The 9 microphones placed around both earcups aid in noise cancellation and voice pickup. The high clamp force is a nuisance in terms of long-term comfort. The hefty 385g of weight does not help either. The earpads themselves are comfortable, but the clamping force is overdone for my preferences, resulting in pressure buildup around the jaw area after an hour or so. The channel markings are embossed within the pads. The swivel mechanism is also spring-loaded – a novelty in the wireless headphones space. The hinge mechanism allows for a 90-degree rotation of the earcups. The pads are magnetically attached and can be too easy to remove accidentally. The lack of analog input is another odd decision, as most of the competition has that feature. A bit too easy since I accidentally removed them more than once. The earpads are very easy to remove since they are simply mounted via magnets. The earpads are made out of breathable fabric, which can get dirty over time. The breathable mesh pads catch dirt and grime. Both earcups house a total of nine microphones strategically placed around the cups to attenuate noise. The left earcup is bereft of any controls or ports. Apple refuses to move to USB type-C port, and the Airpods Max retain the proprietary Lightning connector for charging. The right side earcup houses the Lightning port with fast-charging support alongside the buttons for playback control and ANC. The sandblasted aluminum shells are prone to smudges. The adjustment mechanism is stepless, so you never quite know how much the headband is extended. The headband is a two-piece construction with the inner steel frame adding rigidity and the outer silicone-coated frame housing the suspension band. ![]() This design decision allows for RF transparency despite a metal chassis, something I hope other manufacturers pick up. The entire construction is aluminum, with antenna lines etched onto the surface like modern smartphones. DesignĪpple Airpods Max are built more like a mechanical watch than traditional pair of headphones. The ANC button on top switches between ANC and Transparency modes. Another nifty feature is that the headphones automatically switch to transparency mode if only one of the earcups is moved away from the ear. The controls are decidedly simple and very easy to get used to. The digital crown controls the playback volume.Īside from the crown, there is an ANC button that can be used to switch between ANC or Transparency mode. You can rotate the crown to increase or decrease the volume, while a middle press plays/pauses music playback or answers/ends a call. A proximity sensor in each earcup for wear-detectionĪpple has repurposed its “Digital Crown” navigation system from the Apple Watches.The quick charge function is handy, but the competition offers even better quick charge performance. I need to charge the headphones once every week, with moderate usage.ĥ mins of charge can get up to 1.5 hours of playback, provided you have a suitable USB-PD adapter and cable. Charge Time (5 mins): up to 90 mins playback timeĪt around 20hrs, the battery life of the Airpods Max is merely average, given the competition is pushing 80 hours of playback.Battery Life: 20 hrs (with ANC and Spatial Audio on).The carrying case offers little protection and looks ridiculous. It mimics a certain undergarment, and worst of all, you cannot avoid using it as the headphones only go to deep sleep when put in the case.įor a brand as design-conscious as Apple, such a terrible case design is nothing short of an abomination. ![]() The so-called “Smart Case” offers little protection, does not cover the entire headphones, and attracts dirt and lint like a magnet. You only get the bare minimum inside, with no special perks for buying their flagship headphones. PackagingĪpple does not bother with fancy packaging, and that trend continues here. So, do the Airpods Max survive the test of time, or are they merely still enjoying the limelight courtesy of brand value? Let’s find out. Two years is a long time, though, long enough to show the age of most products. They are also one of the most expensive Bluetooth headphones around, although the competition has managed to surpass them in the pricing department.Īt launch, the Airpods Max offered features that outperformed most competitors. ![]() It’s been over two years since then, and the Airpods Max are still the top dog in Apple’s lineup.
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