Apple AirPods Max Review: Are They Worth the Price? - Marques Brownlee

Electronics & Technology Review Marques Brownlee Apple AirPods Max

Marques Brownlee reviews the Apple AirPods Max, focusing on their design, sound quality, and unique features, comparing them to other premium headphones like the Beats Pro.

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • 🎧 Luxury Listening: Apple AirPods Max are designed for luxury listening, not professional studio use, featuring a comfortable over-ear design and superior sound quality ideal for music, podcasts, and movies.

  • 💪 Robust Build: The headphones boast a premium metal build, setting them apart from most plastic competitors, although this contributes to their heavier weight, which might affect comfort during long usage periods.

  • 🚫 Case Concerns: The smart case for the AirPods Max, while facilitating low power mode activation, is criticized for its design and practicality, lacking protection for the mesh headband and not aligning well with the charging port.

  • 🔊 Sound Quality and Features: Excellent sound quality with effective noise cancellation and an impressive transparency mode, although the spatial audio feature is currently limited to Apple devices.

  • 💸 High Price Justification: While the price is steep, the unique combination of luxury, build quality, and audio performance could justify the cost for users deeply integrated into Apple's ecosystem.

📝 Timestamped Summary

00:27 Introduction to AirPods Max:

  • Marques introduces the AirPods Max, discussing the initial surprise and skepticism due to their high price.

01:00 Design and Build Quality:

  • Highlights the premium metal build, differentiating the AirPods Max from competitors predominantly using plastic.

02:20 Comfort and Weight Considerations:

  • Discusses the weight due to the metal build and its impact on comfort, despite efforts to distribute weight evenly.

04:00 Comparison with Beats Pro:

  • Compares with Beats Pro, another metal-built headphone, noting significant improvements in comfort and design with the AirPods Max.

07:00 Sound Quality Discussion:

  • Extensive review of sound performance, emphasizing clarity, bass, and volume capabilities with minimal distortion.

09:00 Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode:

  • Details on effective noise cancellation and the best-in-class transparency mode that allows natural ambient sound.

10:31 Microphone and Battery Performance:

  • Tests the microphone quality and discusses battery life, including quick charging features.

11:40 Critiques on Smart Case Design:

  • Expresses dissatisfaction with the smart case design, highlighting its impracticality and lack of protection.

12:00 Final Thoughts and Verdict:

  • Concludes with thoughts on the unique features and quirks of the AirPods Max, weighing the high price against the benefits offered.

❓ FAQ

Are the Apple AirPods Max suitable for professional studio use?

No, the AirPods Max are geared towards luxury listening with their sound profile and features, making them less ideal for professional studio use that often requires a flat sound profile and wired connections.

Can the AirPods Max be used with non-Apple devices?

Yes, they can function as normal Bluetooth headphones with non-Apple devices, but you'll lose out on some specific features like automatic device switching and spatial audio.

What makes AirPods Max different from other high-end headphones?

Their robust metal construction, superior noise cancellation, and transparency modes set them apart, alongside deep integration with other Apple products and high-quality sound performance.

🎬 Conclusion

Marques Brownlee's thorough review of the Apple AirPods Max underscores their positioning as a high-end luxury listening device with unique features that may justify their premium cost, especially for users within the Apple ecosystem. If you're considering a new pair of premium headphones and are invested in Apple products, the AirPods Max offers a compelling, though pricey, option.