Goodbye AirPods Max. It has been 4 years, however it is time to transfer on to one thing that is higher for me.
When Apple initially unveiled AirPods Max again in December 2020 I, like just about everybody else on the earth, fully balked at that $549 price ticket. Up till that point, the costliest AirPods headphones have been the AirPods Professional which got here in at $249. The AirPods Max greater than doubled that value. Ouch.
Regardless, being the dutiful Apple fan and audio nerd that I’m, I purchased them. Three years later, I can now say two issues: these are the best-sounding headphones I’ve ever owned, and I am glad I am eliminating them. This is why.
Enter AirPods Professional 2 and that noise cancellation
Once I was utilizing the AirPods Max for the primary two years, I discovered that they labored significantly better than my earbuds — the first era AirPods Professional — in sure situations.
Once I was working in the course of the day at my desk, taking a flight to go on trip or for work, or kicking again to simply take pleasure in music, AirPods Max was by far your best option for me. The primary-generation AirPods Professional, then again, took the crown when it got here to all the pieces else — whether or not that be understanding within the health club, working, mountain climbing, or simply going concerning the day and desirous to take heed to some music, podcasts, or audiobooks whereas I am doing so.
Nevertheless, the hole between AirPods Professional and AirPods Max in these choose situations the place the AirPods Max received out closed considerably when Apple launched the AirPods Professional 2 in September 2022. The noise cancellation on these is unbelievable — arguably higher than on AirPods Max because of the AirPods Professional 2 that includes Apple’s newer H2 chip.
These additionally got here with new audio drivers and amplifiers that elevated the audio high quality in comparison with the AirPods Max. Whereas AirPods Max continues to be the audio high quality king (you are not going to beat these bigger drivers), the hole is closed sufficient that I do not really feel like I am lacking out by sticking with my AirPods Professional 2.
AirPods Max simply is not comfy
As AirPods Professional 2 closed the hole by way of audio high quality and noise cancellation, there was additionally another excuse I began to fall out of affection with my AirPods Max. Whereas they sounded higher, there was one factor I could not deny anymore — they simply weren’t comfy for me.
There is no denying that the AirPods Max are a heavy set of cans. They clock in heavier than each different fashionable wi-fi over-the-ear headphones just like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort Extremely. I attempted on each of those opponents and, particularly within the case of the Bose, their headphones have been far more comfy to put on in comparison with the AirPods Max. Apple did what it might to deal with that weight, but it surely simply would not do away with the truth that these headphones really feel heavy, particularly while you’re attempting to stroll round with them.
As compared, the AirPods 2, so long as you discover the right-sized ear suggestions, are extremely comfy to put on in any scenario.
Demise by a thousand options
Ultimately, it wasn’t a giant factor that made me ditch my AirPods Max fully, however a number of small issues as a substitute.
In September of 2023, Apple launched a USB-C model of AirPods Professional 2. Selecting these up meant that I might lastly abandon the Lightning port as soon as and for all. For the reason that AirPods Max are nonetheless caught with Lightning, that was one much less motive to convey them alongside.
In the identical month, Apple additionally launched iOS 17 and, with it, introduced a number of new audio options to the AirPods Professional 2 like Adaptive Audio, Dialog Consciousness, and Customized Audio. These options are additionally unique to the AirPods Professional 2 because of the processing energy required of the H2 chip — a chip that AirPods Max nonetheless lacks.
We’ll see what Apple does with AirPods Max 2
I am nonetheless curious what Apple may do with an AirPods Max 2, regardless that there isn’t any probability I am going to choose up one other pair of those cans once more. USB-C can be an apparent addition, and it is also apparent the following era will characteristic the H2 (or perhaps H3) chip to help the most recent audio options — however I am questioning if the corporate will go along with radically totally different supplies to chop the load as nicely.
In the event that they’re in a position considerably reduce the load, I is likely to be keen to offer them one other go. I like the audio high quality you get to take pleasure in out of over-the-ear headphones just like the AirPods Max, however I simply can’t persist with them because of their weight. A decrease weight might remedy that consolation problem I’ve had.
Till then, AirPods Professional 2 (with USB-C) has my coronary heart. Goodbye AirPods Max, you sounded nice.