. You can’t just replace the batteries in the AirPods Max, so take care of them as best you can.

Price and Availability

The Apple AirPods Max cost $549 / £549 / AU$899 and were officially released on December 15, 2020. At this price, the Apple AirPods Max are significantly more expensive than most of the best over-ear headphones on the market. While still expensive, they cost significantly less than the AirPods Max at $399 / £380 / AU$649. The AirPods Max cost $549 and come in five colors: space gray, silver, sky blue, green and pink. The ear pads are magnetic and replaceable, and a replacement pair costs $69.

With the headphones, you get a smart case and a Lightning-to-USB-C cable, but no power adapter. The AirPods Max also don’t have a Lightning-to-3.5mm audio cable, which you’ll have to buy for $35 if you want a non-Bluetooth listening option. In other words, the AirPods Max are cheaper than true audiophile headphones like the Focal Clear, but still cost a pretty penny.

Final Words

Thank you for visiting this Apple AirPods Max Review. AirPods Max are one of the best sounding wireless headphones out there everything you want for the price. They offer you a little more than the closest competition in terms of sound quality, but you pay a lot more to get there. However, when you add to that the unique Spatial Audio 3D sound for music and movies available when used with iPhone and iPad, they make an even stronger case for themselves.

But we’ve already talked about how the battery life can’t quite match that of the competition, and the fit may not be as universally loved. And then there’s the unusual way they connect wirelessly. You can buy both the Sony WH-1000XM4 and a pair of AirPods Pro for the price of the AirPods Max, which offers both excellent over-the-ear noise cancellation and a pair of earbuds with the Max’s Spatial Audio capabilities. We wouldn’t blame anyone who did, and there’s a strong argument that it’s the smartest buy overall.

John Brister
John Brister
Meet John Brister, the prolific content writer renowned for his perceptive comparison articles on Bollyinside. Specializing in topics ranging from TVs to headphones and other accessories, John's knack for breaking down intricate details into reader-friendly insights has garnered him a dedicated following. Beyond his literary pursuits, John is an avid swimmer and equally passionate about tracking, often exploring new trails and routes, feeding his sense of adventure.

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AirPods Max are Apple's high-end wireless over-ear headphones, featuring Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Adaptive EQ, and spatial audio, available in several color options. The AirPods Max have been in Apple's lineup for more than a year now, but the company doesn't release new AirPods models regularly or particularly often.Apple AirPods Max Review