AirPods Max

I've been using the Airponds Max for about three months now, and I feel like I can give a proper, thorough assessment. Let me start with the sound quality, because that's really the main event here. The first thing I noticed was how wide the soundstage is. I listen to a lot of live recordings and orchestral music, and the sense of space is genuinely impressive for a closed-back wireless headphone. Instruments have clear separation — you can pick out individual elements in dense mixes that get lost on lesser headphones. The bass is tight and controlled rather than boomy. It extends deep enough for electronic music but never overwhelms the mids. Speaking of mids, vocals sound natural and present, which is important for someone like me who listens to a lot of singer-songwriter stuff. Highs are detailed without being sibilant — cymbals and hi-hats sound realistic rather than harsh. Now for the noise cancellation. I've tried the Sony XM5s, the Bose QC Ultras, and the AirPods Pro 2, and I'd say the Airponds Max are competitive with all of them. They're particularly good at blocking out low-frequency noise like engine rumble, HVAC systems, and traffic. They're slightly less effective at sudden high-frequency sounds like someone shouting or a dog barking, but that's true of all ANC headphones. The transparency mode is excellent — very natural sounding, almost like you're not wearing headphones at all. I can have quick conversations without taking them off. Build quality is where these really shine. The aluminum ear cups feel premium and should hold up well over time. The headband mechanism is smooth and has a satisfying amount of resistance. The memory foam ear cushions are plush and comfortable. However, and this is a big however, these headphones are heavy. At 385 grams, they're significantly heavier than the Sony XM5s (250g) and Bose QC Ultras (250g). I've gotten used to it, but for the first week or two, I definitely noticed the weight after an hour or two of wear. The clamping force is also fairly strong out of the box, though it loosens up over time. Battery life has been a mixed bag for me. I'm getting about 16-18 hours with ANC on, which is less than the advertised 20 hours. It's still enough for most use cases, but competitors offer 30+ hours. The charging speed is decent — about 1.5 hours for a full charge via Lightning. Yes, Lightning, not USB-C, which is annoying in 2025/2026 when everything else I own uses USB-C. The smart case sleep mode is unreliable — sometimes I pull them out and they're at 100%, other times they've somehow drained to 50% overnight. The digital crown for volume control is genuinely excellent. It's satisfying to use and more precise than touch controls. The lack of a power button is weird at first but you get used to it — they turn on when you unfold them and go to sleep when you put them in the case. Call quality is acceptable but not great. People can hear me fine in quiet environments but struggle to hear me on busy streets. Overall, these are excellent headphones with some frustrating quirks. The sound quality and ANC are top-tier, the build is premium, and the design is iconic. But the weight, the case, the Lightning port, and the battery life all prevent them from being perfect. I'd give them a strong 8.5/10. If you can find them at a discount, they're absolutely worth it. At full retail, you need to decide whether the sound quality and build justify the compromises.

Recommended

I've had these for about six months now, so I wanted to share my long-term experience. I'll try to cover everything I can think of. Let's start with the unboxing experience. The packaging is very Apple — minimal, premium, satisfying to open. The headphones come in that distinctive case that everyone makes fun of, and honestly, the criticism is warranted. It looks like a purse or a bra or something. It doesn't offer much protection either — it's basically just a sleeve. I bought a hard case on Amazon for $20 and it's way better. The headphones themselves, when you first pick them up, feel incredibly solid. The aluminum is cold to the touch and the mesh headband looks elegant. But then you realize how heavy they are. My first thought was "there's no way these are comfortable for long periods." I was partially wrong. After the first week of adjustment, the weight becomes less noticeable. The memory foam ear cushions distribute the pressure well, and the headband does a good job of spreading the weight across the top of your head. I can comfortably wear them for 3-4 hours at a time. Beyond that, I do start to feel the weight. I've fallen asleep with them on a few times on long flights and woken up with a slightly sore neck. So they're comfortable, but not all-day comfortable like the Sony XM5s. Sound quality is where these really excel. I listen to a very wide range of music — everything from classical to death metal to hip hop to jazz — and these handle it all beautifully. The frequency response is remarkably balanced. There's a slight warmth to the sound that makes everything pleasant to listen to, but it's not so colored that it distorts the music. Detail retrieval is excellent. I've been hearing subtle details in recordings that I've never noticed before — background vocals, room ambience, the sound of fingers sliding on guitar strings. It's genuinely impressive. The noise cancellation has held up well over six months. No degradation in performance. It's still just as effective at blocking out my noisy neighbors and street traffic. The transparency mode is still one of the best I've used — very natural sounding. I use it all the time when I need to be aware of my surroundings. Battery life has degraded slightly. When new, I was getting about 18-19 hours with ANC. Now I'm getting about 16-17 hours. That's still acceptable, but it's worth noting. The Lightning port is genuinely annoying. I have to keep a separate cable for these when everything else I own charges via USB-C. It's a small thing but it adds friction to the daily experience. The build quality has held up perfectly. No creaking, no loose parts, no signs of wear on the ear cushions or headband. The aluminum ear cups still look like new. These are built to last. I've dropped them a few times and there's not a single scratch. The digital crown still works perfectly — it's one of my favorite features. Connectivity has been rock solid. They pair instantly with my iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Switching between devices is seamless. Range is excellent — I can walk to the other end of my apartment without losing connection. No dropouts or stuttering. Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase. They're not perfect — the weight, the case, the Lightning port, and the battery life are all legitimate criticisms. But the sound quality, ANC, and build quality are best-in-class. If you can accept the compromises, these are fantastic headphones. I'd recommend them to anyone who prioritizes sound quality and build over portability and convenience.

Recommended

Got these on sale for $350 and at that price they're excellent. Sound quality is great. ANC is very good. Build is premium. They're heavy and the case is bad but for $150 off retail I'm happy. Wouldn't pay full price but on sale they're a great buy.

Recommended

I have several ear piercings and these headphones press against them painfully. The ear cups are deep enough for my ears but the pressure pushes my piercings into the side of my head. I can only wear them for about 20 minutes before it hurts. Sound quality is great when I can wear them but the comfort issue is a dealbreaker for me. If you don't have piercings you'll probably be fine.

Would not recommend this product

Yes they're heavy. Yes the case is too big. Yes they're expensive. But the sound quality is genuinely exceptional. The ANC is best in class. The build quality is unmatched. If you can get past the weight and the price, these are incredible headphones. I use them daily and have no regrets.

Recommended

Got these refurbished for $320 and at that price they're a steal. Sound quality is excellent. ANC is very good. Build quality is premium. They're heavy but I got used to it. The case is still stupid though. For full retail price I'd probably give them 3 stars but for what I paid they're a 4.

Recommended

Picked these up at a really good price compared to retail. They were listed as "Good" condition and honestly they look barely used. Sound quality is excellent — really clear with nice warmth. The ANC is great for studying in coffee shops. Battery life has been consistent. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is the weight. They're definitely on the heavier side. But for the price I paid, I'm very satisfied.

Recommended

Got these at a discount and for the price they're excellent. Sound quality is really good — clear, detailed, with nice bass. ANC works well. Build quality is premium. They are heavy though and the case is too big. But for what I paid, I'm very satisfied. If you can find these on sale, grab them.

Recommended

Got these refurbished for $300 and at that price they're excellent. Sound quality is great. ANC is very good. Build quality is premium. They're heavy and the case is bad but for $300 off retail I can live with it. If you can find a good deal on these, go for it.

Recommended

The headphones themselves are excellent — great sound, great ANC, great build. But the smart case issue is real. Multiple times I've pulled them out of the case and the battery is completely drained because they didn't go to sleep properly. I've started manually putting them in low power mode before storing them. It's annoying for $500 headphones. Other than that, they're great.

Recommended

The headphones themselves are fantastic. Sound quality is amazing, ANC is top notch, build quality is premium. But whoever designed the carrying case needs to be stopped. It's huge. Like comically large. It takes up half my backpack and doesn't leave room for anything else. I ended up buying a third-party case that's way more practical. Also, the "Smart Case" that puts them in low power mode doesn't really work that well — I've pulled them out of my bag multiple times with a dead battery because they didn't go to sleep properly. Minor annoyances for an otherwise excellent product.

Recommended

The digital crown for volume control is so satisfying to use. It clicks nicely and is way better than touch controls. Sound quality is excellent. ANC is great. Build quality is premium. They are heavy though and the case is too big. But the digital crown alone makes these more enjoyable to use than my old Sonys.

Recommended

Great headphones let down by terrible accessories. The "Smart Case" is a joke — it barely protects the headphones and the sleep mode feature is unreliable. Half the time I pull them out and the battery is drained because they didn't go to sleep properly. I bought a hard shell case from Amazon for $20 and it's way better. The headphones themselves are fantastic — great sound, great ANC, great build. But Apple really dropped the ball on the case.

Recommended