Apple’s AirPods Max are one of the most intriguing products of the year and also one of the most expensive in the headphone segment. Are they worth the €579 price tag? How do they compare to other premium headphones on the market? In this review, I will dive into the design, sound quality, features and drawbacks of the AirPods Max, and also test them against some of the main competitors, such as Sony’s XM4s, Bose 700s and Bang & Olufsen’s H9s and H95s.
Design and comfort
The metal arms, mesh headband and anodised aluminium ear cups create a mix of contemporary and vintage design. They are a high-quality piece of hardware, as well as stylish and distinctive. The ear cups are removable and magnetic and available in a variety of colours. The ear cushions use memory foam (it almost feels like a mattress advert) and the headband is comfortable, adjustable to your head and the headphones weigh more than 384 grams.
Sound quality and noise cancellation
You can clearly distinguish treble, mids and bass, with excellent sound quality. The sound does not distort at high volumes and stays accurate and clear. They also support Spatial Audio, which delivers a surround-sound effect when you watch compatible content such as movies.
Noise cancellation is also impressive, as it blocks most ambient noise and creates a calm and pleasant listening experience. There is also a transparency mode that lets you hear the outside world without pausing your music.
Features and battery life
They include the same features that make the AirPods Pro so popular, such as automatic switching, easy pairing and integration with Siri. However, they also have some drawbacks, such as the lack of USB-C and the need for a special cable to use wired mode.
Overall
Battery life is reasonable but not outstanding. They can work in a low-power mode that extends battery life. With noise cancellation and Spatial Audio turned on, they last around 20 hours of listening and you charge them with a Lightning cable. They do not support fast charging and a five-minute charge gives only about an hour and a half of playback.
Comparison with other headphones
AirPods Max face strong competition from other brands and they are not the only premium headphones on the market. In this review, I compared them with the Bang & Olufsen H9 and H95, the Bose 700 and the Sony XM4, all priced between $300 and $800.
The Sony XM4s deliver the best noise cancellation, and they also offer long battery life, a comfortable design and exceptional sound quality. They include touch controls, a foldable design, fast charging and USB-C, all features that the AirPods Max lack. However, the build quality, more balanced sound and better transparency mode of the AirPods Max are superior.
The Bose 700 feature an innovative design, strong noise cancellation and very clear voice quality for calls. They also include a hard case, USB-C and touch controls. Even so, sound quality, the more comfortable headband and smoother automatic switching are areas where the AirPods Max come out ahead.
Conclusion
AirPods Max are a fantastic product. They offer deep integration with Apple systems, such as automatic switching, easy pairing and Siri integration. However, they are very expensive, heavy and limited in several ways, such as the need for a special cable and the questionable smart case.
They are not perfect and not ideal for everyone, and most people will not pay €549 to own them. Even so, they rank among the best headphones on the market, so if you want a premium audio experience and you are willing to pay the premium price, they deserve consideration.
