Tough testing, trusted ratings
AirPods Max
Are Apple’s over–ear headphones worth the big price?
$549 From Apple, apple.com
Features Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), 2x optical sensors, 2x position sensors, 2x case–detect sensors, 2x accelerometers, 1x gyroscope, 9x microphones (8x for ANC, 3x for voice pickup), H1 chip, Digital Crown, up to 20 hours’ listening time, Smart Case, Bluetooth 5.0, USB–C charging port, 6.64x3.28x7.37in, 13.6oz
The case cleverly puts the headphones into a very low–power state, but the design has flaws.
The AirPods Max were the most hotly anticipated headphones of 2020. Costing $549, they’re more expensive than many of the best over–ear headphones today.
There’s an unmistakable Apple quality to them. The ear cup outers are made from aluminium and the headband frame is stainless steel, so the headphones are sturdy but quite heavy, coming in at a weighty 13.6oz.