Apple’s AirPods Max got here out 5 years in the past. Really feel previous but? I do, however that’s most likely as a result of, as my physician has defined, I’m poor in vitamin D. Me being form of previous doesn’t assist, both, however hey, who’s counting? (Me, I’m counting.) Sufficient about the deafening roar of my very own mortality; let’s discuss AirPods Max.
When Apple’s AirPods Max have been first unveiled precisely 5 years in the past on Dec. 15, 2020, it marked a giant step for the firm. Certain, it had been churning out AirPods since 2016, however the AirPods Max have been its first pair of over-ear wi-fi headphones (not counting Beats) that set a brand new expectation for sound high quality and an unprecedented pressure on your pockets together with it. In true Apple vogue, the over-ear cans debuted at $549, which is dearer than any AirPods-branded product to date and nicely greater than midway to shopping for your self a model new iPhone 17. I’ll offer you one guess what they price now. In case you guessed $549, congratulations, as a result of the value hasn’t modified in any respect.
To be truthful, Apple did update the AirPods Max last year, including USB-C (thank God) and lossless audio help. It additionally added a number of new colours. However I believe we are able to all agree, it doesn’t matter what a game-changer having the ability to cost your headphones with USB-C is, a substantive replace this was not.
It’s wild to suppose that Apple might nonetheless be promoting its 5-year-old AirPods Max for $549 in the ripe previous yr of 2025, however in the event you put a pair on proper now, I believe most would agree: overpriced or not, they nonetheless maintain up. Due to the dimension and type issue of over-ear wi-fi headphones, AirPods Max introduced a number of of AirPods’ key options to the subsequent degree. A type of options is lively noise cancellation (ANC). AirPods Max, like different over-ear wi-fi headphones, are nice at cancelling noise, which is thanks to a few issues.
One motive is software program. In the AirPods Max, Apple included its H1 chip, which was initially launched on Apple’s second-gen AirPods wi-fi earbuds. The H1 introduced extra superior “computational audio” to the get together, which is an Apple manner of claiming higher algorithms for ANC and different options. Computing is solely a part of the image, although; on prime of the H1, there’s additionally the incontrovertible fact that AirPods Max are, nicely, headphones, which implies they’ve passive noise cancellation, which means the ear cups create a greater seal round your ear. That makes all of that high-tech computational audio sound (or technically not sound) much more superior than on its wi-fi earbuds.
Introducing the AirPods Max and an over-ear type issue additionally opened up the door to actually hammer residence one other key function: transparency. Whereas loads of wireless headphones and earbuds have transparency modes for listening to your environment with out taking the headphones off, Apple’s AirPods Max regularly get excessive marks. The reality is, Apple’s transparency simply sounds higher—lots much less synthetic, tinny, and usually off-putting than rivals. Part of that is, once more, thanks to Apple’s H1 chip in addition to the bevy of high-quality mics on the headphones. AirPods Max transparency doesn’t simply translate your environment; it additionally permits you to hear your personal voice naturally, which is a giant a part of having an natural dialog.
Like ANC, it’s not simply the H1 doing all the work; it’s simply the incontrovertible fact that AirPods Max don’t require that you just stick a bit of silicone in your ear canal. The identical may very well be stated for any pair of wi-fi headphones, clearly, but it surely’s Apple’s acumen in software program and {hardware} that brings all of it residence. Hell, it would even make the $549 price ticket really feel rather less offensive.
As iconic as the AirPods Max are (boy, do I see numerous knockoffs on the subway in New York Metropolis), they’re in an odd spot when it comes to the place they may evolve subsequent. Theoretically, a subsequent technology might convey a number of issues—extra battery life, for instance. Whereas 20 hours on a single cost isn’t dangerous, there are loads of over-ear wi-fi headphones that beat Apple in that division. Nothing’s Headphone 1, for instance, get 35 hours with ANC on, whereas Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) get 30 hours and beat the AirPods Max in the noise-canceling division to boot.
The introduction of Apple’s H2 chip would possible assist in that regard, bringing extra energy effectivity and probably higher ANC and sound high quality, however after a number of years (and counting) and not using a sequel, will that be sufficient to justify a quantity subsequent to the AirPods Max identify? On the audio entrance, Apple appears to be extra formidable than that at the second. Its AirPods Pro 3, which, likewise, took a major break between numbered generations, improved on the fundamentals (sound high quality and ANC), however added boundary-pushing options like coronary heart fee monitoring and dwell translations to the combine. Will Apple’s AirPods Max 2 really feel the same urge to up the ante? My guess is sure, particularly with a value like that.
AirPods might not see vital updates till 2026 (aligning with my earlier prediction that IR camera-equipped AirPods would enter mass manufacturing in 2026). A lighter model of the AirPods Max is anticipated to enter mass manufacturing in 2027.
AirPods可能要到2026年才會有顯著更新…
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) May 18, 2025
AirPods Max 2 are nonetheless very a lot the stuff of hypothesis, however a few of the most trusted voices in the Apple rumor mill (Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and provide chain analyst Ming Chi-Kuo) have each eyed 2027 as the eventual launch date, marking an entire 7 years between potential generations. That’s a very long time to wait for brand spanking new AirPods Max, but when there’s one factor the AirPods Professional 3 have proven us, it’s that we don’t all the time want yearly iterations to really feel happy. Plus, that offers you a few years to save up. If there’s one factor the AirPods Max proves, it’s that an Apple-branded standing image doesn’t come low-cost.
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