Apple Prototyped Hundreds of AirPods Max Designs, Says Smart Case is Designed for Storage Efficiency

[adrianlondon]

The digital crown and the transparency option are already two buttons, one of them also a knob. I tinker enough already with them and sometimes press the transparency/anc one instead of the crown. A third button for power off just opens to more confusion and introduce accidental turn offs...

I think I’m in the large minority here, understandably so: using them for the last 5 days, they have incredibly grown on me. Best headphones I have ever had (not an audiophile myself though). I’m perfectly ok with them not having a power off button, just like the phone, iPad, AppleTV, airpods/pro, etc don’t have a power off button. They are always ready to be awaken (instantly) and used. Want to turn them off? Do the gymnastics button combination, also like with all the gadgets mentioned above.

You seem to answer your own complaint. So, you're saying that a gymnastics button combination is just what the headphones need? A long press of the crown and anc button to power off would be perfect. People can simply not do it if they like the headphones kept on.

 

[pondhopper]

They were trying to save money on materials. It looks cheap and nasty and nobody, even women would be carrying this stupid thing around. Sorry.

 

[artfossil]

They were trying to save money on materials. It looks cheap and nasty and nobody, even women would be carrying this stupid thing around. Sorry.

I like the case.
I might be a woman.
I'm not nobody.
I would carry it around.
I'm not sorry.

 

[Lemon Olive]

The case is open and doesn’t even fully cover those parts either. Also how is the strongest part the only part that needs protection?

The case isn't for impact protection. It is for scratch protection on the cups.

 

[goobot]

The case isn't for impact protection. It is for scratch protection on the cups.

The one piece that’s replaceable.

 

[artfossil]

The one piece that’s replaceable.

The ear cushions are replaceable. The metal ear cups are not.

 

[Lemon Olive]

The one piece that’s replaceable.

The back is what is protected and that is not replaceable.

 

[toph2toast]

If they’d done that, people would be complaining even more about the price. I expect the majority of these will be used around the home/office, and a hard case would go mostly unused in that environment. There are high-end headphones out there that require tube-amps. Not all headphones are designed or intended for going out jogging Or on errands around town.

I actually think the contrary would happen, because there would be comfort knowing your investment in the headphones was going to be protected by a good case. My Sony XM3's are only used for when I travel, and otherwise stay in their case in my home office.

 

[kc9hzn]

Considering that my main use case for them would be blocking train noise on my commute, storage efficiency would be helpful (especially as they should have better passive noise canceling than the AirPods Pro I have, I just can’t get a good seal with them). That said, I can’t really justify spending $550 for that use case ($350, maybe, but definitely not $550).

 

[Mr.PT]

The digital crown is a much better solution. I have SONY headphones and the touch operation is so imprecise and poorly done that I had to turn it off.

https://www.bang-olufsen.com/en/headphones/beoplay-h95?variant=beoplay-h95-black

IMHO This is what Apple should have done, please note de earcup dial; and that includes headband design; overall built and material quality; battery life and ... a case instead of a (not sure what to call it)