Video Review: The AirPods Max in 2025

[MacRumors]

Apple hasn't introduced a major update for the AirPods Max since the headphones came out in 2020, but last year there was a minor refresh with new color options and an upgrade to USB-C charging. With no additional new features on the horizon, we thought we'd take a look at whether the AirPods Max are worth picking up in 2025.

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The transition to USB-C didn't upgrade any other internal hardware, so reviews from 2020 about Active Noise Cancellation and sound quality are still valid. The AirPods Max sound great even after five years, but nothing has improved in terms of the overarching listening experience, and with no design updates, the AirPods Max are still on the heavy side for ANC over-ear headphones, and some people find them uncomfortable.

USB-C charging is definitely more convenient than the Lightning-based charging from the prior model, but there is one other change that could draw audiophiles to the AirPods Max. With a USB-C wired connection, the AirPods Max support 24-bit 48kHz lossless audio and ultra-low latency, which means you can listen to music the way the artist intended it to sound in the studio.

The latency improvement is notable if you want to use your AirPods Max for things like gaming or editing with a Mac, because there's no longer a Bluetooth listening delay. Unfortunately, you need the USB-C version of the AirPods Max to use these new features, so if you have older Lightning-based AirPods Max that you bought sometime in the last five years, you won't get the lossless and latency improvements.

AirPods Max are still stylish and you get Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, which go a long way toward improving the listening experience, plus the ANC is still competitive with other brands. If you can get the AirPods Max on sale so you're not shelling out over $500, the USB-C model is worth considering, but make sure you like the fit.

Article Link: Video Review: The AirPods Max in 2025

 

[AppleFanBoyCAN]

Been using them every day for years! I love them!

 

[PeterHolbrook]

I don't own these cans, although I was tempted to purchase them when they first appeared. The idea of listening to surround music, particularly old quadraphonic recordings, is very appealing to me, but I was unable to find any references as to how this might be achieved with the AirPods Max, no matter the charge style. Most of my surround music library consists of DTS CDs and multichannel FLAC files, all of which I can play with no issues using my Blu-ray player and my Home Theatre (with its 5.1 speakers, naturally). The point is, if I want to enjoy this kind of surround music on the AirPods Max, how exactly am I supposed to send the signal to the cans? As far as I can see, there would be no wired connection available between my Blu-ray player or my Onkyo Home Theatre and the AirPods Max. Wireless communications might also be a dead end in this setting. So, for those of you who have seen these cans work, how should I proceed in order to listen to my quadraphonic FLACs of, say, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon on the AirPods Max?

 

[Johnny907]

They're fine, but they're stupid overpriced and Apple should be ashamed of itself for that phoned-in refresh last year. Drop the price to 299 and we'll talk.

 

[heystu]

I was on the brink of buying some APMs the other day, after pouring over hours of YouTube reviews I opted for the Sony XM4s. Missing out on the greatest feature (fast device switching) but c’mon now, £165 for the Sonys vs £495 for the APMs?

 

[iBluetooth]

I don't own these cans, although I was tempted to purchase them when they first appeared. The idea of listening to surround music, particularly old quadraphonic recordings, is very appealing to me, but I was unable to find any references as to how this might be achieved with the AirPods Max, no matter the charge style. Most of my surround music library consists of DTS CDs and multichannel FLAC files, all of which I can play with no issues using my Blu-ray player and my Home Theatre (with its 5.1 speakers, naturally). The point is, if I want to enjoy this kind of surround music on the AirPods Max, how exactly am I supposed to send the signal to the cans? As far as I can see, there would be no wired connection available between my Blu-ray player or my Onkyo Home Theatre and the AirPods Max. Wireless communications might also be a dead end in this setting. So, for those of you who have seen these cans work, how should I proceed in order to listen to my quadraphonic FLACs of, say, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon on the AirPods Max?

My Onkio supports AirPlay, they also have an app to remotely control this.

 

[roland.g]

They were $449 or $469 or so last week. Now back to $529. They’ll hopefully come back down again.

 

[spillled typos]

Transparency and noise cancellation on my pair of AirPods Max is absolutely terrible. It makes everything sound like tinny trash. They're still good though, with those modes simply turned off.

 

[gomichaelgo]

I want to get a pair of these but honestly after all these years with no updates is wild. A first gen product is never perfect and I don't think they need a yearly refresh, but I was so ready to buy until all they updated was USB-C. Was hoping they'd future proof them with an updated chip at least.

 

[Brenster]

Still using my lightning APM daily at work. ANC is great, stereo music sounds great, Atmos/Spatial Audio is brilliant whether Atmos mixes on Apple Music or late night/early morning bouts of Star Trek via Apple TV 4K. Have a second pair of cushions to swap in when the other pair accumulates too much sweat and need washing.

Had to have them repaired once out of warranty via Apple, worth it for the amount of listening joy they bring. If the current pair failed today, I'd be driving to the nearest Apple Store tomorrow morning to buy a replacement pair.

 

[Onelifenofear]

The need a better design. They should fold in some clever way into themselves. the sheer bulk of them is why I didn't buy them.

I went with the Beats Pro in the Amazon sale but they are really badly design in my opinion, button placement, creakiness. AirPod Pros have better DNC on planes than the Beats (just) over the ears. I am considering sending them back as not fit for purpose.

 

[poematik13]

Should have been $399, and do something about the mesh getting loose

 

[titanium69]

He compares them to the Sony wh-1000xm5, well the Sony wh-1000xm6 come out in the next few weaks. Dont bother with the airpods max... they`re heavily outdated & wont be refreshed for another few years as per apple

 

[SactoGuy18]

Not at the current price. I'm hoping that the AirPods Max will get the same (rumored) H3 Bluetooth and U3 UWB chip sets that will likely be part of the upcoming AirPods Pro 3 earbuds; these new chip sets may finally allow newer iPhones (15 and newer) to transmit Lossless Audio from iPhone to AirPods Max UWB at full bandwidth.

 

[Agent007]

I was on the brink of buying some APMs the other day, after pouring over hours of YouTube reviews I opted for the Sony XM4s. Missing out on the greatest feature (fast device switching) but c’mon now, £165 for the Sonys vs £495 for the APMs?

Good choice. May will mark 3 years since I got the XM5's. They're amazing - I use them every day for several hours. I have two gripes with the Sony's, though.

Gripe 1, embarrassingly, is that the XM# series don't look as "premium" as they are - I finally understand why some people won't buy an Android phone because they're afraid to "look poor". I would have opted for AP Max if not for so many stories of condensation forming inside the aluminum ear cups and frying them.

Gripe 2 - no fast device switching. Halfway through owning the XM5's, I received AirPods Pro 2 as a gift. I would never have bought them as I rarely get a good fit with in-ear buds including Apple's old wired in-ear. Long story short the medium tips fit great and aftermarket foam even better. I fell in love with them. Like most of you I'm going between a phone, Mac, and iPad and after getting used do the AirPods fast switching it's like watching TV without a remote control (if you're old enough to remember those days or if your dog at them and you had to tough it out sometimes lol)

Does anyone know if it's even possible for Apple to open up the fast switching to 3rd party devices? I was under the impression it was proprietary tech (H2 chip maybe?) but now that the EU is demanding Apple do this it's got me wondering.

 

[dampfnudel]

Hopefully we get a lighter H3 version by next year.

 

[anthogag]

I have the lightning AirPods Max. I won't buy another Max until a real new upgrade appears.

Where is the review of the Max' new losses capability? You can compare losses by listening to music with many instruments playing together. For example classical and Jazz. It will sound clearer with better instrument timbre.

 

[AlanBeyond]

In China they are not as expensive as in the UK, I got them for 2980 CNY, but still significantly more expensive than its competitors like sony and bose

 

[AlanBeyond]

Hopefully we get a lighter H3 version by next year.

Nooo... I just got my USB-C version

 

[lk400]

I have had since launch. These sound great and continue to do so. I can’t think of any improvements for sound needed.

However a design overhaul is needed. I have not used heavily, and never outside the house, but the mesh in the headband has stretched and no longer cushions. I get headaches. This is a bit dumb for pricy headphones. None of my other pricy headphones in the last decades have worn out like this.

The case also needs a complete rethink. It was stupid form over function on launch. And it continues to be so. I have a pair of Sony XM4 that I use just for travel because the Apple case is terrible.

 

[lowkey]

^yep the headband is badly designed. The case is even worse. Not folding also a pain. And please a power button! Oh yeah, they are also too heavy to wear for long periods. Still they sound pretty good, and pair so easily so are good for my work where they are on and off my head all day.

I’ve kept my Bose QC35mkii that are much better for long use and for travel.

 

[svish]

Good video. They are good headphones. However I would recommend them only if it were priced slightly lower than the current price.

 

[McNoise]

The AirPods Max are probably Apple's most overpriced product.
I would never buy the Max new and I'm glad I bought it second-hand ...

And quickly sold it again mainly due to the ergonomically poor design: They are too heavy, slip off my head too quickly and the mesh below the headband provides practically no cushioning at all.

There is a reason why the second-hand market is full of AirPods Max offers.

 

[bookcase]

They are absolutely overpriced, but I ended up coughing it up for the USB-C version and haven’t looked back. They’re beautiful, the AQ is phenomenal, and I don’t notice how heavy they are anymore.

 

[Marshall73]

love mine, been using then regularly since they launched. No need for newer units with USB C. Ace noise cancellation on flights and when I’m 3D printing. Fantastic for movies and Spatial Audio. My friend bought a pair cheap on EBay, complained that they sounded crap and he didn’t seem to be getting Spatial Audio. Turned out they were fakes, looked almost identical to mine but were a bit lighter and the hinges were sticky. The kirf’s of these are crazy.