Apple AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Pro-Level Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Personalized Spatial Audio, USB-C Charging, Bluetooth Headphones for iPhone - Orange
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Arrives
Wednesday, Jun 3
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Color: Orange
Set: Without AppleCare+
Features
- ULTIMATE OVER-EAR LISTENING EXPERIENCE Apple-designed dynamic driver provides high-fidelity audio. Computational audio combines custom acoustic design with the Apple H1 chip and software for breakthrough listening experiences.
- FIVE FRESH COLORS AirPods Max come in five fresh colors: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, and Orange. A color-matched Smart Case is also included.
- FOCUS ON WHATS PLAYING Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation removes up to 2x more background noise, so you can immerse yourself in music.*
- HEAR THE WORLD AROUND YOU Transparency mode lets you comfortably hear and interact with the world around you.
- PERSONALIZED SPATIAL AUDIO With sound that suits your unique ear shape along with dynamic head tracking, AirPods Max deliver an immersive listening experience that places sound all around you.* You can also listen to select songs, shows, and movies in Dolby Atmos.
- ACOUSTIC-FIRST DESIGN Designed with a knit-mesh canopy and memory foam ear cushions for an exceptional over-ear fit that perfectly seals in sound.
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE Pair AirPods Max by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* AirPods Max pause audio when you take them off. And Automatic Switching makes listening between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac completely effortless.*
- PRECISION CONTROL Use the Digital Crown to play and pause music; to answer, end, and mute yourself on calls; and to control volume and skip between tracks.
- WITH USB-C CHARGING The USB-C connector lets you charge your AirPods Max with the same cable you use to charge your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or other Apple devices.
- LEGAL DISCLAIMERS This is a summary of the main product features. See below to learn more.
Brand: Apple
Color: Orange
Ear Placement: Over Ear
Form Factor: Over Ear
Impedance: 32 Ohms
Product Dimensions: 24.35 x 23.99 x 8.1 inches
Item Weight: 3.3 pounds
Manufacturer: Apple
Item model number: MWW73AM/A
Batteries: 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included)
Date First Available: September 9, 2024
Item Weight: 3.3 Pounds
Number Of Items: 1
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Wednesday, Jun 3
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Top Amazon Reviews
Color: Starlight
Set: Without AppleCare+
I’ve been using the Apple AirPods Max for a while now, and they truly feel like a luxury pair of headphones. From the moment you take them out of the box, the build quality stands out. The aluminum ear cups and mesh headband feel incredibly premium, and everything about them looks and feels high-end. Sound quality is the biggest highlight. The bass is deep and controlled, the mids are clear (especially vocals), and the highs are crisp without being harsh. The soundstage is wide and immersive, which makes music, movies, and even gaming feel more cinematic. The active noise cancellation is excellent—it blocks out background noise like traffic, airplanes, and people talking. Transparency mode is also very natural, so you can hear what’s going on around you without taking the headphones off. If you use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the Apple ecosystem integration is amazing. They connect instantly, switch between devices automatically, and Spatial Audio with head tracking makes movies and music feel like surround sound. Battery life is solid at around 20 hours with noise cancellation on. They’re also very comfortable, though they are heavier than some other headphones, which you might notice during very long listening sessions
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Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2026 by Seb
Color: Blue
Set: Without AppleCare+
I am a certified audio engineer for music/films so this review is coming from that perspective. EXEC SUMMARY: if this fits in your budget or you can stretch these, GET THEM! Omg! The sound. The comfort. The battery life. Wow. Now onto the specifics. I’ll start with the one negative I’ve consistently read/heard from reviews: the weight. They are noticeably heavy taking them out of the box. BUT- not a worry. You will never feel this weight wearing them b/c they are SO COMFY. You actually do forget that there is even a headband (probably the biggest reason they are so comfy, but the extra large cans also as it never interferes with your ear). As i write this now I’ve been wearing these for 18 straight hours. Still don’t feel them or am cognizant of them being on beyond the sound coming into my ear (and especially with Spatial Audio since it mimics the audio as if it’s coming from your surroundings). CLARITY: We’ll start with the sound first (why we buy these things right?) UNREAL. As a certified audio engineer i can’t believe this sound is possible from headphones. Imagine the best surround sound experience in a theatre you ever experienced- believe it or not this is even better than that. The sub-woofer effect is better than any sub-woofer experience I’ve had regardless of form or venue or location. That’s “holy cow how is that possible” component #1. #2 is the spec i read that convinced me to get these- automatic multi-band compression. This is stuff only the most advanced audio engineers do but so complicated and easily F’s up your mix even if everything else is perfect. Basically different components to sound are where different things sit mostly, like vocals, high ends, sub-woof rumbles, filler/thickness of sound. Those are what the “bands” mean. To automate and smooth out each band/category so it’s always at the optimal level is just… freaking next level. Most audio engineers dont’ even touch this (myself included) it’s so intricate. THESE HEADPHONES DO IT AUTOMATICALLY! And yeah.. wow. The cleanest, clearest, yet deepest, thickest, intricate sound I’ve ever experienced. CONNECTIVITY: can’t speak for droids as i am apple ecosystem. It auto detects if you put these on or not and that’s better than the earbuds who connect as soon as you take them out of the case/charger. it immediately disconnects and stops when yo lift them off your ears. Nice. FUNCTIONALITY: Apple ecosystem-ish here too. I prefer HEY SIRI which I’ll explain later. One weird thing is this. Sometimes when I’m playing a DOLBY ATMOS or surround selection, the settings say “SPATIAL AUDIO NOT AVAILABLE” and is greyed out as if it’s off, yet it’s actually clearly working and on. So if you’re a Spatial Audio person and turn it on, just know it is always working when anything is actually mixed to be so- no worries. CONTROL BUTTONS: The one gripe i have is here. The volume scroll button is way too easy to accidentally touch and thus I’ve turned up the volume quite a bit many times not meaning to. HEY SIRI works great so i just do that instead. 2 buttons: operation (scroll wheel for volume that is also a button for music/phone control- start/stop/forward/back or answer/end/hold, etc), mode button (noise cancellation enable/disable/off <- to save battery). But everything except Spatial Audio (that i can tell) can be done via HEY SIRI. DURABILITY: obviously i can not test this having these for less than 24 hrs but what I CAN say is what everybody else has said- the quality of build and materials is OBVIOUS. No plastic. The fabric/flexi headband is not only comfortable but also won’t disfigure or crack or break. Other parts are metal so will hold up better also. And because it’s so comfy you won’t need to be adjusting or moving it like you do most other ones (or at least i do) so less touching and adjusting means less human wear and tear. Oh and i love that the actual ear pieces are magnetic which means if either ear piece/speakers go bad, it probably means we can buy replacements and keep these going as long as we want without needing to buy a whole new set down the road. LOVE IT! SUMMARY: yeah. If you can afford or splurge- so way and above better than anything else I’ve tried. And I’ve tried a lot over the years (mostly earbuds). My go to previous to this (and will now use as my gym set) are the Bose QuiteComforts. They don’t even compare in sound, comfort, battery life, controls, build quality, noise cancellation/isolation, and just that “it factor” in experience. IMMEDIATELY noticeable. And that’s from a certified audio engineer of music/film perspective. WHO WON’T LIKE THESE: those that want boomy boomy heavy bass (as most people do). These are just as deep and thick, but tighter and cleaner so you can “hear the frequencies better” rather than have any frequencies “muddy” up other frequencies and cross lines. It’s’ an audio engineering thing. lol. But even those people may appreciate just how awesome these sound in the low end especially come movie watching time (you can still clearly hear vocals and high end without the boomy bass muddying what people are saying).
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Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2025 by Richard Yau
Color: Starlight
Set: Without AppleCare+
I’ll be paying affirm forever, but yes. They are worth it BUT HOLD ON. Pros: Great sound quality Great volume, don’t need it up high Great at blocking out outside noise Comfortable on ears Very cute. Overall feel amazing quality. Better for your ears against ear damage. Cons: Hard to transport compared to regular pods. Charge life isn’t as long as regular pods Hard to understand the point of certain buttons Not as user friendly, like on pods you can tap to change songs, I can’t seem to do that on these. The price…. Overall, I love them for the gym but they definitely aren’t as easy to bring. Just weigh it out, but keep in mind over the ear IS better for your ears long term. Pods damage the ears badly, anything playing sound close and loudly inside your ear will bring ear damage.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2026 by Madeline Smith
Color: Midnight
Set: Without AppleCare+
I bought these AirPods Max in the new Midnight color as a Christmas present to myself after years of using cheaper over-ear headphones. I was hesitant about the price, but after three weeks of daily use, I completely understand what you're paying for. The sound quality is incredible. I'm not an audiophile, but I immediately noticed details in songs I've listened to a hundred times - background vocals, subtle guitar riffs, layered instruments I never caught before. Everything sounds crisp and balanced, not overly bass-heavy like some headphones. I've been re-listening to my entire library just to hear what I've been missing. Active Noise Cancellation is legitimately impressive. I used them on a flight to visit family over the holidays, and the plane noise just disappeared. At home, I can't hear my roommate's TV through the wall anymore. The Transparency mode is perfect for when someone talks to you - just press the Digital Crown and you can hear normally without taking them off. The fit is comfortable for long sessions. The memory foam cushions feel premium and the headband distributes weight well. I wore them for a 6-hour work session and never felt pressure or discomfort. The knit-mesh canopy on top is a nice touch - no cheap plastic feel. The USB-C charging is convenient since I can use the same cable as my iPhone 16 Pro Max. Battery life has been solid - I charge them maybe twice a week with 2-3 hours of daily use. Setup was instant with my iPhone - just held them near my phone and they paired immediately. Switching between my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook is seamless. I'll be listening on my laptop, pick up my phone, and the audio automatically switches over. The Digital Crown is intuitive for volume and playback control. Way better than fumbling with touch controls that never register right. Only minor complaint: they're heavy compared to plastic headphones. After 4+ hours, I notice the weight. Also, the Smart Case doesn't fully protect them - it's more decorative than functional. I'm careful about where I set them down. If you're on the fence because of price, I'd say wait for a sale. But if you use headphones daily and want the best audio experience, these are absolutely worth it. Made my Christmas morning playlist sound magical.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2026 by Gavin
Color: Midnight
Set: Without AppleCare+
I’ve been using the AirPods Max (Midnight) for a while now, and they are simply in a league of their own. If you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, these are the ultimate headphones. • Pro-Level Noise Cancellation: The ANC is industry-leading. It completely deletes background noise, whether it's an airplane engine or office chatter. When I need to hear my surroundings, the Transparency Mode feels so natural it’s like I’m not wearing headphones at all. • USB-C is a Game Changer: I love that Apple finally moved to USB-C charging. I can now use the same cable for my Mac mini, iPhone 17, and these headphones. It’s one less cable to carry! • Personalized Spatial Audio: Watching movies or listening to Dolby Atmos tracks is a cinematic experience. The head-tracking is incredibly precise, making it feel like the sound is coming from high-end speakers all around you. • Premium Build & Comfort: The Midnight finish is stunning—sleek, professional, and fingerprint-resistant. The mesh canopy on the headband distributes weight perfectly, so I can wear them for hours without any "headphone fatigue." • Magic Connectivity: Switching between my Mac mini and iPhone is instantaneous. The integration with Siri and the Find My network provides peace of mind that no other brand can match. Final Verdict: They are an investment, but for the build quality, the soundstage, and the seamless Apple integration, they are worth every penny.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2026 by Dani Camacho
Color: Green
Set: Without AppleCare+
I have many sets of headphones, some very nice ones, and these stand alone in terms of being something different - there is so much tech jammed into these, it makes them very different than anything else on the market. Sound - Sound quality on these is very good, very clean. Personally I'd like a lot more bass, but even someone who isn't a basshead would still probably like more bass. They're not weak or anything on the low end side, and booming bass is there, it's just too much in the background for my tastes. If stupid iOS just gave you an EQ, you could probably easily fix this, and some of the sound profiles you do get can hep, but for the love of everything, just give me a stupid EQ so I can choose the sound I want. In any case, again, the sound is very good, very clean. I'd say it's pretty easily better than my Bose QC25 but not on-par with my Beyerdynamic DT 990 open backed headphones (which I still think are the best headphones I've heard and I've compared them against sets costing well over $1k). But these headphones are about a lot more than sound, and that's why they go up to 5-stars... Sound Field/Stage - The sound stage on these, the openness of the sound, is amazing for closed back headphones. When you're playing music that supports Apples spatial sound (everything in Apple Music for example) it's incredible, it really feels/sounds natural a lot of the time. I've used other 'virtual surround' garbage, and it's terrible, but whatever Apple is doing, it works. My favorite thing is that you can set your phone in front of you, then walk around, and it sounds like the sound is coming from the direction of the iPhone, so it gives you this incredible sense of space (and it does not hurt the sound quality - for most music it sounds better in my opinion). This is something you really have to experience to understand as I don't know of anyone else that does this - and it's really impressive in person. Noise Cancelling - Absolutely top notch. Between the good fit of the headphones and the actual tech, you can block out a ton of stuff, they work better than my Bose QC25's, that still were best in class as of a year ago. Also, for the cry babies, I do not notice the pressure effect - it might be there still, but it's not nearly as noticeable as the Bose. Battery Life - Seems to be excellent. Only downside is it uses an iPhone plug, not USB C. I still have and need an iPhone plug so it's not a huge deal at the moment, but for the future, when it's all USB C, this is going to become a pain. Comfort - It's pretty comfortable. I heard lots of people say these are big and heavy and uncomfortable, and while they are big and heavy, for me at least they're pretty comfortable. Those Beyerdynamic DT 990 are amazingly comfortable, can wear them for hours, that's not the case here. But compared to my Bose QC25, I can wear the AirPods Max for longer without any issues. Still, it's not like the comfort of earbuds, which I can wear all day, but for big over the ear headphones, the Max's are pretty good. Build Quality - Top notch in my opinion, make everything else I've ever used, anything else I've ever even tried, feel plasticky and cheap. Wireless - No lag, no drops, works great. I wish they had upped the bandwidth so you could carry stuff like fully uncompressed audio, like blu-ray audio, but probably have to wait for V2 for that. With that said, I've never really noticed anything, everything sounds full with no compression. Obviously that isn't the case, but just saying, I do not notice any negatives as far as wireless goes. Overall, 5-stars. The sound, with less bass than I'd like and with no EQ in iOS, only gets 4-stars, but the other features make these unique and quite amazing. The spatial sound is what makes these special, and you can't get that with any other over the ear headphones, and it works remarkably well. I think it uses actual head movement for tracking, so it's not just a software gimmick they can do on any other headphones (I think that's the case), but it' something you need to hear in person to appreciate.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2021 by Rodney
Color: Blue
Set: Without AppleCare+
I own a pair of AirPods 4 [Noise Cancellation] and love them very much! I use them when I travel somewhere or go to work because their tiny size and convenient carrying/charging case make it easy for me to slip them into a small pocket in my backpack or into a jacket pocket. I saw these and thought they would be perfect for at-home use. The price was concerning, considering they were $400 more than my AirPods 4. That being said, I really liked how they looked and have always preferred headphones to earbuds. And life is just too short not to treat yourself to something extravagant on occasions. I purchased these and was immediately in awe at the color. I got them in sky blue, so these would match my iPad and my MacBook Air. Everything has to match, right? These headphones are lightweight, easy to adjust, if need be, and connecting them to my Apple devices was practically effortless. Since I only have used them with Apple devices, I can't say how compatible they are with other devices. The craftsmanship is stellar - these headphones are quality made for sure. As soon as you put them on your head, they turn on and are ready for use. And they disconnect the moment you remove them. I can have my cellphone on the other side of the room and be seated on a couch on the other side and there is no drop in sound quality or connectivity issue. That's a range of about 10 feet. Now, there are some little complaints. The battery life, while not bad, could be better. I don't have to charge my AirPods 4 that often, probably once every 2-3 weeks, and I use them almost daily. These headphones, with regular usage, have to be charged a little more frequently. The battery life is satisfactory enough for me not to be annoyed. Also, it makes sense that these would use more juice considering they are bigger and more powerful. While the design is excellent, at around $500 in price, these need additional protection for me to feel at ease when using them or if I ever take them outside the home. I bought silicone coverings to put over the mesh cushioning and protect it from body or hair oils when wearing them. I also bought transparent coverings for both the ear coverings, a protective band for the mesh band on top and a carrying case to keep them constantly protected. All protective accessories are from 3rd party manufacturers. A smart case came in the AirPods Max box, but it's not the best. And a cable [without the wall adapter] is included.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2026 Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2026 by Chiaro
Full disclosure: I purchased these headphones back in April 2021 and gave them some break-in time (until June 2021) before I reviewed them, so this is my experience of having them for more than 90 Days. I owned a pair of Beats Studio Wireless 2's for about 4 years, and they were a useable set of cans. They had some pretty smart wired connections, good battery life, and were rather comfy to wear... but their wireless connections were a nightmare, the integrated Mic awful, and the noise-canceling mediocre. I was looking for a change, and being a consumer of Apple Products and with the generally good reviews I had seen for the Airpod Max, I decided to take the (kind of) expensive plunge. And honestly, I was not disappointed. As with any good review, we'll break it down into the Pros & Cons and explore both. BUILD QUALITY/DESIGN PROS: The build quality on these headphones is nothing short of phenomenal. They are made of Metal and some nylon or rubber here and there (for the headband and earcup padding) and they feel VERY SOLID. The piston style adjustments on the headband always feel super tight and mechanical (still even months after using them). The earcups are always tight on my head, allowing the headphones to clamp down on my ears and prevent noise leakage. The Earcups are built out of what looks to be a rubberized polycarbonate and padded mesh fabric and are held in by MAGNETS, making them easy to replace if they get soiled or if you want a different color. Also, found out after the fact, the headband is ALSO replaceable if you want a different color later on down the line. The metal the speaker boxes are made from are the standard matte Apple aluminum, and the control buttons on the right speaker box are on par with the dials and buttons included on their Apple Watches (in fact, I'm pretty sure they're the same buttons, just "upsized" in the CAD program when making this device). It all feels very expensive and well built, and even 100+ days after initial use, still feels "brand new" and solid. CONS: Whereas I love the build quality, there are some pretty glaring design flaws and comfort issues that come along with this first outing from Apple. First, whereas the headphones still fit like they were brand new, I'd hope for some relief on the hard clamping aspect present in them. When I first wore them, I was finding the clamping done by the headphones very tight and threatening to give me a headache if I wore them too long since it was like a vise on my head. This has lessened slightly over time, but it is still very tight. I don't know of a fix for this outside of constant wear to try and get them to bend a flex to a less tight shape on my dome, but so far they still hurt a bit when wearing them for an extended time. Second, even though I like the good piston mechanics on the ear height adjustment with the headband since it takes some force to properly adjust them, sometimes you have to grip on the speaker boxes and pull downwards on them while pushing upwards on the headband with your cranium to get them to adjust to your liking. This wouldn't be an issue if the dial and button were on the bottom of the headphones, but since they're on the top of the right speaker box, it is notoriously difficult to adjust them on your head and not accidentally press one of the buttons, causing playback or the headphones to go into pair mode (which happens if you hold down the buttons for too long). You'd think, "oh, just grab the sides of the speaker boxes", which makes sense, however as I stated they are made of Apple's standard aluminum, and to add to that the edges are very rounded, so getting a grip on the side of the headphone speaker boxes is difficult at best. SOUND PROS: The sound quality on these is an absolute beast, and it's by far the best pair of headphones I've ever used. The audio is clear, and you can hear highs, lows, and everything in between. However, I will be the first to admit, while I am musically inclined and love listening to audio, I'm by no means an Audiophile or claim to be able to hear what types of sounds are being emitted cleanly and loudly, and which aren't. I usually can if I have good reference, but as these are the best headphones I've ever owned, so they become the new baseline. Also, the built in noise canceling is the best in the business right now, and is definitely better than its closest competitor. The reason why it is so good is due to the multiple microphones established in the soundbox housing, which not only work EXTREMELY well for the ANC, but also for phone calls. The phone calls made from these headphones are nearly studio mic grade in how they sound, and are much better than most things included on computers or competitor headphones nowadays. CONS: Though I am not an audiophile, there is something that I can tell— when there is killer bass and when there isn't. And to my ears, these don't have a superheavy bass that will rattle your fillings, which is *fine*, but I thought there would simply be *more* bass in the audio. The bass may be enough for most music, and what it has is ok, but nothing akin to the huge bass I was *expecting*. The nice thing is that if you delve into the Accessibility Settings for your Apple product, you can set an audio profile for the headphones so it'll enhance the audio based on how well you hear (so already, this enhancement is *proprietary*; not a big deal for me as I own nothing but Apple devices, but YMMV). EASE OF USE/ACCESSORIES PROS: If using Apple products, the handoff of the headphones to the other devices works really, really well and hasn't needed to be paired more than once to each device it is used on. The pairing process is nicely simple if it does go wonky, and doesn't have nearly as many issues as other BT that gets locked into a single device. The equipment/accessories that it comes with are acceptable (charging lightning cable, bra-esque "case"). The stop/start/volume dial is very responsive and easy to click using the same click sequence that Airpod Pros have used for a while (Double click to advance, triple-click to go back, quad click, etc...). If you take them off your head, the headphones have a similar light sensor that other Airpods have to determine if they're in your ears or not, and will halt the music accordingly or start playing if they recognize they're back in place on your head. The lightning cable to charge the headphones is embedded in the base of the right-hand speaker box, and charges using the same style cable that your iPhone and old Airpods do, so you should already have at least one cable for it if you own Apple products. CONS: Hooo boy, ok. So with any early adopter technology, there's always going to be some bugs that need working out, or some design flaw that (where not crippling) makes the headphones more of a chore and less fun to use. This may be our longest section, but please take these with a grain of salt— none of these are dealbreakers for *me*, but since I'm not you, YMMV. Here are the issues I found in no particular order, but NEED to be discussed as I've often seen them glossed over elsewhere— - Analogue Connection. There is no direct analogue connection with these headphones. As most audiophioles claim, digital (especially wireless digital) will never be an acceptable connection replacement for analogue. And most high-grade cans have some sort of analog 3.5mm jack that can be plugged into a normal headphone port that will allow you to use these headphones with devices that don't transmit via BT, like a Record Player, or high-end sound system. The Airpods Max unfortunately have no such analogue connection. "But!" you may exclaim, "You can always use the Lightning port and plugin a Lightning to 3.5mm converter cable!" This is true... to an extent. First off, to get that feature to work, you need to get a SPECIFIC cable— Apple's Lighting to 3.5mm cable. The reason? Because that cable, and seemingly ONLY that cable, is BI-DIRECTIONAL. This means that no matter what end you plug your source into, that cable will translate the audio both ways. Most to all third-party cables (that I was able to find in my research) are like an annoying 13-year-old listening to music in 2011: all they play is ONE DIRECTION. Also, to top off the annoyance, when you DO use the Apple Cable, it takes the analogue source, transfers it to the headphones, whose signal is then converted to digital. Automatically, mandatorily, every time. This may be a problem for some people who demand their Analogue output to be heard in its original analogue glory. Also, the Apple cable that you HAVE to use is super cheap feeling and thin, instead of the normal thick or braided casing most headphone cables use. Did I mention that Apple also DOES NOT include this cable with the headphones? It's extra. Like about $30-$40 extra. So you may be better off with another set of headphones if you want a good, wired, analogue signal. - The "Case". I feel like the case that is included with these headphones will go down in history alongside the 1998 iMac USB Puck mouse, the Apple Newton, and the Magic Mouse Lightning port as one of their more GLORIOUSLY STUPID design decisions. The "case" is made of what I can assume is leather, but for a set of ~$550 headphones, that's about the only "premium" feature they boast. There is minimal padding. There supposedly is a magnet included in the area where the headphone edges touch that triggers an internal reed switch to put the cans in standby mode. Half the "case" is exposed to the elements and doesn't fully cover the electronics, so it isn't ideal as something to protect from inclement weather. And lastly, and most egregious, is that there is no way to use the case to carry around the headphones or attach them to anything— no belt clip or loop, no hanging clip, nothing. So believe me when I say that you're gonna need a case for these things if they're ever gonna leave your home, and it's almost imperative if you live in a place with inclement weather. I bought a full zip case that has a built-in magnet for the reed switch, has a few pockets for cables, and is very padded. It was worth the cost to make sure that my headphones that cost *half a thousand dollars* stay safe. Apple's lack of protection has not only garnered users' ire, but made the Airpod Max case into little more than a joke, and I really can't see a counterargument to either of those things. - Lack of Lossless audio on their own products. So as many know, Apple has just announced that it will have lossless audio on its Apple Music platform soon, which is a boon to audiophiles everywhere. But in everything I have read about it, they always have the caveat that the lossless audio currently doesn't work with the Airpod Max headphones. Even if you buy the bi-directional cable from Apple. And there has been no "we plan to support it soon" soundbite, or "we will be updating the Airpod Max firmware to be compatible in XXX of 202X". So, if that is super important for you, just know it may not be supported on this model of Airpods Max, possibly at all (Apple is notorious in doing this, and will just release it in the next version). So if it is released eventually, I wouldn't expect it on this model, and you'll have to plunk down another half a thousand bucks to get a set that will work with the feature. WRAP UP/FINAL THOUGHTS In the end, I'm really pleased with these headphones. They are some of the finest pieces of audio equipment that I have ever owned, and I love all the premium features they included. Certain areas leave something to be desired on them, but they are niggling feature issues or design kinks that will be worked out later. I am hopeful that these headphones will stay the same for a few revisions and the firmware/software will evolve to support more features, as well as the accessories (and third-party solutions) to be able to work more universally with non-Apple products or be more robust in their construction. To be fair, for a first draft Apple product, they are the accessory that I've had the least amount hassle with. All in all, I highly enjoy and recommend these headphones, and if you are an Apple Fan and budding audiophile, I believe you will too. Let's just hope that Apple keeps improving these models to make them feel like they were worth the ~$550 price point.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2021 Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2021 by Jay Hash