AirPods Max: technical sheet, price and opinion on the Apple headset

In December 2020, Apple officially unveiled its new wireless headphones. His name:AirPods Max, recalling the previous success of the Bluetooth headphones of the same name. Objective: to compete with the leaders in the sector, such as the models sold by the American Bose or the Japanese Sony, with a product with high-end ambitions. But can AirPods Max really claim the title of best iPhone audio accessory? Here's everything you need to know to make up your mind about them.

Design: originality according to Apple

To begin, let's start with the exterior appearance of the AirPods Max. It must be said, this one is very special since its handle loses width just before joining the speakers. In addition, it is filled with a fairly airy net which seems to allow the hair to breathe: practical. For the rest, the AirPods Max are quite classic except perhaps for theDigital Crowninstalled on the right ear side.

As onl’Apple Watch Series 6, this is used to control the device and in particular the volume with a simple movement of the fingers. You can also use it to answer a call, activate the voice assistantSirior even juggle between the different tracks of a musical playlist. Its notched edges allow it to be gripped precisely and control is therefore relatively easy.

On a daily basis, such a design allows the AirPods Max to offer trouble-free comfort over time. Especially since the thickness of the pads makes prolonged pressure easily bearable.

To finish with this theme, let's talk aboutcolors. There are six to date:

• Space gray
• Argent
• Vert
• Sky blue
• Rose

Autonomy at the rendezvous

According to Apple, AirPods Max are capable of staying on foreight o'clockin a row on a single charge, even with active noise reduction or Transparency mode activated. In video playback, the figure remains the same, in particular taking advantage of the Spatial Audio functionality which would be able to come closer to reality with “three-dimensional” sound.

Let us also point out that, still according to its manufacturer, the AirPods Max wireless headphones offer an hour and a half of listening time in just five minutes of power. But you should also know that theSmart Case, storage case delivered with the device, is responsible for preserving its battery thanks to an integrated ultra-low consumption mode. Finally, let us add that the AirPods Max are recharged from a Lightning port, the corresponding cable of which is fortunately provided when ordering. Too bad there's no USB-C, though.

Pairing AirPods Max

Apple's AirPods Max wireless headphones connect to devices of the same brand very quickly. In fact, all you have to do is position them close to the iPhone and it will then display a special notification with a buttonConnexion. All you have to do is click on it, and that’s it. But for products that are not Apple branded, the procedure is a little different.

Indeed, it is then necessary to call on the parametersBluetoothof the tablet, smartphone or computer to associate. The AirPods Max are therefore compatible with the fifth generation of this universal standard, which should not be a problem with a Windows PC for example. However, be aware that options such as Spatial Audio will not work with the competition: good to know.

Audio

With their proprietary dynamic transducer, AirPods Max are among the best in terms of consumer wireless headphones. They also havenine microphonesdistributed over their surface, eight of which are there so that the active noise reduction works correctly. Three are also used to capture the user's voice, which makes most telephone exchanges audible even outdoors for your correspondents.

Now let's move on to what is probably the most anticipated from this AirPods Max review: theirsound quality. It must be said, on a daily basis the result is very qualitative and has nothing to envy of renowned brands like JBL. So, of course, the comparison stops there and it is difficult to follow the experts in the field of music such as Audio Technica or Technics (a subsidiary of Panasonics). But professionals will prefer monitoring alternatives anyway.

Apple AirPods Max: compatibility

On the Apple side, the AirPods Max work with alliPhonefollowing the first iPhone SE -since followed bya second edition– and the iPhone 6s. As for connected watches, no jealousy: each Apple Watch is entitled to them too, from the very first to the Series 6. But for the Apple TV, on the other hand, only its 4K version is eligible as soon as it is This is about running Spatial Audio.

As for the iPads, the minis have been entitled to them since the fourth, the iPad Airs since the second and the classic model since its fifth generation, which only dates from… 2017. As for the iPad Pro, it is surely the luckiest of the lot: none of its variations are left out by the AirPods Max. What we can expect fromtabletsin this price range.

AirPods Max prices

It's time to take a look at the price of AirPods Max. It's simple, this one achieves629 eurosin France, which positions the helmet among the most expensive of its ilk. When purchasing, however, you can add a free engraving: this is the least you can do, given the amount you have to pay to purchase the product.

Note also that Apple offers its own insurance service aimed at protecting AirPods Max from potential failures in the medium term. For the sum of fifty-nine euros, you will then be covered against accidental damage for two years in a row. The name of the package isAppleCare+, as with other items sold by Cupertino.

Conclusion: our opinion on the AirPods Max headphones

We have now reached the end of this AirPods Max technical sheet. As you can see, we find ourselves here faced with a device that is veryless accessiblethan its competitors, with a decidedly atypical image. This wireless headset is in any case a great ally for all those who already trust Apple's smartphones and Macs, because it pairs easily.

For daily use, it is probably even thebest audio accessory that Apple sells. So of course, AirPods Max take up a lot more space than AirPods Pro or classic AirPods, but you can carry them around your neck or in their battery without worry. In short, if you have already succumbed to the latest iPhone and you have the means, go for it. But if you prefer sobriety and want to save money, then perhaps opting for headphones with silicone tips from the same manufacturer will be a better choice.