Ever since Prime Day, sales on headphones have continued to impress. The AirPods Max had already dropped to their then-lowest price of $394.99, but right now, the pink AirPods Max are even cheaper at $382.70 (originally $549).
AirPods Max are undeniably a luxury item; at their regular price, they cost over half a grand. Most people can’t reasonably afford that amount of money for just headphones, but they are very good headphones. As an Apple user, they’re just about the best you can get, even though they have been out for a few years now. They came out in 2020, back when there wasn’t a lot of competition for headphones that could do active noise canceling (ANC) and ambient awareness while still providing luxe audio. Today, there’s a lot more competition in all of those categories, especially at this price point. However, buying AirPods Max is a statement. Even though they don’t have the Apple logo, you’re paying a premium price for the recognition. If that’s what you’re after, these headphones are it.
The features aren’t all that impressive, but that’s expected for headphones that are four years old. The few features they have, however, are very well done (on-brand for Apple’s minimalist vibe). They have great ANC (they don’t give off that weird pressure sensation when you turn them on), have ambient awareness to hear your surroundings, and have adaptive EQ and spatial audio, which adjusts the audio automatically to you and your environment, and hands-free Siri. PCMag gave them an “excellent” review.
Keep in mind that AirPods Max are heavier than regular headphones, at 13.6 ounces. This comes from the choice to use metal for the material. You also can’t manually adjust the EQ, so if you don’t like the sound signature, you’re out of luck. Finally, the smart case it comes with is not the most attractive and doesn’t protect the mesh strap that rests on your head (a delicate part of the headphones). You also need the case to put your headphones in “sleep” mode so your 20 hours of battery aren’t drained.
