Apple’s AirPods Max have always been pricey, but at $399 (down from $599) ahead of Cyber Monday for the USB-C version, that hesitation goes away fast. These over-ear headphones deliver a full experience from the very first listen. The design wraps around your head with a breathable knit mesh canopy and anodized aluminum cups that feel substantial without weighing you down. Weighing under a pound, they fold flat for easy storage in the included slim case which now has a better magnetic closure to keep everything secure.
Sound pours out of the 40mm drivers with clarity that makes ordinary tracks sound extraordinary. Bass hits deep and controlled, mids stay balanced for vocals that cut through, and highs sparkle without getting harsh after hours. The headphones adapt to your ears through the H2 chip which scans and adjusts in real time to what you hear best. Switch between songs and calls and the audio switches seamlessly, voices come in crisp even in noisy areas. Spatial audio adds a layer of depth, movies feel like they surround you especially on Apple devices where head tracking keeps the sound locked in place as you move. Pairing takes seconds with any iPhone or iPad and the connection holds up to 30 feet away without the drops that plague cheaper wireless headphones.
- ULTIMATE OVER-EAR LISTENING EXPERIENCE — Apple-designed dynamic driver provides high-fidelity audio. Computational audio combines custom acoustic...
- FIVE FRESH COLORS — AirPods Max come in five fresh colors: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, and Orange. A color-matched Smart Case is also...
- FOCUS ON WHAT’S PLAYING — Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation removes up to 2x more background noise, so you can immerse yourself in music.*
Active noise cancellation is one of the better options available, easily blocking out traffic or coffee shop chatter. Flip the digital crown to transparency mode, and the world returns to normal; you can hear announcements or conversations without taking off your headphones. That crown, borrowed from the Apple Watch, is also a volume dial with satisfying clicks, the button is play, pause and skip. During workouts or commutes the padding molds to your head over time reducing pressure points that bother after hours of wear. The battery lasts up to 20 hours, which is equivalent to a full day of use, and a 5-minute charge adds 90 minutes to your playtime. When necessary, low power mode extends this even further, all of which is managed from your phone’s settings. USB-C also allows for tethered listening with lossless audio from a suitable source, which is a luxury with wireless headphones. Firmware upgrades occur in the background, with no action necessary from you.
