Apple AirPods Max review: The best Apple headphones?

The Apple Airpods Max headphones have become somewhat of an icon since initial release in 2020. The large aluminium earpads, combined with the mesh headband, provide a unique and 'very Apple' look to these over-ear headphones. Not to mention, they sound really, really good.

That said, four years is a long time in the best headphones circles, so like most people, I expected Apple to announce the successor of its over-ear headphones during the company’s annual Special Event held in Cupertino, California, back in 2024.

Interestingly, the brand decided only to update the AirPods Max’s colours and add USB-C charging capabilities – the latter being more of a legal requirement, if anything. The tech giant’s decision might come as a surprise: why wouldn’t an all-new version of the AirPods Max launch, only new iterations of in-ear AirPods?

To find out, I decided to get one of the new Apple AirPods Max models and put it to the test. How does it compare to the best noise-cancelling headphones of today, such as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and the Beats Studio Pro? Most importantly, however, is it worth getting a new AirPods Max in 2025, complete with USB-C, years after initial release?

How much do AirPods Pro Max cost?

The Apple AirPods Max was originally announced in December 2020, available from Apple UK, Apple USand Apple AU for a recommended price of £549 / $549 / AU$899. The new USB-C version was announced in September 2024, with the same recommended retail price – and replacing the older Lightning version. New colours include Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight and Orange.

What's are AirPods Max key specs?

• Battery life: up to 20 hours (w/ ANC), 40 hours (w/o ANC)
• Fast charge: 5 minutes of charge = 1.5 hours of listening time
• Weight: 384.8g / 13.6oz
• Spatial Audio: Yes, with dynamic head tracking
• Microphones: 9
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0

Are the AirPods Max the best headphones design?

The Apple AirPods Max’s look is iconic. It perfectly fits into the company’s design philosophy, combining cool, minimalist aesthetics with a high-tech interior.

The anodised aluminium earcups are the most striking part. They are larger and flatter than most headphones, as well as being more square-shaped with soft, somewhat rounded corners. The smooth outer surface is only broken up by the occasional microphone slits, USB-C hole and the two buttons on the top of the right earcup.

I found the magnetic ear cushions one of the coolest design features. Not only are they ultra-soft, but they can be removed and replaced easily, which negates one of the biggest issues with over-ear headphones: the degradation of the cushion, which often renders headphones unusable. Granted, replacement ear cushions from Apple aren’t cheap, but certainly cheaper than buying a new pair of headphones.

The two earcups are connected with a stainless-steel headband, providing a luxurious and durable feel. There are no stops on the arms, allowing you to adjust the length perfectly. Most of the band is covered in soft silicone, the same colour as the earcups you chose upon purchase. At the top, the band opens up to make way for a thin mesh that provides excellent airflow, further enhancing comfort levels.

One thing to note is that the AirPods Max 2 aren’t the lightest headphones on the market. Coming in at 384.8g (13.6oz), they are heavier than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e, which aren’t lightweight, either. Strangely, the Apple cans don’t feel hefty, largely thanks to the clever ergonomic design and excellent weight distribution.

I left the most controversial part last. The Smart Case attracted some opinions when it was introduced; some reviewers went as far as calling it 'a bra for the AirPods Max'. My colleague Matt Bolton wasn’t a big fan (see also our original Apple AirPods Max review), either. It’s a peculiar design.

One key benefit of using the Smart Case is that it’s designed to optimise battery life and manage power consumption efficiently. When the AirPods Max are placed in the case, they enter an ultra-low-power state that helps preserve battery life by disabling certain power-draining features like Bluetooth and active noise-cancellation (ANC).

The case leaves the thin mesh part of the band and the stainless steel arms exposed, though, which is why so many criticised. I've had the AirPods Max for four months and have often taken them with me in my bag, but I’ve yet to see any damage to either part of the band. Of course, if you tend not to look after your gadgets, you might have a different Smart Case experience.

How comfortable are AirPods Max?

Even though I mentioned the buttons above briefly, I wanted to circle back to them. The Apple AirPods Max have two physical control buttons: a push button and a digital crown, which is a similar setup to the Apple Watch.

I must say, I love the buttons. One of my pet hates is the small, nondescript buttons on headphones that are always flush and impossible to locate. I never had any issues controlling the AirPods Max; it’s all very intuitive and, most importantly, makes sense.

Twisting the digital crown adjusts the volume. The crown’s orientation (front-to-back versus back-to-front) can be changed in the iPhone’s settings menu. Pressing it once stops/starts the audio, while a double-press skips the song. As expected, a triple-press jumps back to the beginning of the song. The press button is only used to cycle between the transparency and noise cancellation modes.

As someone with a gigantic head, I appreciated the extra space in the earcups, and it also helps reduce the pressure on the ears. I found the ear cushions are very accommodating for my glasses, which is unheard of with over-ear headphones. Usually, the clamp force eventually gets the better of me, but no matter how long I wear the AirPods Max, they don’t get uncomfortable.

Hate the Smart Case all you like, but there is one big advantage of not having a pouch that encompasses the entirety of these headphones: you don’t have to readjust the headband every time you want to put the headphones on (another pet hate of mine in other brands' setups). The stopless adjusting already made me happy, but the fact I don’t have to continuously adjust the AirPods Max is the icing on the cake.

As someone who likes to exercise, I had to try the AirPods Max for that purpose. It’s worth noting that the headphones don’t have an official ingress protection rating. Thankfully, I don’t sweat much and felt brave enough to try the AirPods Max for running and a few home workouts. And while the headphones didn’t perform too badly, I definitely felt their weight during my runs. They are fine for more static workout sessions (e.g. classic weight training). In all honesty, there are running headphones better suited for the purpose.

One more thing before we move on to sound quality. Like most Apple products, the AirPods Max can switch between different Apple devices seamlessly – as long as they are all registered to you.

I always listen to music on my phone when I work and use the AirPods Max for meetings. I don’t have to do anything; the AirPods Max automatically switch over between my iPhone and MacBook. There is a slight annoyance with this feature, though. If the website you opened auto-plays videos, the AirPods Max will switch over, even if you don’t want to listen to the audio on the computer. Curse these modern websites and their autoplay videos!

How good do AirPods Max really sound?

If there is one area the Apple AirPods Max can’t be faulted, it’s sound quality. The headphones' ability to produce a balanced and immersive audio experience makes them a top choice for audiophiles and casual listeners alike.

The AirPods Max use a custom-designed 40mm dynamic driver, which ensures rich, detailed sound across the entire frequency spectrum. Highs are crisp and clear without becoming harsh, mids are smooth and natural, and the bass is powerful yet controlled, avoiding the muddy overemphasis often found in rival headphones.

Even though the headphones sound amazing, one of the reasons we all expected a new version to come out in 2024 was that the AirPods Max use the H1 chip. Both the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and the latest Apple AirPods 4 use the company’s H2 chip – one wonders how a H2 chip-enabled AirPods Max would sound.

Adaptive EQ is a superb feature which adjusts the audio output in real time based on the fit and seal of the ear cushions. This ensures a consistent and optimised listening experience, accounting for factors like eyeglasses, hair, and even ear shape. As a result, you get to experience minimal sound leakage and consistent audio quality, which is a huge bonus for glass-wearers such as myself.

The headphones also excel in active noise-cancellation, or ANC for short, which is widely regarded as among the best on the market. By utilising a total of eight microphones, the AirPods Max effectively block external noise.

Some of the sudden high-pitch noises (e.g. train announcements) manage to break through the ANC sound wall. However, most unwanted audio gets filtered out – to a level where people had to wave at me to get my attention.

For those moments when situational awareness is necessary, you can switch to Transparency mode by pressing the control button. This mode works so well that I prefer to keep the headphones on when I converse in the office, which sometimes makes me look rude (who wears over-ears for chatting? I do!).

For movies and video content, the Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking is transformative. It’s by no means a unique feature to the AirPods Max, but thanks to the sonic capabilities of the headphones, it creates a virtual surround sound experience that feels gD enuinely immersive. Spatial Audio is particularly impactful for Dolby Atmos or 5.1/7.1 content, making it feel like the sound is coming from all directions. If only I had an Apple TV 4K so I could enjoy movies and series on a larger screen than my iPad.

There is only one small niggle: the AirPods Max lack support for hi-res audio formats like aptX Lossless or LDAC, which some competitors offer. However, for Apple ecosystem users, their seamless integration, combined with their sound quality, makes the AirPods Max a compelling choice.

Is the new AirPods Max battery life any good?

The Apple AirPods Max offer reliable battery performance, designed to complement their premium features and high-quality audio output. Apple claims up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge with ANC and Spatial Audio enabled.

This figure is competitive but falls short of some newer (and more affordable) rivals, like the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, which boasts up to 60 hours of battery life (with ANC!).

On a more positive note, the AirPods Max have a quick-recharge function, allowing you to replenish one and a half hours of listening time with a mere 5-minute charge. Charging is facilitated via the USB-C port, but of course.

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) review: Verdict

The Apple AirPods Max remains a powerhouse of over-ear audio performance, even four years after debut. These headphones exude luxury, combining unmatched build quality with a design that’s both ergonomic and stylish.

The sound quality is one of the highlights. Despite the lack of EQ customisation and lossless audio support, the AirPods Max are phenomenal headphones that will delight everyone but the most uncompromising audio purists.

Also consider

If you're not locked to Apple's system and don't want to spend quite as much then Bose's QC Ultra Headphones are widely regarded to offer the best ANC on the market. For similar comfort, Sonos fans may consider the Ace headphones instead.