Apple announces $549 AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones, coming December 15th (2024)

It turns out Apple has one more major hardware announcement before 2020 comes to a close: after many months of rumors, Apple today unveiled its own over-ear noise-canceling headphones. They’re called the AirPods Max, and they come with the premium design that’s expected from flagship Apple headphones. They also come with an extremely premium $549 price and are set to go on sale on December 15th. Preorders start today.

The AirPods Max come in five colors: space gray, silver, sky blue, green, and pink. They feature what Apple calls a “custom acoustic design” with a 40mm driver system “that provides rich, deep bass, accurate mid-ranges, and crisp, clean high-frequency extension so every note can be heard.” Apple has brought over a number of features that first debuted in the AirPods line, like adaptive EQ, transparency mode, spatial audio, and audio sharing. There’s even an element from the Apple Watch — the Digital Crown — that has made its way to these headphones. Apple says it “offers precise volume control and the ability to play or pause audio, skip tracks, answer or end phone calls, and activate Siri.” There’s also a separate “noise control” button for switching between noise-canceling and transparency modes.

Apple announces $549 AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones, coming December 15th (1)

Apple announces $549 AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones, coming December 15th (2)

Image: Apple

As for the design, here’s what Apple says:

The breathable knit mesh canopy, spanning the headband, is made to distribute weight and reduce on-head pressure. The stainless steel headband frame provides strength, flexibility, and comfort for a wide variety of head shapes and sizes. Telescoping headband arms smoothly extend and stay in place to maintain the desired fit.

Each ear cup attaches to the headband through a revolutionary mechanism that balances and distributes ear cup pressure, and allows it to independently pivot and rotate to fit the unique contours of a user’s head.

None of that sounds particularly “revolutionary” when stacked up next to other high-end noise-canceling headphones, but the memory foam ear cushions should make for good comfort. They’re also removable and attach via magnets, so hopefully replacing them won’t be too much trouble.

Apple announces $549 AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones, coming December 15th (3)

Apple announces $549 AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones, coming December 15th (4)

The AirPods Max offer 20-hour battery life and charge over Apple’s Lightning connector — not USB-C. (Apple has a sold-separately $35 Lightning to 3.5mm cable for wired listening.) If you’re in a hurry, a five-minute charge gets you 90 minutes of playback time. The headphones automatically pause audio when removed from your ears and resume playback when you put them back on.

There’s also a “smart case” for the AirPods Max (below) that automatically puts them into a low-power state. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem that Apple is selling a more protective hardshell case at this time.

Apple announces $549 AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones, coming December 15th (5)

Apple announces $549 AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones, coming December 15th (6)

Image: Apple

Similar to approaches from Bose, Sony, and others, Apple’s noise-cancellation system produces anti-noise to hush external sound by using six outward-facing microphones. Two inward-facing mics measure what you’re hearing to cancel out additional distractions. Apple also claims the AirPods Max perform well for voice calls (even in windy conditions) with their built-in beamforming mics.

Apple announces $549 AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones, coming December 15th (7)

Apple announces $549 AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones, coming December 15th (8)

Image: Apple

By moving into the premium headphones space, Apple will directly compete with brands like Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, AKG, Bowers and Wilkins, and others that have years of experience and a long list of products between them. Apple is going higher than just about all of them on price, but the company is riding the momentum of the AirPods and AirPods Pro, which have dominated the true wireless earbuds market. My biggest question is whether the sound quality can live up to the price. For much less, you can get the Sony 1000XM4, which support LDAC, a wireless audio codec that isn’t too far off from CD quality. There’s no equivalent for this on iPhone, and Apple Music still only offers lossy AAC audio.

Still, Apple has taken impressive advantage of the synergy between its hardware by introducing features like automatic device switching — the AirPods Max, AirPods, and select Beats products can switch between an iPhone, Mac, and iPad based on whichever one you’re currently using — and, in the case of the AirPods Max and Pro, a capability called spatial audio that replicates an immersive surround sound experience when watching movies and TV shows on an iPhone or iPad.

Apple’s Beats brand also sells higher-end headphones, including the Solo Pro and Studio 3 Wireless, both of which feature active noise cancellation. More recently, with Apple firmly covering consumers invested in its ecosystem, Beats has shown a renewed interest in appealing to Android device owners; the new Beats Flex earbuds have a USB-C connector instead of Apple’s proprietary Lightning port.

Early December is an unusually late time of year for Apple to introduce new products. Today’s news was tipped last week by MacRumors, which reported that Apple had sent out a memo to authorized service providers about imminent changes to AppleCare. In the days since, the long-in-the-works headphones have been viewed as the most likely candidate.

Apple announces $549 AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones, coming December 15th (2024)

FAQs

Is Apple announcing new Airpod Max? ›

It's been over three years since Apple launched AirPods Max in December 2020, and only recently have we begun hearing rumors about Apple's plans for a new-generation model next year. According to well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple will introduce a new version of the AirPods Max in late 2024.

What is the AirPods Max lawsuit? ›

One AirPods Max owner, John Keeley, even sued the company in 2021 about this, arguing that the headphones have a “latent and material defect.” Apple hasn't officially responded to the complaints, but according to court documents its lawyers challenged Keeley's claim that his pair were damaged after wearing them on a ...

Is noise Cancelling better on AirPods Max? ›

The AirPods Max consistently cancel low and midrange frequencies, making for a quiet commute or plane ride. With the latest firmware, the maximum ANC performance is very good. When you compare the AirPods Max to the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700, you'll see more of the same.

Why is my AirPods noise cancellation so bad? ›

Check whether Adaptive Audio is enabled. Adaptive Audio adjusts noise-control settings based on your surroundings. Clean the microphone and speaker meshes with a dry cotton swab. Sometimes Active Noise Cancellation can be affected if debris or earwax builds up.

What headphones are better than AirPods Max? ›

If you want superb sound quality and marginally better noise-cancelling than the AirPods Max for nearly half the price, you want the Award-winning Sony WH-1000XM5. They're still not that cheap (although they do go on sale from time to time), but in terms of value, they're the best AirPods Max alternatives you can buy.

How can you tell if Airpod Max is real? ›

Check the serial number

Bring the box to your computer or mobile device and go to Apple's serial number checker to verify that it is, in fact, an Apple serial number. This will also have the benefit of helping you determine if you are actually holding stolen AirPods—even less cool than counterfeit ones.

Why is everyone buying AirPods Max? ›

Sound Quality

The AirPods Max pair high-fidelity audio with Active Noise Cancellation for what Apple describes as an "unparalleled listening experience." There's a custom-built driver inside the AirPods Max that produces ultra-low distortion sound across the audible range.

Why is Apple facing a lawsuit? ›

The Justice Department, joined by 16 other state and district attorneys general, filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Apple for monopolization or attempted monopolization of smartphone markets in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act.

Do the Apple AirPods Max have a mic? ›

Nine microphones total: Eight microphones for Active Noise Cancellation. Three microphones for voice pickup (two shared with Active Noise Cancellation and one additional microphone)

Do AirPods Max have better sound quality than AirPods Pro? ›

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and the Apple AirPods Max both have excellent noise canceling, but the AirPods Max is just marginally better. For reference, our score for the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) is 8.2/10, and for the AirPods Max, it's 8.3/10.

Can you replace Airpod Max battery? ›

We can replace your AirPods battery for a service fee. Our warranty doesn't cover batteries that wear down from normal use. Your product is eligible for a battery replacement at no additional cost if you have AppleCare+ for Headphones and your product's battery holds less than 80% of its original capacity.

Why is AirPods Pro noise-cancelling so bad? ›

Make sure that you have the latest software on your connected iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Put both AirPods Pro in your ears and check that Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is turned on. Check whether Adaptive Audio is enabled.

Are noise Cancelling headphones bad for your ears? ›

The only risk comes from the volume level. Higher volumes pose a potential danger for your hearing and health, so always keep it at moderate levels. Now since you know that noise cancelling headphones are safe for your health, go and enjoy listening to your favorite music. Just be mindful of the volume level.

Did AirPods noise cancellation get worse? ›

Yes, noise cancellation doesn't work at all after update to IOS 17. The change is significantly that I can hear a lot of noises now.

Will new AirPods Max come out in 2024? ›

Also in 2024, Apple will release a new version of AirPods Max. Unfortunately, the only change here will be a switch from Lightning to USB-C for charging. According to Bloomberg, Apple isn't planning any other upgrades for AirPods Max this year.

When did Apple announce AirPods Max? ›

Overview. Apple announced AirPods Max on December 8, 2020 via a website refresh, and released them on December 15, 2020.

Is Apple releasing new AirPods in 2024? ›

In terms of looks, both models will look like a blend of the second and third-gen AirPods, according to 9to5Mac. Gurman expects these to go into production in May 2024 and be released around September or October.

Is Apple announcing new AirPods? ›

Apple is planning a significant refresh of its AirPods and AirPods Max lineup by the end of 2024. The new AirPods will have a new design, USB-C charging, active noise cancellation, and silicone tips. The AirPods Pro update is expected in 2025.

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