That's because I think Apple owns the patent rights to lightening. If anyone makes an accessory for lightening compatibility such as chargers, Apple gets more money.
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Apple Announces AirPods Max Over-Ear Headphones With Noise Cancellation, Priced at $549
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$59. Given my experience with the OG AirPods and crap battery, I'll take the "insurance" expecting that something will probably fail near the 2 years point
Even with all the features, I wonder if the audio quality really is better than the competition, specially at that price.
And what about compression? Does H1 works with lossless FLAC?
Who will pay that much? If people pay $250 for the AirPods "pro", It's fair to say people will pay that much for those new ones.
And what about compression? Does H1 works with lossless FLAC?
Who will pay that much? If people pay $250 for the AirPods "pro", It's fair to say people will pay that much for those new ones.
Wow.
These are pretty nice!
Apple introduces AirPods Max, the magic of AirPods in a stunning over-ear design
Apple today announced AirPods Max, innovative wireless headphones that bring the magic of AirPods to an over-ear design with high-fidelity audio.www.apple.com
Price is absurdly high. Ridiculous really. Way too expensive and will be out of reach of many.
Second, the mesh over the head is terrible: that mesh can easily rip and fray. No way would I buy these for these 2 reasons. Stick with Bose.
I don't have to. Bose, Sony, and many other headphones already make excellent headphones.
But folks like you are exactly why I am so proud to own Apple stock. Fanboys will overpay for stuff, cause Apple flex.
Even if it sounds well, I don't ever plan to spend that much money on wireless sound devices.
I care for expensive wired headphones, and they last forever with care.
With battery? no.
Wireless is convenient, but max I can go is an airpod pro which, atleast for me, has its convenience value more that it's price.
And it's god mesh. I'm pretty sure Apple done it with purpose. It's expensive, and will not be durable enough to last long.
I care for expensive wired headphones, and they last forever with care.
With battery? no.
Wireless is convenient, but max I can go is an airpod pro which, atleast for me, has its convenience value more that it's price.
And it's god mesh. I'm pretty sure Apple done it with purpose. It's expensive, and will not be durable enough to last long.
Well I would assume that they are so far apart in the target audience that this comparison makes no sense to begin with in 99% of cases , but sure lets have at it.
Maybe lets do a Vitamix vs Xbox series ?
FYI i would rather have the AirPods Max in your question, hands down without even listening to it , why because i dont play Xbox anymore , and if i would be the target audience for both (think which demographic we are talking about here) , then ill probably own the Xbox without waiting for someone to buy it for me as a gift , so in that case , i would also like the AirPods Max as i already have the Xbox !
People in public don’t see you wearing a HomePod.
You nailed it. Exactly right.
I love Apple and many of their products, but I don't exempt them from criticism when warranted.
lol the inevitable dig, was expecting it
I’ve had them 2 years, they’re the pretty much best pair of headphones I’ve ever owned and I’ve had more than my fair share. Junk lol ok m8
I love the sound of my 1000xm3's too but having to disconnect from one device then connect to another is nerve wrecking!! Do you have a workaround?
The best thing about MacRumors is how many people have no idea about the cost of things in other industries. £550 is not that much for premium headphones. I paid over £1000 for my Sennheiser HD800s and you need to spend at least another £500 on a headphone amp powerful enough to drive them.
If these sound anything like as good as other £500 headphones that need an amp they're bargain with all the additional features thrown in.
If these sound anything like as good as other £500 headphones that need an amp they're bargain with all the additional features thrown in.
All I want for Christmas was something affordable from Apple 😢
Apple today introduced new wireless over-ear headphones called AirPods Max, with key features including high-fidelity audio, Adaptive EQ, Active Noise Cancellation, and spatial audio. Priced at $549, the headphones can be ordered starting today on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app, with availability beginning December 15.
AirPods Max come in five colors, including space gray, silver, sky blue, green, and pink. Apple says the headphones feature a "breathable knit mesh" spanning the stainless steel headband that distributes weight to reduce on-head pressure.
Apple says the ear cups have acoustically engineered memory foam to create an effective seal, and the telescoping headband arms smoothly extend and then stay in place to maintain the desired fit on your head.
AirPods Max feature a 40-mm Apple-designed dynamic driver that is said to provide "rich, deep bass, accurate mid-ranges, and crisp, clean high-frequency extension." Each ear cup is equipped with Apple's H1 chip for "computational audio" to deliver the "highest quality listening experience possible," according to Apple.
Similar to the Apple Watch, AirPods Max feature a Digital Crown on one ear cup for precise volume control and the ability to play or pause audio, skip tracks, answer or end phone calls, and activate Siri voice control. There's also a noise control button for switching between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode, which lets some outside sound in so you can interact naturally with your surroundings.
AirPods Max feature up to 20 hours of battery life with Active Noise Cancellation and spatial audio enabled — fine print reveals that Apple had volume set to 50% during its testing. Apple says a five-minute charge delivers 1.5 hours of listening time.
As with other AirPods models, AirPods Max have one-tap setup and automatic pairing with all the devices signed in to a user's iCloud account, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. AirPods Max have built-in optical and position sensors that automatically detect when the headphones are on someone's head. Once in place, AirPods Max play audio and can pause once removed, or when the user lifts one ear cup.
Apple's announcement provides more details on audio features:For phone calls and Siri commands, beam-forming microphones help to block out ambient noise and focus on the user's voice.
AirPods Max come with a carrying case called the "Smart Case" and a Lightning to USB-C cable in the box. Apple says the Smart Case puts the AirPods Max in an ultra-low power state that helps to preserve battery charge when not in use.
AirPods Max are launching in the United States and more than 25 other countries and regions, with shipments set to begin arriving to customers on Tuesday, December 15. AirPods Max can be ordered on Apple.com starting today.
Article Link: Apple Announces AirPods Max Over-Ear Headphones With Noise Cancellation, Priced at $549
Can't make any assessment unless you know how many are available. Classic apple move to constrain supply at launch to create hype. The late release suggests that the supply chain isn't up and running. Otherwise, they absolutely would have gotten these out sooner for the xmas rush.
I'm sure these will be a very nice product but I also doubt they will be any better than numerous excellent options available in this crowded category for less money. In the headphone world, $550 can get you a seriously good quality headphone.
H1 is limited to AAC to my knowledge. You can buy excellent BT headphones now that support LDAC for true lossless sound. Apple has refused to implement LDAC on their phones and has refused to offer true high end wireless sound. Sure many will say AAC is "good enough" but if I'm paying 550 good enough doesn't cut it. If you don't need ANC take a look at the Audeze Mobius or Drop Panda for high end wireless sound. I will be shocked if these sound better than those.
