Apple Launches AirPods Max: What To Know About Premium Over-Ear Headphones

Apple has officially launched its first over-ear headphones with an AirPods branding – the AirPods Max. This new device features all the best that other devices in the AirPods line have to offer and adds a few interesting technologies designed to give users “the ultimate personal listening experience.”

The Cupertino-based tech giant said the new audio accessory, which costs more than the iPhone SE, features “incredible high-fidelity audio, Adaptive EQ, Active Noise Cancellation, and spatial audio.” These are combined with a custom design, the AirPods’ “magic” and long battery life.

Here’s a quick look at the new accessory’s features:

Custom Design

The AirPods Max comes in a unique retro-inspired yet futuristic design. Its mesh canopy distributes weight evenly. It has telescoping headband arms. The anodized aluminum earcups are attached to a mechanism that allows them to rotate to contour to the user’s head and ears.

Apple used specially-designed mesh on the ear cushions to provide comfort. The ear cushions themselves have “acoustically engineered” memory foam to create a gentle seal. One of the earcups features a Digital Crown for volume, playback, call and Siri control.

Hi-Fi Audio

Apple said the device is equipped with Apple-designed 40mm dynamic drivers. It also has a “unique” dual neodymium ring magnet motor for less distortion.

The AirPods Max also has an H1 chip in each earcup, each having 10 audio cores to produce high-fidelity audio. It also uses computational audio software to ensure great-quality output.

Adaptive EQ

The AirPods Max is capable of adjusting audio output on the fly based on the fit and seal of the ear cushions. This is to ensure rich detail.

Active Noise Cancellation/Transparency mode

The device has four microphones – three outward-facing and one inward-facing – to monitor ambient noise and the sound the user hears. It then uses this data to adjust noise cancellation, letting users enjoy their music.

The AirPods Max also features Transparency mode, which lets users hear outside noise naturally while their music is being played. Users can switch between the two using the noise control button.

Spatial Audio

The AirPods Max makes use of dynamic head tracking to adjust the audio in real-time. This lets users hear audio from where the device is positioned regardless of their actual physical position.

Other features

Apple said the AirPods Max features the same easy pairing features as that of the AirPods and AirPods Pro. It can also switch from an iPhone to an iPad or a Mac very easily.

The device is rated to last up to 20 hours on a single charge, even with ANC and spatial audio enabled. The AirPods Max comes with a smart case that puts it in an ultralow power state to conserve battery when not in use.

Now, here’s the catch: the AirPods Max costs an eye-watering $549. This is way more expensive than the 2020 iPhone SE, which starts at $399. It’s even more expensive than Sony’s WH-1000XM4 and Bose’s Noise Canceling Headphones 700. It is so expensive that some have mocked its price tag.

That said, Apple fans who don’t mind the cost can get it in silver, space gray, sky blue, pink and green via Apple.com.