Initially I was a big fan of the AirPods Max, but over the 3 years of owning them and also acquiring the AirPods Pro 2, I’ve come to rethink the value of the larger Max a bit, and here’s why.
Video transcript:
A few years back, when I first got my hands on the AirPods Max, I made a video comparing them to other high-end headphones I owned, which were in the $400 to $600 range. After playing around with them, I remarked that I didn’t think the $550 price tag was too overpriced, even though the sheer audio quality wasn’t quite as strong as those other headphones. You have to bear in mind that, with the AirPods Max, you’re also getting excellent noise-cancelling and class-leading transparency mode.
I’ve always felt—and my wife even remarked at one point—that the transparency mode makes it feel like you’re not even wearing headphones. You can hear everything around you so clearly. To me, that kind of justified the price tag and made them a great overall package.
Especially when you compare them to other high-end headphones, you don’t need a headphone amp or DAC to make them work and get nice audio quality, which adds to their appeal.
However, over the years since owning them, I’ve also gotten my hands on the AirPods Pro 2, and using those has made me rethink a few things about the AirPods Max. I think that’s largely because, in most areas, the AirPods Pro offer the same or very similar features but at less than half the price.
In terms of audio quality, the AirPods Pro come pretty close. The main areas where they don’t quite measure up to the AirPods Max are in the highs. There’s a bit more sibilance, so those “S” sounds have more of a sharp quality to them, which is noticeable with voices, vocals, and sometimes with cymbals and hi-hats in the drums.
The AirPods Max handle those highs more smoothly.
On the other hand, I actually find the bass more enjoyable on the AirPods Pro. It has a more bass-forward, punchy presentation, while the AirPods Max seem to aim for a more neutral sound. When listening to bass-heavy music, like industrial, rap, or electronic, the AirPods Max can handle it and do the ultra-lows well. But without a custom EQ—since Apple only offers presets, which only work in the Music app—I sometimes feel like I’m not getting the most out of them compared to bassier headphones.
In that way, I’ve actually often preferred the AirPods Pro, just because they sound a bit more fun. In terms of detail, though, the two are pretty close—close enough that, given the price difference, you might question whether it’s worth paying that much more for the AirPods Max.
The transparency mode is also close. It’s not quite as good—it doesn’t make you feel like you’re not wearing headphones at all—but it’s close enough that you probably won’t care. It doesn’t sound fake or unbalanced like some other headphones that try to offer this feature.
Noise-cancelling is similarly impressive. I’ve even mowed the lawn with the AirPods Pro, and with noise-cancelling on, I could barely hear the mower. I’d say it’s pretty much on par with the AirPods Max. Normally, for longer listening sessions, I prefer over-the-ear headphones because in-ear models tend to make my ears sore after a while.
But, strangely enough, the headband on the AirPods Max is actually one of the least comfortable of any over-the-ear headphones I own.
I realize I’m bald, so headbands are probably less comfortable for me than for most people. But it’s worth noting that, while the mesh headband seems like it would be really comfortable—and it is, since it flexes to the shape of your head—the problem is that the weight of the headband rests on the two metal bars on either side when it flexes.
Without hair, when I wear them for longer than half an hour, they leave a divot in my head, which is pretty uncomfortable. I’ve even had to take a thin foam strip and put it over my head to protect it, which I don’t have to do with any of my other large headphones.
That’s a con of the AirPods Max for me, and it often makes me reach for the AirPods Pro more frequently. Even though it’s not ideal to have them in my ears, I still find them more comfortable for longer sessions than having the Max over my head. Over time, I noticed I was reaching for the AirPods Max less and less, while the AirPods Pro became my go-to for most things.
My ultimate point here is that, while I liked the AirPods Max when I first got them, having the AirPods Pro has made me reconsider. If I were starting over and didn’t own either, I would just buy the AirPods Pro and not worry about the Max, to be honest.
You’re getting almost as good of a transparency mode, just as good noise-cancelling, and pretty close sound quality with better bass, all at a much lower price. They’re also lighter and much easier to pack for travel.
People have beaten to death the point about the AirPods Max case not protecting them well, so I won’t dwell on that. But it’s true: the AirPods Max don’t travel well. I’ve taken them on a cruise and on planes, and while they’re fine, I still think the AirPods Pro are a better deal overall.
They offer so much value for the price, and most of the time, I don’t feel like the AirPods Max bring enough more to the table to justify costing over twice as much.
So, that’s something I wanted to share, to delve a little deeper into my initial impressions from two or three years ago about the AirPods Max. If you’re deciding between these two headphones, I hope this has been helpful. If you have any questions or if there’s something I didn’t cover in this video, feel free to ask in the comments, and I’ll do my best to answer.
Brian Watkins has worked as a copywriter, SEO strategist, and photographer since 2007. He’s helped numerous businesses level up their revenue through stronger copy, and is also a YouTuber. Blending creative and technical disciplines has been a passion since he was a teenager, growing up in a home with two IT tech parents while he practiced creative writing and camera work.