Apple AirPods Max wireless headphones launched

by Mark Tyson on 9 December 2020, 12:11

Tags: Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

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Apple has launched its end of year hardware surprise – the Apple AirPods Max wireless headphones. These take the AirPod technology into an over the ear headphone design. Apple will release the AirPods Max headphones on Tuesday, 15th December but pre-orders are available immediately.

The new over-ear design from Apple includes a number of key technologies, such as; a custom acoustic design, H1 chips, and advanced software to power computational audio for a breakthrough listening experience with Adaptive EQ, Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and spatial audio.

Greg Joswiak, Apple's SVP of Worldwide Marketing, called the AirPods Max an over-ear design based upon the "magical AirPods experience" with high-fidelity audio for "the ultimate personal listening experience".

Inside the AirPods Max are custom designed 40mm dynamic drivers said to produce "rich, deep bass, accurate mid-ranges, and crisp, clean high-frequency," sound. Moreover, the design includes a "unique dual neodymium ring magnet motor allows AirPods Max to maintain total harmonic distortion of less than 1 percent across the entire audible range, even at maximum volume," says Apple. Each ear cup features a deca-core Apple H1 chip capable of 9 billion operations per second for computational audio enhancements and features.

For audio in, Apple AirPods Max headphones include beam-forming microphones that block out ambient noise and focus on the user’s voice.

The AirPods Max intelligence goes beyond the pure listening experience as, for example, the optical and positional sensors in the headband detect users wearing these headphones.

Users interact with the AIrPods Max via the Digital Crown, inspired by the Apple Watch, and this will provide precise control of volume levels, as well as being able to play or pause audio, skip tracks, answer or end phone calls, and activate Siri.

Moving on to the topic of construction, Apple says that the AirPods Max utilise a stainless steel frame, with a breathable knit mesh cover to distribute on-head pressure comfortably. Telescoping headband arms smoothly extend and stay in place to maintain the desired fit. Furthermore, each ear cup attaches to the headband to provide a balanced pressure for an effective memory foam ear cup seal.

Users can expect about 20 hours of battery life for high-fidelity audio, talk time, or movie playback with Active Noise Cancellation and spatial audio enabled. The AirPods Max come with a soft slim carry case that put them into an ultralow power state for transport.

As mentioned in the intro, the AIrPods Max headphones become available from Tuesday, 15th December but can be pre-ordered now. You can choose one of five colours; space grey, silver, sky blue, green, and pink. Pricing is USD$549 / GBP£549.



HEXUS Forums :: 31 Comments

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At that price are they lined with gold pressed latinum and give me Oo-mox?
Beyond ridiculous! And guess how repairable they will be?! But they will keep doing this until we stop buying it. In my book, it's time to say enough is enough.
So they have finally absorbed “beats” into the Apple brand. Likely to be the same average quality, but with the apple tax on top.

Lets put that side though and assume they sound as good or better than the current best in class options….then you get onto the looks. The headphones themselves are strikingly ugly, and then the case they include is..well..i honestly cannot think of the right words to describe how awful that looks.

It does rather imply their target market is the type of person who likes to carry around a small handbag though!

The thing is, they did the same trick with AirPods - take a mediocre at best set of earphones, make them look ridiculous, and double the price. People wear them, they look absolutely ridiculous, but regardless Apple proceed to sell millions of the things.

I just don't get Apple anymore, or why people still give them their money. Mind you, I don't get fashion or art either, so I guess its for the same reason!
These have been criticised by everybody - even the Apple die hards. Overpriced, underperforming and as one put it - that bag is saying steal me!
Not for £549. Not when there are so many competitors with high credentials for far less than that.