Apple AirPods Max review: Luxurious audio only Apple can provide

A funny thing happened when I tested Apple’s most recent open-styled earbuds, the AirPods 4 with ANC. I developed a preference for what is effectively Apple’s entry-level earbuds.

Before the AirPods 4 arrived, I used the Sonos Ace for anything connected to my TV, and my first generation AirPods Pro almost everywhere else.

The combination of sound quality and comfort surprised me, and so I decided to try to get my hands on Apple’s premium headphones to see if I would have a similar experience. I had missed the chance to review the AirPods Max when they first launched, but with the upgrade to USB-C I was able to get my hands on a pair of Apple’s premium headphones.

After a couple of months of testing, I’m torn. There are elements here that Apple excels at in a way that only Apple can. The design is exceptional, and the audio quality is fantastic. The automatic pairing and switching between Apple devices is still a connectivity benchmark.

But the clamping force of these headphones is far too tight, particularly for anyone wearing glasses. And while the anodised aluminium cups look stunning, they aren’t exactly comfortable resting on your collarbones.

What do the AirPods Max offer?

Let’s start with the price tag. While you can (and should) shop around to get a better price, the RRP on the AirPods Max is an eye-watering $899.

Yes, that’s almost as much as the iPhone 16e, and technically more than the 128 GB entry-level iPad. In a world where the Sonos Ace costs $699 at full price and Sony’s WH-1000XM5 costs $549 at RRP, there is an even more significant premium on Apple’s AirPods Max than you might expect.

Part of that price tag has to come down to the materials. With anodised aluminium cups in a range of colours, paired with a breathable knitted mesh canopy, the AirPods Max exude build quality.

Each ear cup is soft, wrapping around the ear to create an impressive audio seal for passive noise reduction, while the telescopic arms help create a comfortable fit.

Buttons are kept to a minimum here, with only a Digital Crown like the Apple Watch for controlling volume, music playback, and Siri, as well as a noise cancellation button.

This simplicity extends to Apple’s automatic pairing to multiple Apple devices where you are logged in, so you can jump from a phone call to a FaceTime chat on your M4 MacBook Air with no effort at all.

While design and usability are both key buying decisions for the AirPods Max, the biggest factor has to be audio quality.

Apple’s premium headphones sound fantastic, thanks to its custom-designed driver, which offers impressive audio quality without any distortion, even at high volumes.

Things get even more impressive with Spatial Audio tracks, giving a real sensation of being immersed in the sound.

In typical Apple fashion, Apple launched the AirPods Max without support for lossless audio playback, but a recent software added that functionality in for the USB-C version of the headphones.

This means that owners can experience audio at 24-bit, 48kHz lossless audio, exactly as the music was heard in the studio where it was mixed. The catch is that you have to use a cable, which kind of defeats the purpose of wireless headphones, right?

What do the AirPods Max do well?

I really love the visual design of the AirPods Max. The unit Apple sent me to test was a beautiful blue colour that really stands apart from the black and white you see most premium headphones ship with.

The aluminium ear cups give the headphones a real premium feel – which is good considering the asking price.

The cushions of the AirPods Max are soft and breathable, while the mesh headband is a nice change from the faux-leather I’m used to on the top of my head. It’s soft and comfortable and takes the bulk of the weight.

From an audio perspective, the AirPods Max sound fantastic. It doesn’t offer the full range or clarity of the Sennheiser HD505, but the closed back design and wireless connectivity do play a part there.

I listened to a range of music while testing the AirPods Max, from Jeff Buckley to the Foo Fighters, from Mumford & Sons to Metallica. While everything’s well-balanced and safe to listen to, what stood out was just how good Spatial Audio sounds through these headphones.

I have a definite preference for Spatial Audio when I can get it (when it’s mixed well, that is – Paramore’s This is why album is exceptionally well mixed, though Powderfinger’s Odyssey Number 5 feels a bit lost. But that’s a different discussion). And compared to the likes of the Sonos Ace – which was no slouch in this department, the AirPods just feel effortlessly immersive.

The lossless functionality, for me at least, seemed like too much effort for not much actual benefit. I couldn’t really tell much difference.

The other area the AirPods Max excel is in the transparency and noise cancellation. Being able to have an actual conversation with over-ear headphones without having to turn down the volume to hear the other person is what you expect transparency mode to enable, but so often I’m left feeling underwhelmed.

But with ANC switched on, the outside world just disappears. I would regularly pop on the AirPods Max while cooking next to the range hood running loudly and just not hear it at all.

Finally, Apple’s simplicity of pairing and switching between Apple devices is truly effortless. Once you set up the AirPods Max with your Apple account, you can connect it to your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV and switch between audio sources effortlessly.

What could the AirPods Max improve?

The biggest issue with these headphones, bar none, is the clamping force makes them uncomfortable to wear for an extended period of time. It’s infinitely worse if you wear glasses.

My wife would remark on the noticeable dent in my skull after I removed the headphones after work, a result of my glasses being squeezed tightly against my head.

Even if you don’t wear glasses, I think these clamp a bit too tight. Sure, it gives a nice seal for the noise cancellation, but it’s still too much pressure.

Similar to the Sonos Ace, the ear cups on these AirPods frustratingly only fold outwards. This design flaw means that when you want to take a break and rest them around your neck, the hard, metallic exterior clangs against your collarbones instead of the comfortable cushioning.

This persistent design choice among headphone manufacturers baffles me – why don’t they make the headphones comfortable to wear around your neck as well as on your head?

Apple also made a choice to offer a “Smart Case”, which is less a case and more a sleeve for your headphones that covers the ear cups and not much more.

I’ve got to say that I really don’t like this approach. I’d rather a full case to protect and store the whole headphones, instead of just the ear cups. Especially given the AirPods Max doesn’t have a power button.

That’s right – you can’t turn these headphones off. If you want to preserve the battery, you need to drop them in the case, which puts the headphones in a low-power mode. The headphones will also go into low-power mode if you leave them sitting somewhere without moving for 5 minutes, but if you happen to just drop them in a bag, they’ll still be running.

There’s also an ultra-low power mode, which kicks in after 18 hours in the smart car or 72 hours of sitting stationary.

The result of this is that, for me at least, the 20 hours of battery life felt ambitious.

Verdict

If you’re heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, with a Mac, an iPhone, and an Apple TV, then you’ll appreciate the easy connection of the AirPods Max and the premium audio experience it delivers.

But if you’re weighing up the AirPods Max and you don’t already have that buy in for Apple, I think there are better options elsewhere. I love the Sonos Ace, personally, but that also has the requirement of brand buy-in with its soundbar audio transfer feature.

The truth is that there is no shortage of exceptional over-ear noise-cancelling headphones on the market right now, with great models from Sony, Bose and Sennheiser, all of which are cheaper than what Apple offers.

The AirPods do look and sound fantastic, but they can get uncomfortable (especially if you wear glasses) and are definitely some of the pricier premium headphones on the market. For most people, you can probably get a better experience elsewhere.

Find the best price for the AirPods Max online

Apple AirPods Max

RRP: $899

Compare Prices @ BTTR.Store