Apple Airpods Max
Apple Airpods Max
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MUSIC: Good—7.3/10
CALLS: Fair—6.6/10
GAMING: Poor—5.5/10
TV: Poor—5.7/10
PODCASTS & AUDIOBOOKS: Very Good—8.0/10
EXERCISE: Fair—6.2/10
AIR TRAVEL: Excellent—9.4/10
NOISE REDUCTION: Best in Class—10.0/10
BUILD QUALITY: Excellent—9.0/10
BATTERY: Best in Class—10.0/10
The Apple Airpods Max are over-ear, closed-back headphones known for excellent build quality, comfort, and noise isolation, making them ideal for air travel and environments where you want to block out distractions. They're wireless with the option for a wired connection and have a good reputation for sound quality and a built-in microphone that is suitable for calls. However, for gaming and TV, they may not be the best due to lower performance scores in those areas. They are not sweat or dustproof, which makes them less ideal for exercise, but they do offer 21 hours of battery life for extended listening sessions. They're optimized for Apple devices and support features like ear/head detection and have an integrated mic. The headphones can be folded for easier portability, though they're on the heavier side at 385.5 grams. Keep in mind, they are considered a high-end product, which is reflected in their price. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Evaluation
Pros
- Very good overall sound quality
- Good comfort and build quality
- Excellent noise isolation
- Optimized for Apple devices
- Has a detachable cable
Cons
- Fair portability, not foldable
- Poor score for gaming, TV watching
- Average battery life, no wireless charging
- Pricey relative to competition
Ratings by Category
Battery Life:5.0
The Battery Life rating is based on hours of typical, actual usage.
Air Travel:4.9
This score evaluates the product for use on airplanes and other similar kinds of travel. It takes into account noise reduction and portability, including case shape, case size, and weight. It also incorporates the battery life of the product, long-haul comfort, noise reduction (both active and passive), and sound quality. We generally consider wireless products to be more suitable for air travel.
Podcasts & Audiobooks:4.4
This score evaluates the product when used solely to listen to podcasts or audiobooks. It takes into account sound quality and sound signature, to be able to keep voices clear and intelligible. It also considers battery life, when available, and comfort.
Music:4.2
The Apple Airpods Max deliver very good overall sound quality with closed enclosures that help in creating a private listening experience, and, although they do not support lossless codecs wirelessly, they do have virtual surround sound which can enhance the spaciousness of audio.
Calls:3.6
This evaluates the product when used solely to make and receive calls. It takes into account how well the products are able to clearly reproduce the human voice, the quality of the integrated microphones and the battery life, when available, to be able to use them for longer sessions or conferences.
Portability:3.5
The Portability score is based on an overall assessment that includes volume and maximum dimension of the product (and case, if relevant), and its weight. Special features like foldability for headphones are also taken into account.
Exercise:3.2
This score evaluates the product when used for exercise and physical activity. It mainly takes into account comfort, whether or not the products are sweatproof and how secure are the earbuds or headphones while wearing them. We also consider products with wireless capabilities to be more suitable for this particular scenario
Full Specs
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Price | $549 | ||
Brand | Apple | ||
Release Date | December 1, 2020 | ||
Form Factor | Headphones | ||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | ||
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score  | 7.4/10 | ||
Phone Calls Score | 6.6/10 | ||
Gaming Score | 5.5/10 | ||
TV and Video Score | 5.8/10 | ||
Exercise Score | 6.2/10 | ||
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | 21 Hours | ||
Wireless charging | No | ||
Charging time | 2 Hours | ||
Bluetooth version | 5 | ||
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | ||
Noise Reduction Score | 10/10 | ||
Virtual Surround | Yes | ||
Android App | No | ||
iOS App | Yes | ||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | ||
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | 9/10 | ||
Comfort score | 7/10 | ||
Weight | 385.5 Grams | ||
Microphone style | Integrated | ||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | ||
Shopping
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Adam Molina | July 2023
"Objectively, the AirPods Max is a spectacular pair of headphones. I appreciate the smart features like auto-pause and the transparency mode are super practical. It also sounds great, is well-built, and has solid battery life."
Comparison charts
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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