Apple AirPods Max
Apple says the AirPods Max were designed to offer high-fidelity audio, active noise cancellation, comfort and quality. They feature spatial audio (with head tracking), so sounds can seem to come from all sides while you watch movies and programs. They also have a transparency mode that lets you hear the outside world at the touch of a button. They are designed to be extremely comfortable to use, even during long sessions.
The canopy, or the upper part of the AirPods Max that sits on your head, is made of a knitted material that, according to Apple, distributes the weight evenly to relieve the pressure you may feel when using other headphones. The structure is made of stainless steel and the cups are made of anodized aluminum, with memory foam pads that feel comfortable around your ears, while blocking the sound.
On top of one of the cups, you will find the controls. There is a button to change the listening mode and there is a digital crown similar to the Apple Watch (or button) that allows you to control the volume, skip tracks, answer the phone and activate Siri.
To power the active noise cancellation feature, AirPods Max has six external microphones that detect noise around you. Then, they implant an equal, but opposite “anti-noise”, inside the headphones, which effectively cancels the sounds of the outside world.
AirPods Max can detect when you take them out of your head, and they pause any music or podcast you are listening to. When you store them in the smart cover that comes with them, they automatically go into ultra-low power mode to conserve battery power. Speaking of battery life, Apple says the AirPods Max lasts 20 hours between charges.
And like other AirPod models, they are easy to pair with any other Apple product you have. They have a one-touch setup mode that appears automatically when you place the AirPods Max close to the iPhone or iPad for the first time. They also offer a perfect exchange as you go from iPhone to iPad to MacBook.
They also have two built-in microphones to monitor the sound you are listening to and additional microphones to capture your voice on phone calls.
Of course, all these features and all that Apple-style design come at a cost. AirPods Max definitely cost more than many other wireless headsets on the market. But again, audiophiles know that you can spend a lot more on headphones than that.
Chris Reed is a trade editor and business expert at IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.