REVIEW: APPLE AIRPODS MAX
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room first – yes, Apple’s latest and greatest headphones are very expensive.
But the short version of this review might just point to the fact that, even a few months after the AirPods Max hit the market, they are still pretty hard to get hold of. Someone is buying them. And at £549 a pop, there must be a very good reason for that scarcity in the online shops.
Having lived with them for a couple of weeks now, I think there are three reasons people seem to be happy to spend that kind of money on a pair of headphones.
DESIGN
The AirPods Max look and feel fantastic – there’s no branding at all on them, and the over-the-ear design is faultless from the comfort of the mesh-knit headband to the neat telescopic arms that adjust easily to get just the right fit.
And despite being quite heavy, the perfect balance makes them really comfortable to wear for long periods.
AUDIO
They sound like £549 headphones. Going from tiny in-ear headphones, or even some of the more expensive over the ear rivals is a sea change. Deep bass, punchy middle and clear tops combine with perfect separation – you can hear it all.
MAGIC
There are some things these headphones do that I simply don’t understand. Like the spatial features – when watching compatible TV shows or films via Apple TV these headphones mimic surround sound, so things can sound like they’re coming from behind or in front of you as well as from left and right. This stays in sync even when you turn your head. How does that work?
Another magical touch – the noise cancellation works on three levels – off, on, or ‘transparency’, which allows sound from the outside world into the mix. When on, you really are transported to your own immersive world of music utopia. When in transparency the music still sounds wonderful, but you’ll be able to hear traffic around you.
The headphones are easy to pair with any Apple devices, and switching between audio sources is seamless.
At the price they are certainly not for everyone, but if you want the best, you have to pay for it.
■ apple.com/uk/airpods-max