Mark: I got anecdotes from 2 different Apple Store employees that the only difference besides what’s advertised (new colors & port) is that the magnetic ear cups are shaped differently inside and allows more space for better audio & a slight perceptible increase in cancellation. Trying them on myself especially around launch-day morning store traffic, the ANC was just a little better than I expected, and I wear the original Max daily.
I bought them because my brother occupied my first pair of AirPods Max from 2020 :-) Was a nice opportunity to get them engraved with my name too. So yeah, 499$ gone :-)
I got them, only for the usb c, and I do like the almost seamless Bluetooth connection, you do not have to pair it all the time. I also will give my wife the ones I got a couple of years ago, simply so she can use them when sleeping. They still work and look as good as the day I bought them.
I got a pair in Midnight. I have been an Airpods Pro user since launch, been wanting something that I can chill with my Apple TV is without keeping everyone awake. They felt comfy on my big head too which is rare for over ears.
Mark i found on you tube how to tighten the mesh headband. With a small paper clip or apple pin press the small hole near the top of each headphone. Then pull gently and the ear cup will pull away from the head band. You can then wash the head band in warm water with a little soap nothing with softener as you want the mesh to pull tight when dry. Leave to dry naturally over night and the mesh should have tightened. I have done mine twice now also i washed the removable ear cups washed and dried in the same way. I hope this helps 🙂
That’s only applying to new products. If they just left the APMs as they were it would’ve been fine regulation wise. To release a usb-c & color refresh at full price is insulting
Why do that when they can just treat their fans like idiots & re release some old 💩 that ppl will buy again. THEN release the gen2 model later that those same ppl will buy for $100 more 😆
… have you ever used them? There’s nothing really like them on the market. That’s why they didn’t bother spending R&D this time around to change everything.
I think the Air Pods Max 2 might be out next year but to meet EU regulations they needed to refresh the current model with USB-C. This also leads me to believe that the “real” Air Pods Max 2 will address more of the complaints about case, power button and H2 (if not H3) chips. Fingers crossed for a March 25 release. I really wanted a pair of these but can’t justify it when the Pros have superior features.
I happily bought these, yes more upgrades would have been great, especially for those who made this purchase four years ago. This was the only apple product I didn’t have as I held out for USB-C, thrilled with these and love the new blue!! 🎧
i bought a pair of gen 1 airpod maxes during the summer and returned them hoping that apple would drop a gen 2 version this year. They did and nothings changed
Iv never bought the originals simply because it was lighting, my IPhone, iPad, MacBook, AirPod pros, hell even my Xbox controller and gaming headset are all USB C. The second I saw they updated its port I ordered them after the event. I have one cable on my desk that works on everything and I love it.
If Apple had put the H2 chip in the new AP Max and put functionality on par with AP Pro 2. They would have had an instant sale. Since the didn’t I bought the Bose QC Ultra. They are very good.
I actually bought the new pair of AP Max a few days ago because they were already on sale at Best Buy. I didnt open them yet because I wanted to do some research. So of course I stumbled on this review and I actually feel a little duped by Apple. I went to the Apple store tonight to test the Airpods pro 2 and wow! They sound amazing. I agree 100% with you. If the Air Max were on par with Aipod pro 2, I would be keeping them. But sadly, they are going back to the store tomorrow and Im purchasing the Aipod pro 2 (also on sale at Best Buy) instead.
Thank you for buying and sharing this info it’s very helpful for so many people! I desperately want them but as we can see, through your review, it helps me know they’re just not worth wasting my money on unfortunately. Definitely need a decent case & a power on/button. Come on apple really??
He’s going to make the money he spent on these APM’s back in about 3-6 videos he makes covering them. For him these headphones are pretty much free on the back end.
If you want to get the most out of them. iPhone settings in music put eq on loudness. In accessibility, audio & visual turn on headphone accomodation put on brightness and put the bar on strong. Spotify users in settings, playback turn on audio normalisation and put on loud. For the equaliser put it on dance 😎
I went to the Apple Store and tried the new model... I might be imagining this, but I noticed something interesting. The metal headband feels a bit stiffer, so the ear cups seem to press against the ears more, relying less on the mesh. Also, the mesh itself feels slightly springier. I was able to compare because they still had an older generation on display. Has anyone else noticed the same thing?
Didn't have the lightning. Got the USBC. Is it good? Yes. Do I regret it? No. Is it worth it? 100% NO. Compared to my APP2, the sound is definitely better and has slightly better noise cancellation on the max. However, you get a lot more for a lot less on the APP2. The transparency mode on the APP2 is definitely better, you get adaptive audio among other features and only a marginally worse audio and noise cancellation. I still maintain my stance that the APP2 is probably one of the best bang for your buck audio accessory for iPhone users. I would only recommend anyone to get the Airpods Max if the APP2 just wouldn't stay in your ears and you have money to spare. Regarding the telescopic arm, mine does not seem as loose as yours. I think there is some sort of manufacturing tolerance going on here making it inconsistent. Maybe it will get tighter over time? or it might get even looser. We shall see.
I did some more research tonight and have basically come to the same conclusion as you, that the APP2 has more bang for the buck. The Air Max's I bought a couple of days ago (unopened) are going back to the store tomorrow and Im picking up the new APP2.
Great review! Do these make sense for an android user over the XM5 or Bose QC Ultra? Also, wouldnt we love to see the Marshall Monitor III ?! Theyre out
If we connect the new Airpods Max with a USB-C cable to an iPhone 15 or 16's USB-C port, can we play HiRes audio over that connection or is it strictly for charging only?
There are people that were holding out until they switched over to USB-C, I don’t understand why you folks in the review space Don’t acknowledge that at all 🤷🏾♂️.
Very helpful review as always. Apple ecosystem guy here. I have the Max, QC Ultra cans, and PX-7 s2e. I like all of them and never feel like I'm sacrificing quality audio. Subjectively, I like the difference in sound quality. The biggest difference I have found is PX-7 s2e ANC is about 80-90% of the others and that the Bose don't feel as high quality, when compared side by side, but feel OK if I'm just using them for a while.
I did get the new Airpod Maxes. I had a 4 year old pair of Sony xm4m’s that I *love*. I’m a heavy user, most of the work day, tv & movies at night, but the battery is *still* solid. (The difference in battery life was one of the first things I noticed with the Maxes. The battery isn’t bad, but it’s nowhere near Sony). My Sony ear cups were naturally worn down so I got a couple of sets of replacements, but they were just never the same. I already like Sony so I was leaning towards the xm5’s as my new set of headphones. Bose is high on my list because ANC is very important to me & I always like my Bose products. But I live & work in an Apple ecosystem (but by no means a fanboy). The issues I did have with the Sonys were software based & I feared the same thing with Bose. Apple won out & I haven’t regretted the new Maxes (but there’s no way I would’ve “upgraded” from the previous version). On top of the quality of the cups, the seamless transition between all of my devices & software integration are unmatched. As great as the headphones are, if I didn’t live & work in an Apple ecosystem I probably wouldn’t get the Maxes. I doubt they’d even be in my top 3 if my os's were different. But Apple hardware/software integration has been unbeatable so far & I haven’t regretted spending way too much money on some new headphones.
I love the AirPod Max case , protects just what needs to be protected but doesn’t waste all your precious bag space that you have with other bulky headphone cases.
I agree, I don’t understand why they didn’t upgrade these more seeing how it took 4 years to get this update. Like why not tweak the sound slightly, add the new chip & maybe keep them on par with other AirPods. This is actually the first time I nah only buy the new AirPods 4 & that’s it. I typically upgrade my phone yearly & I was also excited for the new AirPods Max but it’s just not worth it this year. Also, if you keep em you’ve fixed your canopy issue 😂
Hey Great review ! I truly don't understang me neither why they did not upgrade to some basic enhancements like power switch off, a solid case and the H2 Chip ! Quite sad about the decisions ! Hoping soon, a new release for better upgrades and not simply a refresh ! Oh by the way, have you seen the New Headphones of Cambridge Audio ? The P100 they seem quite amazing for the price and sound quality !
I have a pair of the old (?) Air Pods Max, and they work perfectly fine for what I need. Like my Series 4 Apple Watch, my iPhone 12 Pro Max and my iPad Pro, I don’t feel the need to upgrade them if they meet my needs. I’m happy with the call quality, the sound quality (particularly in noise cancellation mode) and the functionality. I have enough lightning cables to keep charging these forever, so I’m going to pass on upgrading. As with all my Apple products, I love the integration and the way everything syncs together. That’s worth paying the premium for the products. Mark, keep doing these reviews. I enjoy them and also learn quite a bit more from them.
For the same price tag, what are the best headphones I can get? Good audio quality, excellent build quality with premium materials that able to last for years.
Unfortunately I had to give up my AirPod pros. Left ear was plugging up every day for three years. Quit wearing them for two weeks and problem solved. So ordered these since earbuds are no longer an option. Thanks for the honest review.
so far I tried many cables, and it does not support any wired connection whatsoever (I bought them for that, to a large extent). I can't believe my own words, too.
Really?! That would be the only reason for me to buy a pair of these, it doesn’t make sense… are they selling a “special” cable for that too? C to 3.5mm I wonder if they have passive mode now but I highly doubt it
I don’t care about having the newest tech from Apple or in general but I got a pair of these newer ones that upgraded from my Gen 1 AirPods and they’re great. No particularly reason why and I was really looking at the new earbuds instead but here I am. Theres definitely cheaper and nicer headphones out there but I’m not bothered by it and the ease of connecting Apple to Apple is convenient. They’ll probably end up being used 8+ years like my AirPods but I’ll probably also end up getting the earbuds and using them more
If you can sell the old one's to make up for the cost of the new one's they might be worth keeping.. Honestly, I wouldn't bother keeping the new ones and just send them back. For anyone buying the old one's now, I think the old ones have been discounted like 200-250 in Canada. So for the charging trade off it might be worth buying the old ones at the discount. But honestly, the bose quietcomfort ultra are the ones to get.
I strongly believe that this refresh was NOT originally part of Apple’s plan for the AirPods Max. They were pretty much ‘forced’ to release these to comply with the EU’s regulations, so they did the bare minimum by adding USB-C and nothing more. Apple probably still has a lot of H1 chips in stock, and since no other current Apple products use them, they probably want to clear inventory... especially since AirPods Max hasn’t exactly been flying off the shelves because of its price point. We can only speculate, and though granted I’m not an expert in their supply chain ordering management processes, I suspect Apple’s strategy rn is to use up the remaining H1 chips to avoid creating unnecessary e-waste and recoup some of the costs from the first-generation AirPods Max. Behind the scenes, they’re probably still cooking up the AirPods Max 2 as per their original timeline. Tbh it's hard to predict a release date for them, even reputable leakers have been wrong for years now lol. My best guess is late 2025 at the earliest and 2026 being the latest. If we don’t see anything by then, I’d assume the AirPods Max line is done.
As my daily, I genuinely prefer the Beats Studio Pro (w/USB-C) over my AirPods Max because of the weight but ANC is no contest. I also feel the battery life is better on the AirPods Max. So if I'm travelling by air I take the AirPod Max. To help make them more useful, I purchased a small lightening to USB-C adapter so I can charge my gen 1 AirPod Max headphones with any USB-C cable. Problem solved but I'm a sound snob (also own Bose UltraQuite headphones & buds, and Sony WF-1000XM4) and I'd still chose the Beats Studio Pro if I could only choose one Apple made headset.
Mark great video. I just bought the Mark Levinsons on eBay for £550 and they blow the apple out the water. The anc is on par with them, but the sound is spectacular and they are usb c. They have leather headband and beautiful soft leather cups. So I am alternating between the two. I know which ones I would keep if I had to.
Apple would not have updated these if the EU weren’t forcing them to move to USB-C. I would guess the only reason why Apple didn’t update some of the internals (e.g. Bluetooth 5.3 etc) may be because the margins they are making on selling them are tight. So just giving them a USB-C port (which they have no choice but to do) plus give them a new lick of paint keeps manufacturing costs pretty much the same. The people that these are aimed at is quite simple: people who like AirPods Max who: (a) don’t currently own a pair and (b) like one of the new colours.
The thing is, though, that they've already done the development and most of the manufacturing - effectively the AirPods Max should be, ate the least, and over-ear equivalent to the latest version of the the AirPods Pro - so it's a matter of transferring the internals of the AirPods Pro into the AirPods Max, not redesigning the AirPods Max from scratch. Most of the manufacturing process of the AirPods Max would remain the same. The cost would be nominal for Apple.
I will probably buy it because I don't have it yet and I like the design and sound. Why did Apple only introduce new colors and USB-C? I assume because they were kind of forced to do so due to the restriction here in the EU to only allow USBC. So Apple made some necessary updates to the product that they think is still good and holds its own in the market🤷♂️
Get the old ones on clearance if you haven't already gotten them yet. Any proper apple fanboy/girl still has a lightening cable and I personally still haven't been convinced by the last few iphones to upgrade my iphone 13 yet. I'll get USB C max pods whenever they get at least an H2 chip. But if apple is smart, they would debut the H3 chip in a proper APM refresh at a spring event or something and take $100 off the current APM with the H1. Having the APM 2 be the only way to get the new chip would make them feel properly "max" and CLOSER to being worth $550!
Daughters had these for years and always fancied a pair but when in the US earlier this year I managed to get some Beats Pro’s at an excellent price. When back and comparing, found the Beats better…. They do look lovely though.
Always enjoyable content! So thank you to crash any doubt about this “new”product. I was waiting the release of that because in my opinion there was no sense to buy something issued in 2020. I hope they will think about a 2nd generation or a pro version. Nowadays EarPods 2 pro can offer a very good quality at half price.
The question I always ask myself about an Apple product I own is whether there is something better out there and the answer is always no. Others may be making a product equally good in material areas but never better. The Apple choice has always been the safest for me and I do own other brands. I like my Bose and Sony headphones and am always in search of the perfect product. Still, after several years my Max headphones are the best overall that I own.
Had these and the Sonos Ace for 2 days now to decide which ones to get. And it just doesn’t make sense to me. I wanna love the the Max’s, I really do, but (for me) it just doesn’t make sense. The only thing the Max’s have over the Sonos is the sound quality. They sound clearer, but its not a huge difference. With the Sonos you get an actual case, they work wired (with the cable you get with it), they have an actual off button and imo they are much more comfortable. With Sonos you get the full headphone package, while the Max just focuses on sound. Gonna send back the AirPods and gonna enjoy my lovely (less expensive) Sonos Ace.
I was desperately waiting for the update hoping for an H2 chip to bring in line with the other new I pods but just colours and usb-c .i would of immediately bought them if this had happened but now am thinking of trying other options or buying the first generation at a much reduced price
I bought these and I am happy with my purchase. I got them for the seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem and they have no competitor in this area, particularly for working with the Apple TV which I like to watch late at night. Note I also have a pair of "audiophile" wired headphones - Sennheiser 800S - which cost 3 times more than this Apple Max set. I mix music with the Sennheiser pair, I would never do that with the Apple Max. So far as enjoying listening to music, the Apple AirPods Max fall short for instrumental solos because there is a dip in the EQ exactly where they tend to occur: when the obligatory guitar solo hits, that solo is pushed into the background; however, vocals reign supreme. So the Max don’t come through on my favorite parts of songs, and, to be honest, they simply don’t get loud enough to satisfy when you want to blast out your favorite song. They do have a wonderful warm sound with plenty of bass, and the sound stage is quite good. So, for general Apple ecosystem integration there is no peer to the AirPods Max, but for lovers of, say, classic rock music the big instrumental solos will be disappointing because they are pushed back in the mix. So if you can go with the ecosystem in general with the Max and have a separate set of cans for really focusing on enjoying music then you have the best of all worlds.
I would send it back. I bought the original and I never use them. Sound is great but they are heavy and not portable enough. I use the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra.
The ones I have work and look just fine, except for the headband mesh issue. Its a pretty minor issue to me though and doesn’t affect the functionality. Anyway Im keeping the ones I have until they start going sideways and at that point I’ll get something new. That could be another 5 years down the road.
I’m never going to buy the AirPods Max but in general one frustration about third party headphones is that latency is a complete mixed bag. Sometimes bad enough that watching video content is quite difficult. I lean more towards Beats personally because even though I know there may be better options for the price, they sound ok and have reliably low latency.
Interestingly, you gave the Sonos Headphones a good review a few months back. Do your statements from that video still stand-up? Or are you leaning into the Apple Airpod Max headphones more now, as superior?
Omg, so glad you got starlight! I literally have the same M2 15” MBA and like you, really wanted to know what this color looked like on the AirPods Max. Thank you!
I ended up getting the Max but I didn’t pay full price for it. I used a gift card for it. Wouldn’t recommend paying full price, but I absolutely love them.
I bought a pair of the “previous generation” this last summer and I REALLY wanted to like them. After about a week of using them, I just hated them. Probably one of the few buyers remorse I’ve ever had for an Apple product. I returned them and bought the Bose QC Ultra and was much more happy and they were about $150 cheaper.
I find your point of view and AirPods Max (the old one) a bit too rough. I bough them in august and they are my second favorite apple product I have just behind my 16 inch M2 pro MacBook Pro (which says a Lot). They are better than my AirPods Pro 1 and 2 and home pod mini. I'm sorry but there are more pros about them beside what you already said : they are extremely modular (you can separate all the parts to clean them), changing battery is super easy for an apple product, they work the best with Apple Music and any kind of dolby atmos movies, I can wear them and WORK probably 6 to 8 hours non stop without issues which is 2x more than AirPods Pro( can't focus with). ok AirPods Pros and 4 have more features but they are far from working flawlessly : fragility, charging problems, connection problems, listing modes that won't work on one of the two, the case scratching in 2 days etc... I believe airpods Max will have superb longevity if you take care of them so you can resell them (can't do that with AirPods).
Feel better after watching this! Finally bought the first version a few months ago when I thought a new one wasn’t coming out. And it’s as if a new version didn’t come out 🤣🤣🤣. Slightly annoyed about the USB-C part but I have old AirPods that use the old charger so it’s fine
My assumption is that they’ve stuck with the H1 chip because, for the H2 chip to be worthwhile (i.e. to deliver the same functionality of the AirPods 4 et al), a wider redesign would be needed. In other words, just banging the H2 chip in there and keeping everything else as is wouldn’t necessarily deliver additional functionality. That’d need different mics, sensors, etc., etc. Now quite what they are intending with the Max, I really don’t know. It makes sense to switch out the port and add new colours. But that should have been a silent update, and nobody would have bothered. The fact they got up on a stage and announced this is just weird. And, it implies that any plans for this product are a very long way from delivering.
Got the lightning version this past week for $150 off. At that price point these are great and the seamless switching between apple devices is worth it to me! Much better noise cancelling and transparency mode than my PX7s.
Great video as always, thanks Mark. Unrelated question but what is that watch you’re wearing - is it the new Samsung Ultra watch? It looks nice whatever it is but please tell me, thanks :-)
I actually think that colour look awesome now that I have seen this video The sound quality is Unfortunately not in par with my 799 Focal bathys! Of course they are in a different price class but still A pair of 500+$ should be better than what they decided to do with them Great video though!
I’m still keeping my lightning pair. The USB C “upgrade* isn’t worth it. You can get 3rd party cases. I love my one from WaterField design, although I agree you shouldn’t have to. The OG AirPods Max didn’t come with a power brick
My old Airpod Max had the common issue of no longer being able to pair so I was looking forward to buy the new version until I learned the only differences are color and UBS-C. So the case issue (looks terrible, you need it to prevent battery drain, and the edges peel off after a while), the common pairing issue, the deteriorating headband issue (in my case the netting lost all elasticity and the plastic holding the netting also cracked everywhere), and no OFF button (to put the headphones in and out of the case every time you stop and start using the headphones is cumbersome especially in an airplane) issues all remain. Unbelievable that after four years Apple has fixed NONE of these widely reported issues. Even if they had put in the H2 chip I would not have bought the new version given these unaddressed issues. Meanwhile others like Bose have caught up and even improved. Bose QC Ultra has a more compact case, OFF button, audio jack, better sound quality, equivalent or better ANC, no pairing issues, weighs less and all that for a lower price tag. This "new" versions looks like an attempt from Apple to cash cow the over the ear headphones segment a little longer before abandoning it.
Even the company didn’t bother to call them AirPods Max 2. They are the same headphones. Only new things are the port they were forced to use and the new color “ooo ahhh, shiny, new” effect
I have the OG AirPods Max in green and I rarely even use them. I can’t even tell you the last time that I did use them; actually. But I do want the new ones for a color refresh but I can’t justify the price. I watched your video about them because I’m living vicariously through you, haha. - Ron
I bought it. Why? For the two reasons: A. I don’t have the 1st generation B. I am fully confident that apple has put something in it to be compatible with new unexpected features in the incoming IOS updates respectively
Who else bought the new AirPods Max (and why)?
Mark: I got anecdotes from 2 different Apple Store employees that the only difference besides what’s advertised (new colors & port) is that the magnetic ear cups are shaped differently inside and allows more space for better audio & a slight perceptible increase in cancellation. Trying them on myself especially around launch-day morning store traffic, the ANC was just a little better than I expected, and I wear the original Max daily.
@@brentdennison176 interesting - thanks for the intel!
I bought them because my brother occupied my first pair of AirPods Max from 2020 :-) Was a nice opportunity to get them engraved with my name too. So yeah, 499$ gone :-)
I got them, only for the usb c, and I do like the almost seamless Bluetooth connection, you do not have to pair it all the time. I also will give my wife the ones I got a couple of years ago, simply so she can use them when sleeping. They still work and look as good as the day I bought them.
I got a pair in Midnight. I have been an Airpods Pro user since launch, been wanting something that I can chill with my Apple TV is without keeping everyone awake. They felt comfy on my big head too which is rare for over ears.
The best thing about this “upgrade” is that I don’t need to upgrade 😂
(The Lavender one looks really nice though)
typical apple, same with their phone minimal or no changes they prey on fanboys and fangirls wanting a new but same toy 😅🤦🏾♂️
@@walay-fitness8464 if you’re js going to hate dont watch the damn video
Next video: Why I returned them 😂
You have at least one fan that appreciates you taking the time to make this video. I had many of the same questions.
Thanks for watching!
Mark i found on you tube how to tighten the mesh headband.
With a small paper clip or apple pin press the small hole near the top of each headphone.
Then pull gently and the ear cup will pull away from the head band.
You can then wash the head band in warm water with a little soap nothing with softener as you want the mesh to pull tight when dry. Leave to dry naturally over night and the mesh should have tightened.
I have done mine twice now also i washed the removable ear cups washed and dried in the same way.
I hope this helps 🙂
Apple did this to comply with the EU law requiring USB-C from 2025.
Yep. The only reason
But nearly 4 years. Did the AirPods Max team spend it deciding the best colours?
@@Thomas-kp8moExactly. And why do an announcement at the event? Just highlighted the embarrassing nature of it.
They could not even put an H2 chip in them.
That’s only applying to new products. If they just left the APMs as they were it would’ve been fine regulation wise. To release a usb-c & color refresh at full price is insulting
Why didn't they at least upgrade to the H2 chipset?
Why do that when they can just treat their fans like idiots & re release some old 💩 that ppl will buy again. THEN release the gen2 model later that those same ppl will buy for $100 more 😆
That is the question that everyone is asking...makes no sense
@@Tim_Dunkin Just say that youre poor lol
Because the accountants rule the company now
Bet these were just updated for Europe
My suspicion is the these are placeholder products and something more exciting is coming out in 2025.
Yeah, for the Pros, there’s no way they will release a proper 2nd generation device.
@@joshuamartin5085why not?
I am an apple fanboy but these headphones are a pure embarrassment. End of story. Anyway always enjoy the content!
… have you ever used them? There’s nothing really like them on the market. That’s why they didn’t bother spending R&D this time around to change everything.
@@brentdennison176A power switch and bigger battery would have been nice.
@@Kasirkin29 and a real protective case that doesn’t look like feminine undies!
I’ve always liked them, why an embarrassment?
Been using 3 years almost daily, far from embarrasment as there is no competition even to these.
I think the Air Pods Max 2 might be out next year but to meet EU regulations they needed to refresh the current model with USB-C. This also leads me to believe that the “real” Air Pods Max 2 will address more of the complaints about case, power button and H2 (if not H3) chips. Fingers crossed for a March 25 release. I really wanted a pair of these but can’t justify it when the Pros have superior features.
I happily bought these, yes more upgrades would have been great, especially for those who made this purchase four years ago. This was the only apple product I didn’t have as I held out for USB-C, thrilled with these and love the new blue!! 🎧
i bought a pair of gen 1 airpod maxes during the summer and returned them hoping that apple would drop a gen 2 version this year. They did and nothings changed
I'm glad I bought the lightning model honestly, silver is the only color I wanted and now it's not available
Iv never bought the originals simply because it was lighting, my IPhone, iPad, MacBook, AirPod pros, hell even my Xbox controller and gaming headset are all USB C. The second I saw they updated its port I ordered them after the event. I have one cable on my desk that works on everything and I love it.
If Apple had put the H2 chip in the new AP Max and put functionality on par with AP Pro 2. They would have had an instant sale.
Since the didn’t I bought the Bose QC Ultra. They are very good.
I actually bought the new pair of AP Max a few days ago because they were already on sale at Best Buy. I didnt open them yet because I wanted to do some research. So of course I stumbled on this review and I actually feel a little duped by Apple. I went to the Apple store tonight to test the Airpods pro 2 and wow! They sound amazing. I agree 100% with you. If the Air Max were on par with Aipod pro 2, I would be keeping them. But sadly, they are going back to the store tomorrow and Im purchasing the Aipod pro 2 (also on sale at Best Buy) instead.
Thank you for buying and sharing this info it’s very helpful for so many people!
I desperately want them but as we can see, through your review, it helps me know they’re just not worth wasting my money on unfortunately.
Definitely need a decent case & a power on/button. Come on apple really??
He’s going to make the money he spent on these APM’s back in about 3-6 videos he makes covering them. For him these headphones are pretty much free on the back end.
You can do the same.
He’s 100% keeping those
👀
you are a true gentleman to tell the truth....respect to that!👍
If you want to get the most out of them.
iPhone settings in music put eq on loudness.
In accessibility, audio & visual turn on headphone accomodation put on brightness and put the bar on strong.
Spotify users in settings, playback turn on audio normalisation and put on loud. For the equaliser put it on dance 😎
I went to the Apple Store and tried the new model... I might be imagining this, but I noticed something interesting. The metal headband feels a bit stiffer, so the ear cups seem to press against the ears more, relying less on the mesh. Also, the mesh itself feels slightly springier. I was able to compare because they still had an older generation on display. Has anyone else noticed the same thing?
The old ones probably were used more and loosened up because they'd been on display longer.
funny how the put the H2 chip on the $129 one but didnt do it on the $549 ones
i dont have the first airpods max bc i waited for these to drop so shuold i buy them or wait another 4 years?
If you want a over the head set of earphones that integrates well (but is missing features that the AirPods Pro have) with other Apple devices
my precise question 😭😭
Didn't have the lightning. Got the USBC. Is it good? Yes. Do I regret it? No. Is it worth it? 100% NO. Compared to my APP2, the sound is definitely better and has slightly better noise cancellation on the max. However, you get a lot more for a lot less on the APP2. The transparency mode on the APP2 is definitely better, you get adaptive audio among other features and only a marginally worse audio and noise cancellation. I still maintain my stance that the APP2 is probably one of the best bang for your buck audio accessory for iPhone users. I would only recommend anyone to get the Airpods Max if the APP2 just wouldn't stay in your ears and you have money to spare.
Regarding the telescopic arm, mine does not seem as loose as yours. I think there is some sort of manufacturing tolerance going on here making it inconsistent. Maybe it will get tighter over time? or it might get even looser. We shall see.
I did some more research tonight and have basically come to the same conclusion as you, that the APP2 has more bang for the buck. The Air Max's I bought a couple of days ago (unopened) are going back to the store tomorrow and Im picking up the new APP2.
Great review!
Do these make sense for an android user over the XM5 or Bose QC Ultra?
Also, wouldnt we love to see the Marshall Monitor III ?! Theyre out
They probably will release a pro version soon. And this one will be 100 bucks cheaper. That’s why they went with the „Air“ colors.
“Is apple going to make another AirPods Max and call them AirPods Max 2”
“The 6-16 iPhones am I a joke to you?!”
😂💀
If we connect the new Airpods Max with a USB-C cable to an iPhone 15 or 16's USB-C port, can we play HiRes audio over that connection or is it strictly for charging only?
charging only
There are people that were holding out until they switched over to USB-C, I don’t understand why you folks in the review space Don’t acknowledge that at all 🤷🏾♂️.
💯
I think they’re focused more on the price. Like is USBC worth $150 price difference when you’re getting the same exact tech as 4 years ago.
I did above. Got tired of waiting...
Because it’s been how many years?
They should be half the price at this point
Very helpful review as always. Apple ecosystem guy here. I have the Max, QC Ultra cans, and PX-7 s2e. I like all of them and never feel like I'm sacrificing quality audio. Subjectively, I like the difference in sound quality. The biggest difference I have found is PX-7 s2e ANC is about 80-90% of the others and that the Bose don't feel as high quality, when compared side by side, but feel OK if I'm just using them for a while.
I did get the new Airpod Maxes. I had a 4 year old pair of Sony xm4m’s that I *love*. I’m a heavy user, most of the work day, tv & movies at night, but the battery is *still* solid. (The difference in battery life was one of the first things I noticed with the Maxes. The battery isn’t bad, but it’s nowhere near Sony). My Sony ear cups were naturally worn down so I got a couple of sets of replacements, but they were just never the same. I already like Sony so I was leaning towards the xm5’s as my new set of headphones. Bose is high on my list because ANC is very important to me & I always like my Bose products. But I live & work in an Apple ecosystem (but by no means a fanboy). The issues I did have with the Sonys were software based & I feared the same thing with Bose. Apple won out & I haven’t regretted the new Maxes (but there’s no way I would’ve “upgraded” from the previous version). On top of the quality of the cups, the seamless transition between all of my devices & software integration are unmatched. As great as the headphones are, if I didn’t live & work in an Apple ecosystem I probably wouldn’t get the Maxes. I doubt they’d even be in my top 3 if my os's were different. But Apple hardware/software integration has been unbeatable so far & I haven’t regretted spending way too much money on some new headphones.
This review makes me even more glad that I bit the bullet and bought a pair of Sony WH-100XM4 headphones earlier this year for half the price
Great choice!
@@MarkEllisReviews your videos on the XM4s were a big part of the decision
Guys which one should i buy airpod max to sony xm5 or 4 ?????
Very informative and helpful Mark, thank you. Pro2 it will be… 👍
I love the AirPod Max case , protects just what needs to be protected but doesn’t waste all your precious bag space that you have with other bulky headphone cases.
I agree, I don’t understand why they didn’t upgrade these more seeing how it took 4 years to get this update. Like why not tweak the sound slightly, add the new chip & maybe keep them on par with other AirPods. This is actually the first time I nah only buy the new AirPods 4 & that’s it. I typically upgrade my phone yearly & I was also excited for the new AirPods Max but it’s just not worth it this year. Also, if you keep em you’ve fixed your canopy issue 😂
Hey Great review ! I truly don't understang me neither why they did not upgrade to some basic enhancements like power switch off, a solid case and the H2 Chip ! Quite sad about the decisions ! Hoping soon, a new release for better upgrades and not simply a refresh ! Oh by the way, have you seen the New Headphones of Cambridge Audio ? The P100 they seem quite amazing for the price and sound quality !
Hi,just wondered do the new airpods max light up at all when you're wearing them? Is there a blue light,flashing light from anywhere at all?
I have a pair of the old (?) Air Pods Max, and they work perfectly fine for what I need. Like my Series 4 Apple Watch, my iPhone 12 Pro Max and my iPad Pro, I don’t feel the need to upgrade them if they meet my needs. I’m happy with the call quality, the sound quality (particularly in noise cancellation mode) and the functionality.
I have enough lightning cables to keep charging these forever, so I’m going to pass on upgrading. As with all my Apple products, I love the integration and the way everything syncs together. That’s worth paying the premium for the products.
Mark, keep doing these reviews. I enjoy them and also learn quite a bit more from them.
For the same price tag, what are the best headphones I can get? Good audio quality, excellent build quality with premium materials that able to last for years.
Unfortunately I had to give up my AirPod pros. Left ear was plugging up every day for three years. Quit wearing them for two weeks and problem solved. So ordered these since earbuds are no longer an option. Thanks for the honest review.
If you connect to MacBook via usb c, will this new version support non compressed audio ?
so far I tried many cables, and it does not support any wired connection whatsoever (I bought them for that, to a large extent). I can't believe my own words, too.
Really?! That would be the only reason for me to buy a pair of these, it doesn’t make sense… are they selling a “special” cable for that too? C to 3.5mm I wonder if they have passive mode now but I highly doubt it
@@alexrivera3701 really. And they don’t sell a special cable, at least yet. I returned mine, it’s a joke.
I don’t care about having the newest tech from Apple or in general but I got a pair of these newer ones that upgraded from my Gen 1 AirPods and they’re great. No particularly reason why and I was really looking at the new earbuds instead but here I am. Theres definitely cheaper and nicer headphones out there but I’m not bothered by it and the ease of connecting Apple to Apple is convenient. They’ll probably end up being used 8+ years like my AirPods but I’ll probably also end up getting the earbuds and using them more
Thanks for review , If you Try with Usbc cable then you can see lossless audio different ? Maybe ..
I am so glad I came by your videos! You are awesome!
If you can sell the old one's to make up for the cost of the new one's they might be worth keeping.. Honestly, I wouldn't bother keeping the new ones and just send them back.
For anyone buying the old one's now, I think the old ones have been discounted like 200-250 in Canada. So for the charging trade off it might be worth buying the old ones at the discount. But honestly, the bose quietcomfort ultra are the ones to get.
I strongly believe that this refresh was NOT originally part of Apple’s plan for the AirPods Max. They were pretty much ‘forced’ to release these to comply with the EU’s regulations, so they did the bare minimum by adding USB-C and nothing more. Apple probably still has a lot of H1 chips in stock, and since no other current Apple products use them, they probably want to clear inventory... especially since AirPods Max hasn’t exactly been flying off the shelves because of its price point.
We can only speculate, and though granted I’m not an expert in their supply chain ordering management processes, I suspect Apple’s strategy rn is to use up the remaining H1 chips to avoid creating unnecessary e-waste and recoup some of the costs from the first-generation AirPods Max.
Behind the scenes, they’re probably still cooking up the AirPods Max 2 as per their original timeline. Tbh it's hard to predict a release date for them, even reputable leakers have been wrong for years now lol.
My best guess is late 2025 at the earliest and 2026 being the latest. If we don’t see anything by then, I’d assume the AirPods Max line is done.
As my daily, I genuinely prefer the Beats Studio Pro (w/USB-C) over my AirPods Max because of the weight but ANC is no contest. I also feel the battery life is better on the AirPods Max. So if I'm travelling by air I take the AirPod Max. To help make them more useful, I purchased a small lightening to USB-C adapter so I can charge my gen 1 AirPod Max headphones with any USB-C cable. Problem solved but I'm a sound snob (also own Bose UltraQuite headphones & buds, and Sony WF-1000XM4) and I'd still chose the Beats Studio Pro if I could only choose one Apple made headset.
Mark great video. I just bought the Mark Levinsons on eBay for £550 and they blow the apple out the water. The anc is on par with them, but the sound is spectacular and they are usb c. They have leather headband and beautiful soft leather cups. So I am alternating between the two. I know which ones I would keep if I had to.
Subscribed. You got me at unboxing the paper wrap! haha thanks! :)
Apple would not have updated these if the EU weren’t forcing them to move to USB-C. I would guess the only reason why Apple didn’t update some of the internals (e.g. Bluetooth 5.3 etc) may be because the margins they are making on selling them are tight. So just giving them a USB-C port (which they have no choice but to do) plus give them a new lick of paint keeps manufacturing costs pretty much the same. The people that these are aimed at is quite simple: people who like AirPods Max who: (a) don’t currently own a pair and (b) like one of the new colours.
The thing is, though, that they've already done the development and most of the manufacturing - effectively the AirPods Max should be, ate the least, and over-ear equivalent to the latest version of the the AirPods Pro - so it's a matter of transferring the internals of the AirPods Pro into the AirPods Max, not redesigning the AirPods Max from scratch. Most of the manufacturing process of the AirPods Max would remain the same. The cost would be nominal for Apple.
I will probably buy it because I don't have it yet and I like the design and sound.
Why did Apple only introduce new colors and USB-C? I assume because they were kind of forced to do so due to the restriction here in the EU to only allow USBC. So Apple made some necessary updates to the product that they think is still good and holds its own in the market🤷♂️
Get the old ones on clearance if you haven't already gotten them yet. Any proper apple fanboy/girl still has a lightening cable and I personally still haven't been convinced by the last few iphones to upgrade my iphone 13 yet. I'll get USB C max pods whenever they get at least an H2 chip. But if apple is smart, they would debut the H3 chip in a proper APM refresh at a spring event or something and take $100 off the current APM with the H1.
Having the APM 2 be the only way to get the new chip would make them feel properly "max" and CLOSER to being worth $550!
Should I get the Sennheiser 4s? Headphones or earbuds? I had the Sony XM4s, but I gave them to a friend. What do you guys recommend?
Daughters had these for years and always fancied a pair but when in the US earlier this year I managed to get some Beats Pro’s at an excellent price. When back and comparing, found the Beats better…. They do look lovely though.
Always enjoyable content! So thank you to crash any doubt about this “new”product. I was waiting the release of that because in my opinion there was no sense to buy something issued in 2020. I hope they will think about a 2nd generation or a pro version. Nowadays EarPods 2 pro can offer a very good quality at half price.
The question I always ask myself about an Apple product I own is whether there is something better out there and the answer is always no. Others may be making a product equally good in material areas but never better. The Apple choice has always been the safest for me and I do own other brands. I like my Bose and Sony headphones and am always in search of the perfect product. Still, after several years my Max headphones are the best overall that I own.
Had these and the Sonos Ace for 2 days now to decide which ones to get. And it just doesn’t make sense to me. I wanna love the the Max’s, I really do, but (for me) it just doesn’t make sense. The only thing the Max’s have over the Sonos is the sound quality. They sound clearer, but its not a huge difference. With the Sonos you get an actual case, they work wired (with the cable you get with it), they have an actual off button and imo they are much more comfortable. With Sonos you get the full headphone package, while the Max just focuses on sound.
Gonna send back the AirPods and gonna enjoy my lovely (less expensive) Sonos Ace.
I was desperately waiting for the update hoping for an H2 chip to bring in line with the other new I pods but just colours and usb-c .i would of immediately bought them if this had happened but now am thinking of trying other options or buying the first generation at a much reduced price
I bought these and I am happy with my purchase. I got them for the seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem and they have no competitor in this area, particularly for working with the Apple TV which I like to watch late at night. Note I also have a pair of "audiophile" wired headphones - Sennheiser 800S - which cost 3 times more than this Apple Max set. I mix music with the Sennheiser pair, I would never do that with the Apple Max. So far as enjoying listening to music, the Apple AirPods Max fall short for instrumental solos because there is a dip in the EQ exactly where they tend to occur: when the obligatory guitar solo hits, that solo is pushed into the background; however, vocals reign supreme. So the Max don’t come through on my favorite parts of songs, and, to be honest, they simply don’t get loud enough to satisfy when you want to blast out your favorite song. They do have a wonderful warm sound with plenty of bass, and the sound stage is quite good.
So, for general Apple ecosystem integration there is no peer to the AirPods Max, but for lovers of, say, classic rock music the big instrumental solos will be disappointing because they are pushed back in the mix. So if you can go with the ecosystem in general with the Max and have a separate set of cans for really focusing on enjoying music then you have the best of all worlds.
Hi how do you find the weight, can you wear them for long periods?
I would send it back. I bought the original and I never use them. Sound is great but they are heavy and not portable enough. I use the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra.
Same here.
Can you send yours to me since you never use them ?
I boight Bose QC35s in 2017. Still use them. So comfortable and I use eq on my my computer to get the bass down.
The ones I have work and look just fine, except for the headband mesh issue. Its a pretty minor issue to me though and doesn’t affect the functionality.
Anyway Im keeping the ones I have until they start going sideways and at that point I’ll get something new. That could be another 5 years down the road.
Are they loud?? Are the Sony WH-1000XM5 better ?
think. , out more features more complicated , this are make simple , and with H2 chip better soun maybe but major o people won’t fell
I’m never going to buy the AirPods Max but in general one frustration about third party headphones is that latency is a complete mixed bag. Sometimes bad enough that watching video content is quite difficult. I lean more towards Beats personally because even though I know there may be better options for the price, they sound ok and have reliably low latency.
Interestingly, you gave the Sonos Headphones a good review a few months back. Do your statements from that video still stand-up? Or are you leaning into the Apple Airpod Max headphones more now, as superior?
The Sonos Ace are still better, but the Max are better all-rounders for Apple People.
best mainstream headphones for bass?
Skull crushers 😮
Skullcrushers
Omg, so glad you got starlight! I literally have the same M2 15” MBA and like you, really wanted to know what this color looked like on the AirPods Max. Thank you!
Hello Mark Ellis, I have thought about the condensation Problem. Does that Problem still appear on the *new* Airpods Max?
I ended up getting the Max but I didn’t pay full price for it. I used a gift card for it. Wouldn’t recommend paying full price, but I absolutely love them.
@@samanthahieber4777 they’re also quite often on sale and discounted as heavily as $120-150 from secondhand retailers
I bought a pair of the “previous generation” this last summer and I REALLY wanted to like them. After about a week of using them, I just hated them. Probably one of the few buyers remorse I’ve ever had for an Apple product. I returned them and bought the Bose QC Ultra and was much more happy and they were about $150 cheaper.
I find your point of view and AirPods Max (the old one) a bit too rough. I bough them in august and they are my second favorite apple product I have just behind my 16 inch M2 pro MacBook Pro (which says a Lot). They are better than my AirPods Pro 1 and 2 and home pod mini. I'm sorry but there are more pros about them beside what you already said : they are extremely modular (you can separate all the parts to clean them), changing battery is super easy for an apple product, they work the best with Apple Music and any kind of dolby atmos movies, I can wear them and WORK probably 6 to 8 hours non stop without issues which is 2x more than AirPods Pro( can't focus with). ok AirPods Pros and 4 have more features but they are far from working flawlessly : fragility, charging problems, connection problems, listing modes that won't work on one of the two, the case scratching in 2 days etc... I believe airpods Max will have superb longevity if you take care of them so you can resell them (can't do that with AirPods).
Some great input on this one, but, please... paragraphs! 🤯
Sick! Love the color and definitely buying. Worth it for Apple ecosystem
I'm partially deaf in my left ear. With head tracking I just tilt my head a little and sound balancing is much improved 😊
I believe we can all rest easy knowing that they decided to keep the brilliant case.....
Feel better after watching this! Finally bought the first version a few months ago when I thought a new one wasn’t coming out. And it’s as if a new version didn’t come out 🤣🤣🤣. Slightly annoyed about the USB-C part but I have old AirPods that use the old charger so it’s fine
My assumption is that they’ve stuck with the H1 chip because, for the H2 chip to be worthwhile (i.e. to deliver the same functionality of the AirPods 4 et al), a wider redesign would be needed. In other words, just banging the H2 chip in there and keeping everything else as is wouldn’t necessarily deliver additional functionality. That’d need different mics, sensors, etc., etc.
Now quite what they are intending with the Max, I really don’t know. It makes sense to switch out the port and add new colours. But that should have been a silent update, and nobody would have bothered. The fact they got up on a stage and announced this is just weird. And, it implies that any plans for this product are a very long way from delivering.
I was curious too.
Since Amazon have the old ones for cheaper.
Got the lightning version this past week for $150 off. At that price point these are great and the seamless switching between apple devices is worth it to me! Much better noise cancelling and transparency mode than my PX7s.
Great video as always, thanks Mark. Unrelated question but what is that watch you’re wearing - is it the new Samsung Ultra watch? It looks nice whatever it is but please tell me, thanks :-)
Thanks! It's a Huawei watch - check out my latest videos ;)
I really enjoy your reviews but I’m just writing to say, your shirt!! Omg 😍
I actually think that colour look awesome now that I have seen this video
The sound quality is Unfortunately not in par with my 799 Focal bathys! Of course they are in a different price class but still
A pair of 500+$ should be better than what they decided to do with them
Great video though!
Can you do a video about headphones you like more than these? Maybe top 5 ?
We'll definitely be doing some stuff like this towards the end of the year 👍
I’m still keeping my lightning pair. The USB C “upgrade* isn’t worth it. You can get 3rd party cases. I love my one from WaterField design, although I agree you shouldn’t have to. The OG AirPods Max didn’t come with a power brick
I had the first gen and thought they sounded ok but were too heavy and the case was rubbish given the £500 outlay. They wouldn’t take much to dent too
I’ve got the Bose QC ultras but always wanted AirPods Max so said F it and bought the starlight ones. I like them so far.
I find the ANC to be excellent (especially on planes)....and as you say, the transparency mode is the best.
My old Airpod Max had the common issue of no longer being able to pair so I was looking forward to buy the new version until I learned the only differences are color and UBS-C. So the case issue (looks terrible, you need it to prevent battery drain, and the edges peel off after a while), the common pairing issue, the deteriorating headband issue (in my case the netting lost all elasticity and the plastic holding the netting also cracked everywhere), and no OFF button (to put the headphones in and out of the case every time you stop and start using the headphones is cumbersome especially in an airplane) issues all remain. Unbelievable that after four years Apple has fixed NONE of these widely reported issues. Even if they had put in the H2 chip I would not have bought the new version given these unaddressed issues. Meanwhile others like Bose have caught up and even improved. Bose QC Ultra has a more compact case, OFF button, audio jack, better sound quality, equivalent or better ANC, no pairing issues, weighs less and all that for a lower price tag. This "new" versions looks like an attempt from Apple to cash cow the over the ear headphones segment a little longer before abandoning it.
Does it play music through the USB C?
I have the same question, it should deliver Lossless directly over cable right?
I bought them yesterday. My AirPods Pro started to distort in the left one. So decided to get them. I will use my old AirPods Pro when I go outside
I done the exact same thing when I was unpeeling mine too haha but I did notice that you had to open the flap first. Although clearly its not obvious
Is the clamping pressure still the same for you?
Congratulations you just bought the same pair twice
No, the other one is usb c and in different color
@@vincetech0514it’s the same picture.
Good review; thx! But there is a difference that the USB-C port provides! Ability to listen to lossless with the USB-C cable; right?
Still might get these but the old version since they need lighten to do wired connections
Do the new AirPods Max still have the same condensation problem?
Even the company didn’t bother to call them AirPods Max 2. They are the same headphones. Only new things are the port they were forced to use and the new color “ooo ahhh, shiny, new” effect
I have the OG AirPods Max in green and I rarely even use them. I can’t even tell you the last time that I did use them; actually. But I do want the new ones for a color refresh but I can’t justify the price. I watched your video about them because I’m living vicariously through you, haha. - Ron
I bought it. Why? For the two reasons:
A. I don’t have the 1st generation
B. I am fully confident that apple has put something in it to be compatible with new unexpected features in the incoming IOS updates respectively
Ive bought this as my first set of apple headphones. They are great, but for the price, the condensation issue is a massive negative.