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Sound8
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Design6
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Comfortability6
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Size & Weight5
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Connectivity8
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Power8
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Features5
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Value for money5
The original AirPods Max first appeared in December 2020. Back then, I hadn’t long started my tech reviews business, yet I decided to go all-in on Apple’s ludicrously expensive over-ear headphones.
I’m glad I did. AirPods Max, along with a couple of other key Apple products, have helped me build a sizeable audience and turn this endeavour into a thriving business.
So, AirPods Max mean quite a lot to me for that reason. Unfortunately, they’re also one of the most frustrating pairs of headphones I’ve ever reviewed (multiple times). And they’ve just got even more frustrating due to the update Apple has finally issued.
That’s right – we have new AirPods Max. The big question is: should you buy a pair?
The AirPods Max 2024 update
Hold onto your trousers.
I’ve double-checked, and we definitely have a new pair of AirPods Max.
However, the clue is in the lack of any tweaks to the name. These aren’t ‘AirPods Max 2’, or ‘AirPods Max 2nd Generation’. They’re just ‘AirPods Max’. Again.
The reason for this is pretty simple: they’re the same pair of headphones, albeit with a USB-C connection instead of Lightning and a bunch of new colours. As far as we can tell, that’s it. No new chip, no tweaked design, and the same silly case.
The new colours are Midnight, Starlight, blue, orange, and purple. According to Apple’s press release, AirPods Max now “offer complementary finishes alongside other Apple products like Mac and iPad”. The colours are, as a result, the usual muted affair, but they do look rather nice.
I dearly wish I had more to say about the AirPods Max 2024 update, but I’m afraid that’s it. Even the price is the same (£499 in the UK, and $549 in the US).
I’ve ordered a pair (in Starlight) and will be doing a deep dive to see if anything else has changed.
The good stuff
AirPods Max aren’t a bad pair of headphones. On the contrary, there are a bunch of features which Apple fans and anyone who just likes high-quality stuff will enjoy.
AirPods Max are well-made. In fact (bar one issue I’ll reveal in a moment) they rank among the most impressive headphones I’ve tested in that regard – as they should, for the price.
Then, there’s the Apple ecosystem into which every Apple device is firmly wedged these days. It’s still the best on the market in my opinion. As a result, AirPods Max benefit from automatic device switching and Find My support, both of which offer genuine real-world benefits. They also support Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos which makes watching movies on your AirPods Max via an Apple TV a joyful and stunningly immersive experience.
AirPods Max still have the best transparency mode I’ve ever experienced on a pair of headphones. This is when you press a button and let the outside world in. Nothing else on the market comes close and I have no idea why other manufacturers can’t at least match Apple’s transparency mode prowess. It makes AirPods max a great pair of headphones for telephone calls.
On the subject of buttons, AirPods Max only have physical controls. There’s no touch-based nonsense, and the inclusion of an Apple Watch-like digital crown was an inspired design decision. They’re a joy to interact with, as a result.
As I say, AirPods Max are a great pair of headphones. It’s just a shame there are so many problems.
The bad stuff
I’ve written and said a lot about the AirPods Max case, so I won’t labour the point here. Suffice it to say, it isn’t a case in any meaningful sense of the word. It’s more of a slip-on sheath which only protects certain parts of the headphones, leaving the exposed bits to get scratched up and damaged in your bag.
It’s made from an awful material which scuffs immediately, too.
I’ve also experienced an issue with the canopy on my AirPods Max. This is the part that loops over your head and for which Apple chose to adopt an entirely different design compared to most over-ear headphones. The problem is that the fabric canopy appears to loosen over time which makes it less supportive and the headphones less comfortable.
On the subject of comfort, AirPods Max are heavy – a lot heavier than most other headphones I’ve tried since they launched (with the possible exception of the Dyson OnTrac).
When it comes to sound, it’s good, but it isn’t £499 good. I’ve tested so many headphones since AirPods Max were launched and you can get far better sounding cans for a good £200 less.
The biggest problem, however, is that AirPods Max don’t have the H2 chip and therefore lack some of the smart features enjoyed by AirPods Pro – and, now, AirPods 4 – users. Personalised Spatial Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Siri interactions are only available on Apple’s latest in-ears, which are cheaper than AirPods Max and, therefore, a much smarter purchase for most people. That’s daft.
Who are AirPods Max for?
After reading that list of positives and negatives about the AirPods Max, you might be wondering who on earth should buy Apple’s over-ear headphones.
The answer is, I think, pretty simple – and it seems to be working for Apple because I’ve seen more AirPods Max while out and about over the last twelve months than I have in the last four years.
If you’re an Apple Person with multiple Apple devices who wants over-ear headphones and the ultimate non-faffery that comes with the ecosystem, AirPods Max will already be on your shopping list. The fact they now have USB-C only makes them more convenient.
Similarly, if you’re an Apple person who doesn’t like Beats headphones (which offer similar non-faffery as the AirPods Max at a reduced price), then AirPods Max will be for you.
Unfortunately, they’re very hard to justify for anyone else. I’m also not convinced you’ll find the previous Lightning version much cheaper, because they are, essentially, still the exact same pair of headphones.
Wrap-up: will we see another version?
The big question for me now is whether we’ll ever see a proper update to AirPods Max. Realistically, now that Apple has ‘updated’ them, it’s unlikely we will for quite some time, but there’s still a chance.
At the very least, we should see the latest H chip added to the next AirPods Max, along with a proper case, and tweaks to the design of the canopy.
Is that too much to ask?
Seemingly, yes.
Before you go
1 Comment
They’ve also *removed* the ability for wired connection entirely, meaning that the Lightning-equipped model actually has more functionality. For crying out loud.