To round off the year, Apple has finally unveiled its awaited first over-ear wireless headphones – the AirPods Max. The latest addition to the AirPods family was initially rumoured to launch as the AirPods Studio and was expected to arrive alongside the iPhone 12/12 Pro series. The accessory is available for order in the US (US$ 549) and Australia (AU$ 899 incl. GST) as well as other countries and regions. Shipping is slated for next week (Tuesday, December 15).
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The AirPods Max depart from the popular AirPods in-ear design for an over-ear custom acoustic design. It is fitted with a breathable knit mesh canopy to reduce on-ear pressure; stainless steel headband frame to accommodate different head sizes and telescoping headband arms. The Max borrows Apple Watch’s ‘Digital Crown’ feature to perform media functions and activate Siri, and the noise control button activates either Active Noise Cancellation or Transparency mode.
Internally, it features a 40-mm Apple-designed dynamic driver for deep bass and crystal-clear audio, unique dual neodymium ring magnet motor and Apple-designed H1 chip in each ear cup. The H1 chip combines with the custom design and advanced software to deliver high-fidelity sound that comprises of Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive EQ, spatial audio, and Transparency mode. Other notable features includes Automatic Switching and Audio sharing.
Like the Original Airpods and Pro models, the AirPods Max has the one-tap setup feature and automatically pairs with all Apple devices signed into the user’s iCloud account. With optical and positional sensors, the Max headphones can detect when the usage is active or inactive. Finally, it lasts up to 20 hours of usage and comes with a Smart Case which puts the Max in ultra-low power state to preserve battery life. Intending users can choose from five distinct colours – Green, Pink, Silver, Space Grey and Sky Blue.
PS: The Apple AirPods Max supports Apple devices running 14.3 or later, iPadOS 14.3 or later, macOS Big Sur 11.1 or later, watchOS 7.2 or later, or tvOS 14.3 or later.