Apple AirPods Max vs Beats Headphones: Worth the Premium?

Choosing the best wireless headphones is quite a tough decision. Not only do they grow more and more technologically advanced by the year, but they also continue to pop up in ever-increasing numbers annually. Today, two of the most preeminent competitors in the wireless Bluetooth smart headphones space are Apple AirPods Max vs Beats headphones.

How do these two close rivals actually compare to one another, though? (Especially considering that both fall under the Apple umbrella.) Let’s compare and contrast the two to find out which option is better.

Apple AirPods Max vs Beats Headphones: Side-by-Side Comparison

Apple AirPods Max vs Beats Headphones: What’s the Difference?

Now that we have a good understanding of the basic specs between the Apple AirPods Max and Beats headphones, let’s take some time to look a little deeper at this particular debate. How do these two wireless smart Bluetooth headphones compare to one another where it matters most?

We’re talking about things like battery life, charge time, size, weight, connectivity, advanced features, pricing… all those factors that play a key role in your final decision between the Apple AirPods Max vs Beats Headphones. Let’s take a look.

Battery and Charging

Firstly, there’s the power to consider. What does the battery life look like on a pair of Apple AirPods Max vs Beats headphones? Apple claims their AirPods Max will last up to 20 hours between charges, while Beats and their Studio3 Wireless headphones claim a battery life of 22 hours. (You can add another 18 to that number if you turn off Active Noise Cancellation, too.)

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Apple AirPods Max (Space Gray)

$479.00

• Apple-designed dynamic driver for high-fidelity audio
• Active Noise Cancellation
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09/20/2023 04:04 am GMT

As far as charging is concerned, AirPods Max will be fully charged in about two hours. Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones will get there in less time: only about 90 minutes, tops.

Physical Specs

Secondly, we should examine the physical specs of the Apple AirPods Max vs Beats headphones. The AirPods Max measures out to be 6.64 inches across, 7.37 inches tall, and 3.28 inches deep. The Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones, by comparison, measure 6.3 inches across, 8.94 inches tall, and 4.72 inches deep.

They’re a lot larger by direct comparison. However, they’re also a lot lighter. The Apple AirPods Max weighs 13.6 ounces, while the Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones weigh just 9.17 ounces in total. So, bigger, but also lighter.

Internal Specs

Going hand in hand with physical specs are internal ones. How do these two stack up against each other in terms of software and features?

As it turns out, both the Apple AirPods Max and Beats headphones have noise cancellation. That being said, the AirPods Max has a more advanced noise cancellation feature than the Beats Studio 3 Wireless headphones.

Price

Lastly, before making a final decision, we should account for the price. It is after all, drastically different between these two wireless Bluetooth smart headphone offerings. The AirPods Max came onto the market in 2020 with a price point of $549. In the more than two years since launching, they have not come down from that price whatsoever.

The Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones have similarly stuck with the same price for years now. However, that price is significantly lower than that of the AirPods Max: $200 lower, to be exact. They’re priced at $349.95.

The History of Apple AirPods Max

Despite carrying the same AirPods branding as Apple’s wireless earbuds, the Apple AirPods Max is actually a pair of wireless, over-ear headphones. First announced by Apple on December 8th, 2020 — and arriving after more than two years of rumored development that had previously gone unconfirmed — the Apple-banded headphones were officially released the following week on December 15th, 2020.

Before consumers and critics even got their hands on the AirPods Max, it was clear they represented a major step up from all other AirPods models. “Hype” doesn’t even begin to describe the feelings and attitudes surrounding the Apple AirPods Max at the time of their release.

But, once people actually got their hands on the product, it became clear that not everything was as perfect about them as had seemed at the time of the announcement.

For one, they came at a price of nearly $550 — a true premium price, even for wireless noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones. Additionally, they felt quite large (not to mention quite heavy) when worn. Plus, there wasn’t even a physical power button on the ear cups. 

Despite these shortcomings — which also included problems with battery life, connection issues, and lack of EQ customizations — the AirPods Max were nonetheless praised for their Active Noise Cancellation, their spatial audio features, and their comfortable and stylish over-ear design.

After a major software update in the spring of 2021, which amended many of the most pressing battery, connectivity, and EQ problems, the AirPods Max became even more appealing than before. Even with such a hefty price tag, the Apple AirPods Max continues to dominate the headphones market.

How Beats Headphones Compete

The most interesting thing about the Apple AirPods Max vs Bose Headphones debate? The fact that Apple owns Bose. They’ve been in charge of the headphone brand since 2014, back when the tech giant forked over close to $3 billion for Beats Music and Beats Electronics.

Beats by Dre was originally founded in 2006 by namesake Dr. Dre — a famous rapper and music producer — and Jimmy Iovine, a music executive. The company’s goal was to create high-quality audio products that combined style and functionality. Given that pricy sale, it goes without saying that they accomplished that goal.

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09/19/2023 07:52 pm GMT

Beats released its first product in 2008: the Beats by Dre Studio headphones. Because they were strategically and ingeniously endorsed by many famous musicians and athletes, such as Lady Gaga and LeBron James, they were an instant sensation in the music industry. Good word of mouth isn’t enough to make a company a billion-dollar success, however.

The Beats by Dre Studio headphones also needed high-quality sound. Luckily for them, they had it. In the years that followed, Beats expanded their company’s product line to include earbuds, portable speakers, and even a streaming service. 

Beats’ high-profile sale to Apple in 2014 broke the record for the largest acquisition in the tech giant’s history. It gave Apple a major leg up in the premium headphones space, which had grown increasingly competitive and cut-throat in the several years leading up to the sale.

Apple smartly kept Beats a separate brand but made sure the products integrated seamlessly with their phones, tablets, and computers. This successfully allowed them to develop the Apple AirPods Pro alongside the Beats product line with little to no confusion.

5 Must-Know Facts About Apple’s Audio Technology

1. While heralded as a leader in the smartphone and computer industries, one thing Apple doesn’t get enough credit for is the company’s long history of being a pioneer in the audio technology industry. This history began all the way back in 1976 with the Apple I computer, which included a built-in audio cassette interface for data storage.
2. Apple’s history as a trailblazer in the audio technology industry continued with the launch of iTunes in 2001. A digital music platform that revolutionized the music industry, iTunes (and, of course, the iPod) allowed users to purchase and download individual songs and albums to their MP3 players.
3. The iPod was released in 2001, and the iPhone was released in 2007. Together, these two audio technology offerings from Apple became cultural phenomenons the likes of which the world had never seen. The iPod allowed users to carry their entire music library in their pocket, and the iPhone took it a step further than that by combining cell phones and MP3 players into one.
4. Apple earbuds have been a staple product for the brand for decades now, but it wasn’t until the acquisition of Beats in 2014 that the company truly entered the premium headphones market. For $3 billion, Apple brought its expertise to Beats’s beloved fashion and style, effectively taking an iconic line of headphones and making them even higher quality.
5. Apple’s AirPods were introduced in 2016. They were the first truly wireless earbuds to hit the market, single-handedly popularizing the form factor as a result. Apple’s AirPods were an immediate hit and have since become one of Apple’s most popular products, spawning several new iterations and competitors from other companies, including Google and Amazon.

Apple AirPods Max vs Beats Headphones: Pros and Cons

Apple AirPods Max vs Beats Headphones: Which Ones Are Better?

So, despite both technically being Apple products, is there a way to name a true winner between the Apple AirPods Max vs Beats headphones? Looking over everything we’ve discussed so far, the answer seems to be a resounding yes.

The Apple AirPods Max is a far superior product when it comes to audio technology. The Beats are lighter, less expensive, and have a longer battery life, but they haven’t seen a major upgrade in years. The Apple AirPods Max have superior sound specs, better build quality, and are all-around more advanced than even the Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Hopix Art/Shutterstock.com.