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Airpods Max

“Sounds incredible, costs a fortune, and the case is unforgivable.”

balance MIXED VERDICT

Check $499.00 on Amazon open_in_new

7.2

Inside Scoop Score

Mixed · 7.2 / 10

auto_awesome INSIDE SCOOP

The Inside Scoop

THE VERDICT

The AirPods Max deliver genuinely excellent sound, best-in-class noise cancellation, and transparency mode that leaves every competitor behind — but only if you live inside Apple's ecosystem. At $499, you're paying a steep premium for a metal build that adds weight, a case that infuriates nearly every owner, and features that are largely neutered on Android. The Gen 2 update is real but modest: improved ANC and a slight sound bump, not the reinvention the price tag demands.

Anchored by Marques Brownlee's review

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ANC and transparency are class-leading

MKBHD places the noise cancellation on par with Sony XM4s, while transparency mode is called the best he has ever heard — not just letting sound in, but preserving directionality so you know where sounds are coming from.

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Sound quality is genuinely excellent

40mm drivers deliver punchy bass, strong sub-bass, excellent instrument separation, and fatigue-free highs across genres, with ultra-low distortion even at high volumes according to MKBHD and corroborated by RecordingNOW and In-Ear Fidelity.

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Premium metal build with real longevity

Aluminum ear cups, stainless steel headband, and magnetically swappable ear cushions mean these are built to last years — and when the foam eventually degrades, you replace just that part, not the whole headphone.

Owner Reception

Verified owner data

shopping_cart Amazon 286 ratings

90% loved 7% critical

Critical reviews ≈ 20

warning WATCH OUTS

Before You Buy — What Nobody Tells You

Most owners are happy — only 7% of 286 Amazon ratings are 1–2★. These are the specific gripes worth weighing before you buy:

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No off switch, case is mandatory

There is no power button — leaving them out of the case drains battery at roughly the same rate as active playback, so you are effectively forced to use that universally-hated case every single time or watch your battery disappear.

— from MKBHD review transcript

lightbulb Commit to always using the case, or accept plugging in more often than you'd expect for a $499 headphone.
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Metal build gets cold in winter

The aluminum ear cups conduct temperature, meaning in cold weather the cups press against your head ice-cold until they warm up — something you would never notice in a climate-controlled store demo.

— from MKBHD review transcript

lightbulb Give them a minute to warm up before wearing outdoors in winter, or store them at room temperature.
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Sound bleeds at moderate volumes

At 75-85 percent volume — the range most users actually listen at — people nearby can clearly hear what you are playing, making these a poor choice for open offices, libraries, or public transit.

— from MKBHD review transcript

lightbulb Keep volume below 70 percent in shared spaces or treat these as primarily home or private-use headphones.

groups VERDICT

Who it's for

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Best For

Deep Apple ecosystem users — iPhone plus Mac plus iPad — who want the single best wireless listening experience money can buy for music, movies, and commuting, and who do not need gym or outdoor durability.

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Skip If

Android users, audiophiles who want a flat reference sound signature, athletes, anyone who listens in shared spaces at high volume, or anyone whose budget ceiling sits below $450.

forum REDDIT

Voices of Reddit

sound airpods review apple noise retail quality bass headphones music overall listening better tuning transparency battery mode solid batch best well vocals other experience same songs different been build agent connection shipping reviews mycnbox packaging already sounds features background version audio testing need daily headband properly clear didn people bluetooth

Praised Criticized Mentioned · Drawn from 8 threads · 28 comments

smart_display VIDEO REVIEWS

Video reviews

15:25

person

AirPods Max Review: Luxury Listening!

Marques Brownlee • 10278507

"Apple made some pretty great headphones with a pretty dumb case. AirPods Max: https://amzn.to/3af3udO MKBHD Merch: ..."

7:07

person

AirPods Max in 2025: Still Worth Buying?

MacRumors • 341987

"Apple hasn't introduced a major update for the AirPods Max since the headphones came out in 2020, but last year there was a ..."

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