Released on December 15th, 2020, AirPods Max are Apple’s exclusive overhead headphones that give the best audio with less distortion. They have become increasingly popular due to some unique aspects, such as their noise-cancellation capabilities.
They are the best version of AirPods released so far. Apple has only released one set of over-ear headphones, which has been in its business line for over two years, and Apple is yet to release an upgrade of the AirPods Max. The wireless headphones connect wirelessly to all Bluetooth-enabled devices.
AirPods Max: Specifications
| Release Date | December 2020 |
| Weight | 384.8 grams (13.57 ounces) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Headphone Type | Over-ear |
| Colors | Pink, silver, green, sky blue, and space grey |
| Battery Life | Up to 20 hours with ANC and spatial audio turned on |
| Controls | Digital crown and a noise control button |
| Microphones | Total of 9 |
| In the Box | Headphones, smart case, and USB-C cable |
| Features | Active Noise Cancellation, Spatial Audio, Apple’s H1 chip, Transparency mode, and Adaptive EQ |
| Sensors | Gyroscope, Accelerometer, optical, position, and case detect |
Reason 1: Build Quality
AirPods Max are made from a breathable porous material that distributes the headphone’s weight over the head. The ear cushions offer a seal, giving the best surround sound experience. The arms slide into each other, allowing adjustments for a proper fit.
The ear cushions can be attached and detached from the ear cups; therefore, you can mix up their colors to give your headphones a diverse look. They come in 5 color options: pink, silver, green, sky blue, and space gray.
- Apple-designed dynamic driver for high-fidelity audio
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Transparency mode
- Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking
- Designed with a knit-mesh canopy and memory foam ear cushions
Additionally, a large volume knob on the right earcup is more precise in terms of volume adjustments than when using the phone. It controls the volume and plays the next song or fast-forwards it when pushed down.
Moreover, they are designed so that the right ear cup goes to the right ear, and the left ear cup goes to the left ear. All this is made possible with the help of the position sensors embedded into each earcup.
The headphones only function once they are put on correctly. The AirPods Max also have a light smart case (4.74 ounces/0.134 kgs) that protects the headphones from accidental scratches. Besides the case, the headphones have a status light that tells you the charge status.
Reason 2: Sound Quality
Apple’s AirPods Max justify their price when it comes to sound. For starters, Apple incorporated an H1 chip in every earcup of the headphones. They deliver quality high-fidelity sound, enable faster connections via Bluetooth with fewer delays, and facilitate the activation of Siri by voice command.
The sensors and gyroscopes in the headphones link with the Apple device so that you can tell the direction of the device playing the media; even when you turn your head. However, this only works with iOS and Apple devices.
AirPods Max also have spatial audio technology that tracks your head movements and provides a surround sound effect, giving the illusion that sound is coming from all directions (3D sound experience).
Adaptive equalizers also adjust the media frequencies, allegedly considering the head’s shape and whether or not you are wearing glasses. The EQ also stresses the mid-bass and the sub-bass.
Reason 3: Battery Life
AirPods Max have a long-running battery that lasts over 20 hours of playtime with ANC and spatial audio turned on. Moreover, our research shows that when you plug them in for about 5 minutes, they will give you almost 1.5 hours of usage time.
However, Apple didn’t install a shutdown button on the headphones, so they cannot be powered down. The headphones activate the low power mode once you’ve left them immobile for over 5 minutes. After 3 days without using them, they cut off the Bluetooth connection and activate the ultra-low power mode.
- Dynamic driver
- Transparency mode
- Computational audio
- Knit-mesh canopy
Nonetheless, you can instantly power them down by putting them in their smart case. They will instantly activate the low power mode thanks to the case detectors. After 18 hours, they’ll activate the ultra-low power mode.
Moreover, you get notified about the battery status when the charge is low. The first sound notification is when the charge is almost depleted, and the second comes right before it shuts down. Besides, you can track the headphones’ battery charge on the paired gadget.
The status light also tells the battery percentage. If the light turns green after long-pressing the noise control button, the charge is more or equal to 15%, and if it turns amber, it is less than 15%.
Reason 4: Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency Mode
The ANC is a feature that eliminates all external noises around you. This is achieved with the help of the 8 microphones embedded into the headphones that detect and dampen external sounds so that you don’t hear them.
With ANC, you can hear everything you are listening to at a low volume, protecting your ears from being damaged by too much noise. You can turn the ANC on or off, or switch to transparency mode using the noise control button on the right earcup.
The ANC is also useful when it comes to making calls. Besides the 3 microphones that pick up your voice, the ANC will cancel out all unwanted sound, enabling the person you are talking to to focus on what you are saying.
On the other hand, the transparency mode, or the ambient mode, uses 8 microphones to absorb the surrounding noises and transmit them to your ears. When the mode is on, you can tell the direction from which the sounds are coming, and you can have a normal conversation with someone with the headphones on.
Reason 5: Siri
You can always give Siri commands when wearing headphones since Siri is incorporated into them. You can ask for directions and weather forecasts, or command Siri to perform certain tasks. All you have to do is activate Siri by saying “ Hey Siri,” or by pressing the digital crown for a long time.
- Available in five different colors
- Apple-designed dynamic drivers
- Apple H1 chip enables seamless connectivity with Apple devices
- Active Noise Cancellation
All this is possible thanks to the 9th microphone at the bottom of the earcup. Moreover, Siri can notify you when you receive a message, read it to you, type, and send it via command.
Reason 6: Audio Sharing
This feature is unique only to Apple’s AirPods. Audio sharing lets two people listen to the same audio on different headphones. The feature can be activated by opening AirPlay and then pressing Share Audio.
Hold the second pair of headphones close to the Apple device once it is ready to pair, and it will appear among the available options. You can tap on the second pair of headphones to play the same thing.
Reason 7: AppleCare+
Moreover, the headphones have a two-year warranty covered by AppleCare+ from the day you purchase the headphones. You can mail them the headphones for repair or take them in personally.
AppleCare+ covers up to two accidental damages every year, each with a subsequent fee of $29 plus tax. Furthermore, you can always contact Apple experts by chat or call anytime in case of any inquiries.
Using AirPods Max: What It’s Like
For starters, the AirPods Max are a comfortable fit thanks to their build quality. Therefore, you can have the headphones on for hours without experiencing discomfort. Other than comfort, the sound on the headphones is incredible.
Moreover, the ANC cancels out all external noises, meaning you will no longer have to worry about the loud airplane engine or noises from other people. You will enjoy quality audio regardless.
- Dynamic driver
- ANC blocks outside noise
- Transparency mode
- Dynamic head tracking
Besides, with Siri, you can go from setting reminders to calling anyone via voice command without getting your phone out. Additionally, thanks to their transparency mode, you don’t have to take them off when talking or listening to someone.
Unfortunately, the AirPods Max don’t have a headphone jack. However, you can use the Apple Lightning to 3.5 audio cable (sold separately) that connects to the headphones via its charging port. Ultimately, if your device is Bluetooth-enabled, you will have a great experience with the headphones.
Speculations About the AirPods Max 2
Will Apple release a new, improved batch of the AirPods Max? Speculations about the release of the AirPods Max 2 rose when Apple released the 2nd generation of the AirPods in September 2022, exactly when people were expecting the AirPods Max 2.
The Airpods Max 2 were rumored to be released in late 2024 or early 2025. However, considering all the key specs and the impressive design of the AirPods Max, there’s not much to improve on.
If the AirPods Max 2 were to be released, there would only be some minor changes. Ultimately, they would still function as well as the AirPods Max. Buying the AirPods Max is still a great choice.
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The image featured at the top of this post is ©Masarik/Shutterstock.com.
