When Apple debuted a $549 set of noise-cancelling headphones, there was clearly some sticker shock. The AirPods Max are much more expensive than any of our other suggestions. But Apple’s build quality is out of this world: instead of the plastic found in many noise-cancelling headphones, these are made of steel and aluminium, and the ear cups are made of a breathable mesh fabric. There’s no disputing that these are heavy headphones. Apart from Apple’s refusal to provide a headphone cable in the box, there’s nothing cheap about the AirPods Max. And I enjoy how easy it is to use the digital crown as a controller rather than relying on hit-or-miss motions like taps and swipes.
The most significant aspect is that the AirPods Max provide the highest audio quality available from high-end Bluetooth headphones. They offer a deep, broad soundstage and amazing dynamics, and you’ll find yourself jumping around your music library to hear what they bring out in your favourite songs. Apple’s noise cancellation rivals that of Sony and Bose, and no one does transparency mode better; at times, it can fool you into thinking you’re not wearing headphones at all. Extras like Spatial Audio (surround sound for movies and TV shows) and easy switching across Apple devices make the steep price a little easier to accept.
However, the AirPods Max are not without flaws. The carrying case is horrible, the battery life is just average for the category, and they’re developed with Apple’s ecosystem in mind, just like conventional AirPods. If you don’t live in the iPhone and Mac universe, it’s considerably more difficult to justify spending $550 on them.
