5 Years Later, AirPods Max Really feel as Bougie as Ever

Apple’s AirPods Max got here out 5 years in the past. Really feel outdated but? I do, however that’s most likely as a result of, as my physician has defined, I’m poor in vitamin D. Me being sort of outdated doesn’t assist, both, however hey, who’s counting? (Me, I’m counting.) Sufficient concerning 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 an enormous step for the corporate. 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 in your pockets together with it. In true Apple trend, the over-ear cans debuted at $549, which is dearer than any AirPods-branded product up to now and effectively greater than midway to purchasing your self a model new iPhone 17. I’ll provide you with one guess what they price now. When you guessed $549, congratulations, as a result of the value hasn’t modified in any respect.

To be honest, Apple did update the AirPods Max last year, including USB-C (thank God) and lossless audio help. It additionally added just a few 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.

See AirPods Max at Amazon

It’s wild to suppose that Apple might nonetheless be promoting its 5-year-old AirPods Max for $549 within the ripe outdated 12 months of 2025, however in case you put a pair on proper now, I believe most would agree: overpriced or not, they nonetheless maintain up. Due to the scale and type issue of over-ear wi-fi headphones, AirPods Max introduced just a few of AirPods’ key options to the subsequent degree. A kind of options is lively noise cancellation (ANC). AirPods Max, like different over-ear wi-fi headphones, are nice at cancelling noise, which is due to a few issues.

One cause is software program. Within 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 celebration, which is an Apple method of claiming higher algorithms for ANC and different options. Computing is barely a part of the image, although; on prime of the H1, there’s additionally the truth that AirPods Max are, effectively, headphones, which suggests they’ve passive noise cancellation, that 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 incessantly get excessive marks. The reality is, Apple’s transparency simply sounds higher—lots much less synthetic, tinny, and customarily off-putting than opponents. Part of that’s, once more, due 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 lets you hear your personal voice naturally, which is an enormous a part of having an natural dialog.

Like ANC, it’s not simply the H1 doing all of the work; it’s simply the truth that AirPods Max don’t require that you simply stick a chunk of silicone in your ear canal. The identical could possibly 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’d even make the $549 price ticket really feel rather less offensive.

As iconic because 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 might evolve subsequent. Theoretically, a subsequent era might convey just a few issues—extra battery life, for instance. Whereas 20 hours on a single cost isn’t dangerous, there are many 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 within the noise-canceling division in addition.

The introduction of Apple’s H2 chip would doubtless assist in that regard, bringing extra energy effectivity and doubtlessly higher ANC and sound high quality, however after a number of years (and counting) with no sequel, will that be sufficient to justify a quantity subsequent to the AirPods Max title? On the audio entrance, Apple appears to be extra formidable than that for the time being. Its AirPods Pro 3, which, likewise, took a major break between numbered generations, improved on the basics (sound high quality and ANC), however added boundary-pushing options like coronary heart price monitoring and dwell translations to the combination. Will Apple’s AirPods Max 2 really feel an analogous urge to up the ante? My guess is sure, particularly with a value like that.

AirPods could 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 predicted 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 among the most trusted voices within the Apple rumor mill (Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and provide chain analyst Ming Chi-Kuo) have each eyed 2027 because the eventual launch date, marking a complete 7 years between potential generations. That’s a very long time to attend for brand 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 avoid wasting up. If there’s one factor the AirPods Max proves, it’s that an Apple-branded standing image doesn’t come low-cost.

See AirPods Max at Amazon