AirPods Max Launched Five Years Ago Today

[MacRumors]

Apple's AirPods Max launched five years ago today, marking the company's first push into the high-end over-ear headphones market under its own brand name.

Rumors about Apple's work on a pair of high-end headphones, at the time believed to be called the "AirPods Studio," heated up throughout 2020. They were announced abruptly via a somewhat unexpected press release on December 8, 2020 and went on sale the same day. Orders started arriving to customers one week later on Tuesday, December 15.

The AirPods Max offer many popular AirPods features such as the H1 chip, easy pairing, Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, automatic switching, and Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, but in a premium over-ear design for the first time. They also offer a headband made of a flexible mesh canopy, replaceable magnetic earcups, a Digital Crown for physical volume controls, a button for switching between ANC and Transparency, and a Smart Case for storage and to put the headphones into a low power state.

Demand for the AirPods Max was high immediately after launch, with shipping estimates that stretched out several months. Initial reviews of AirPods Max were favorable, applauding the headphones for being "more than enough to compete with other high-end headphones" in terms of design and sound quality. While the recommended retail price remains at $549, the AirPods Max are often available with discounts of over $100.

The AirPods Max have also been subject to criticism since their launch, including for their price relative to rival sets of high-end over-ear headphones, the design of the Smart Case, condensation inside the earcups, poor battery life (something that was later fixed via a software update), ANC strength seemingly being reduced over time, the over-head canopy's poor durability, and the long period in which the device has been left without meaningful hardware update.

Last year, Apple refreshed the AirPods Max's selection of color options and swapped the Lightning port for USB-C, but there were no other changes. Since the changes were so minor, Apple does not seem to consider the "new" model a second-generation.

Article Link: AirPods Max Launched Five Years Ago Today

 

[RadMac]

It's the only Apple product that I sold because I didn't like at all.

 

[tyranne201]

its in the drawer getting dust while im using AirPods Pro.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Sold mine last year.

For how I use this type of product, I’m much happier with the Bose quietcomfort cans.

 

[deuxani]

I really hope nobody is buying these new anymore, because $549 for 5 year old tech is ridiculous. All competitors have improved so much year over year (even Apple themselves with the AirPods Pro), someone must be mad to buy the AirPods Max.

 

[257Loner]

And the weight. They’re metal, which makes them too heavy to comfortably wear for longer listening sessions. Apple can’t get over themselves when they make a wearable, like the AirPods Max or Apple Vision Pro, out of a heavy metal instead of lighter materials.

 

[ctg7w6]

I like them but struggle to use them. The Pros are more convenient and comfortable. It’s the only thing I have left that is lightning. I don’t hate them but I wasted $550.

 

[ralph_sws]

Two of these headphones stopped working in my home. One pair stopped working after less than two years due to condensation and bluetooth module stopped working. The second pair stopped working after three years due to broken flex cables. Neither pair had Apple Care because Apple doesn't offer it in my country. Repair cost was almost as much as new headphones. I will never buy these pieces of junk again.

 

[I7guy]

They are very popular. I see more than a handful when riding the rails.

Me and the missis we have Bose Quietcomfort. We only use them when traveling and by far to be the most comfortable of all non-Apple over the ear headphones.

 

[dampfnudel]

And the weight. They’re metal, which makes them too heavy to comfortably wear for longer listening sessions. Apple can’t get over themselves when they make a wearable, like the AirPods Max or Apple Vision Pro, out of a heavy metal instead of lighter materials.

I’m sure they’ll highlight the weight reduction with the second generation because that’s a significant issue where the competition has Apple beat for now. It’s the reason I returned them five years ago.

 

[Postal]

Apple largely achieved what it set out to do — it produced a quality set of headphones that drew people into the ecosystem and even became iconic.

Are the AirPods Max ridiculously expensive at full price? Yes. Would it have been a good thing to revise them (besides switching to USB-C) in the past five years? Yes. But people like them, and you'll see folks wearing them on the street that aren't Apple diehards or simply drowning in money. It didn't erase name recognition for Bose and Sony, but it put Apple in the "cool headphones" conversation.

 

[Brenster]

My launch pair finally died this morning after several years of daily, intensive & extended use. Will be nipping to the nearest Apple Store this evening to pick up a replacement pair, ideally Midnight as the headband of the 1st gen silver pair has long since turned a less than edifying yellow.

 

[satchmo]

I really hope nobody is buying these new anymore, because $549 for 5 year old tech is ridiculous. All competitors have improved so much year over year (even Apple themselves with the AirPods Pro), someone must be mad to buy the AirPods Max.

I wonder if Apple has it's hand in too many baskets. Or just not enough resources?

You've got a 5 year old AirPod Max headphones, a 6 yr old XDR display, 5 year old HomePod mini, etc...

 

[Seanm87]

Got these on release date and had the batteries replaced this year. Still going strong. High up front cost but the longevity and how much I’ve used them I’ve definitely got my moneys worth.

 

[smithdr]

I purchased both the AirPods Max (USB C edition) and the B&W Px7SIII at the same time. I thought the B&Ws sounded better and had better technology. But those little buttons on the back of the ear cups were difficult to use. The AirPods Max just integrated better with my other Apple devices and the two buttons on top of the ear cup were easy to use. Plus, I liked the Apple case as it is easier to put in brief case. I ended up keeping the AirPods Max and returning the B&Ws.

 

[stocklen]

I wonder if Apple has it's hand in too many baskets. Or just not enough resources?

You've got a 5 year old AirPod Max headphones, a 6 yr old XDR display, 5 year old HomePod mini, etc...

or not every product warrants yearly upgrades.

Look at what happens when Apple feel they *need* to update a product - the Apple Watch series 11 is a classic example of a total non-upgrade done for the sake of it.

If theres no compelling need for new HomePod minis for example then why update them.

Im happier as I dont feel the need to replace tech that is made to feel out of date when its nothing of the sort.

 

[littleredwagen]

I have a set and love them when I need to fly. I can go to sleep my music playing and ANC on and don't have to worry about my airpod pros falling out and going missing on the plane.

 

[SRQrws]

It seems to me sound reproduction is just a hobby for Apple. Let's release a few decent products (Homepods, AirPods Max), then let them languish while we continue to profit off people who are hooked on the ecosystem purchasing more. At one point, I owned 5 Homepods and the AirPods Max. Initially, I was impressed with the Homepods, but over time their lack of mid-range drove me to sell them. Similarly, I liked the AirPods Max, but their weight and clamping force left me unhappy after more than a half hour or so of use. I've since switched to Sonos for my wireless speakers and recently bought the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 headphones which, after sampling several competitors, I believe to be the best wireless cans for under $1,000. And they're comfortable...

 

[UliBaer]

Wasn't satisfied with the sound quality for listening to high end sources that time and still prefer wired AKG or Sennheiser headsets for over the ear. At home I don't need noise cancellation. 🤔

 

[Asthmatic Kitty]

I think these headphones are the product that has brought me the most joy out of any that i've bought in my life. Listening to music on them is pretty special, imo.

It's a shame Apple hasn't been incentivised to keep revving them, though — would love to see what a H2/H3 chip and some internal tweaks could do to make the sound quality even more impressive.

 

[deadspider187]

I left my pair in a box for over a year. One of my cats pooped on the case. I think they appreciated in value because of it.

 

[Ja Di ksw]

its in the drawer getting dust while im using AirPods Pro.

And yet I loved mine for protecting my hearing at work, but mine was one of the ones that had the Bluetooth break and I can’t afford another. Tried both AirPods Pro 2 and Beats Pro 2 and neither comes close to blocking out the noises I have to deal with.

 

[tonie walker]

have mine for years now. Only using while on my way to the gym and home. I replaced APM with beats studio pro mainly for the weight. Still waiting for new version before selling the old one.

 

[Dr McKay]

Sold mine last year.

For how I use this type of product, I’m much happier with the Bose quietcomfort cans.

I had the usb c version of the Max but I ended up returning them. They clamped far too tightly onto my head and caused the arms of my glasses to dig into my head painfully. I tried stretching them out but it didn’t help enough.

 

[kcwookie]

I remember hearing about them on my evening walk. I swore up and down I’ve never spent that kind of money for a pair of headphones, but I did. And now five years later, despite the occasional bricking, they are my preferred headphones. They are way more comfortable than the sound qualities is better than my beats. The AirPod Pro threes are OK, but comfort and sound quality still goes to the max.