AirPods Max for $499
Apple has meticulously engineered every component of the AirPods Max to provide cozy comfort and outstanding acoustic performance.
This over-ear headphone features the H1 chip, advanced computational audio, adaptive EQ, breakthrough active noise cancellation, an effective Transparency mode, and spatial audio introduced with the AirPods Pro.
The ear cushions, made from memory foam, are attached to the headband with a revolutionary mechanism
that balances and distributes the pressure it applies, allowing it to pivot and rotate independently to fit the user’s head shape. Volume is controlled by a dial similar in design to the Apple Watch’s crown, which also manages audio playback (pause, play, skip), calls, and Siri. The 40mm drivers are designed in-house, and each ear cup features optical sensors, position sensors, an accelerometer, a case detection sensor, and a gyroscope in the left ear cup.
The AirPods Max includes nine microphones, with eight used for active noise cancellation (ANC) and three for voice detection. The headphones pause when removed and have a 20-hour battery life with ANC or spatial audio activated. Charging is done via the Lightning port, and a fast charge mode provides 1.5 hours of listening after just 5 minutes of charging. The headphones come with a Smart Case specifically designed to trigger an ultra-low power mode.
The sale applies to the Lightning version. Compared to the newer USB-C version, you’ll miss out on the convenience of USB-C charging but will retain the option to listen with a wire via a Lightning to 3.5mm cable, which isn’t possible with the newer model. Other than the charging port, both models are exactly the same, with no improvements in audio quality for the USB-C version.