Everyday Use
Apple always has been the undisputed model in terms of ergonomics.
And like I said above, If you have an iPhone like me, connecting the AirPods is like searching for p0rn on the internet: super easy.
Just take your AirPods Max out of the box, open it near your iPhone/iPad, and they will appear on your screen. Keep the button pressed for a few seconds, and that’s all. Plus, everything is clearly explained with a 3D video, STEP-BY-STEP !
Once you’ve connected your AirPods, just take them out of the box and put them on your head. The sensor will know that you’re wearing them and will resume your last play.
- 1x press = play/pause
- 2x press = next track
- 3x press = previous track
- long press = Siri or Noise Cancelling/Transparency mode, depending on how you configured your buttons
Everything can be modified straight from the control box on the iPhone. No special application, or operation, just a clean, perfect integration. And, to make things better, if one of your friends also has a pair of AirPods Max, you can share your music, or your movie, wirelessly.
It’s so easy that every time you’ll have to use another set of Bluetooth earphones or headphones, you’ll ask yourself “Why do I have to push buttons to connect my earphone ?”. And then you’ll remember that all Android users won’t have access to that seamless experience, because Apple won’t gift them that.
Battery life
Apple claims 20h of continuous listening on a single charge, but during my review, I was closer to the 15h. Add to that some battery issues, where the headphone battery completely drains out during the night the first weeks, and you’ll understand my frustration.
What’s even more bothering is the fact that the AirPods Max doesn’t support fast-charging, nor wireless charging and I got even more frustrated. Sure, you can enjoy one and a half hours of music, with just a 5-minute charge, but USB-C or wireless charging should be mandatory in every modern headphone now.
Thankfully, a few days after I wrote the upper paragraph, the battery drain has been fixed and I won a full hour of listening, the AirPods Max reaching 16h on a single charge now.
Comfort
Big and bold the AirPods Max is supremely comfy, even if a bit heavier than I expected them to be.
The plushy ear pads cover the whole ear and thanks to the memory foam, you will be able to wear them with glasses, and a mask. The engineers chose the right level of clamping, and the tight pressure applied by the swivel, make sure that the headphone stays where you want.
I used the AirPods Max for hours, and so far, those are the most comfortable headphones I have ever had the chance to use. It never felt warm on my ears, I couldn’t feel the headband on my head, and even while I ran to grab my train, the headset stood in place.
Even compared to my Meze Empyrean, or Sennheiser HD800S, Apple’s headphone gave me a slightly better experience, in the long run. Big Kudos to the design team!
The article continues on Page Four, after the click here
MhtLion
Definitely the best review on Airpod Max I’ve read! Have you tried the optional cable? Some says it sounds better with it, and some says it’s the same.
Thomas Hoff
the fact that it works best with Apple Music should be a reason not to buy into Apple’s walled garden. Apple Music is horrible. I have recently untethered myself from Apple and am loving it.
Darwin
Nah Apple Music is great. Best sound quality. Best interface. Now high res and Atmos audio. Nothing else even comes close. Even the best price!
Jazz1
Well I’ve been on and off about buying these headphones. I’ve read many a review, mostly some too bias, and some too insanely harsh. I think your review “hits the nail on the head”.
Soooo, I have ordered them after finding and reading this review, after reading many other review and watching many YouTube pundits 😉
I do own a B&W PX7 headphones which I like very much. I am hoping the sound on this Apple headphone exceeds the PX7 to some extent. So thanks to your review I dig deeper into the Apple “walled garden”.
Any updates you care to share?