Apple AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Pro-Level Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Personalized Spatial Audio, USB-C Charging, Bluetooth Headphones for iPhone - Starlight

We’ve had these since December 2024, so this isn’t one of those reviews written after using them for a day or two. These are actually my daughter’s headphones, and she wears them pretty much 24/7. If she’s awake, they’re usually on her head. After almost 19 months of daily use, I figured it was time to come back and leave an update because that’s the kind of review I would’ve wanted before spending this much money. I wasn’t expecting them to be as comfortable as they are. They have a little weight to them, but once you put them on they feel like a firm, cushioned pillow around your ears. I’ve only borrowed them a handful of times because they’re hers, but I could’ve worn them way longer without them bothering me. The mesh headband also still looks brand new. It hasn’t stretched out or started sagging at all. The sound quality is honestly insane. The bass is deep, everything sounds crystal clear, and they get really loud without that scratchy, painful sound you get from a lot of cheaper headphones. Even when the volume is cranked up, they somehow still sound smooth and don’t make your ears hurt. Also there’s barely any sound leakage. Even when my daughter has them turned up pretty loud, you really can’t hear what she’s listening to unless you’re wearing them yourself. That was actually surprising because a lot of headphones start leaking sound once the volume gets high. Battery life has been crazy too. Even if they aren’t fully charged, they just keep going. There have been times my daughter has gone days without charging them and they still had battery left. We’ve never felt like we’re constantly reaching for the charger. If you already have an iPhone, they couldn’t be easier to use. She literally puts them on and they’re connected. No opening Bluetooth settings, no reconnecting, nothing. They just work. I also like that the ear cups rotate flat, so putting them back in the case is quick and easy. As far as durability goes, I honestly have nothing bad to say. After almost 19 months of daily use, there aren’t any paint chips, the ear cushions have kept their shape, the mesh headband still looks great, and they still work exactly like they did when we bought them. The audio did sound a little weird twice over the last year and a half, but messing with the settings fixed it both times and it hasn’t happened since. The only “downside”…and honestly it isn’t even really a downside…is how freakishly good the noise cancellation is. 😂 It actually creeps me out. If my daughter has these on, I can completely forget about yelling for her because she genuinely can’t hear me. Even if she isn’t listening to music, she barely hears anything around her. Once the music starts? Forget it. I either have to text her or walk into her room to get her attention. It’s annoying as a parent, but I can’t even complain because that’s exactly what they’re supposed to do. I know they’re expensive, and I remember wondering if they were really worth spending that much on a pair of headphones. After watching my daughter use them almost every single day for the last 19 months, I’d say they’re worth every penny. If something happened to these tomorrow, we’d be buying another pair without thinking twice.

I thought I was happy with my Bose Q35, but after accidentally losing it, I went and tried the AirPods Max. I personally at first thought the price is kind of ridiculous but I just lost my Bose, and there was a sale going on for Apple online when I purchased this. Anyways, I had to try them out first at an Apple store and within 30 seconds of testing them at the Apple Store (surrounded by at least 80 noisy humans), I had a full-on “where have you been all my life” moment. The noise cancellation is unreal , and although not absolute silence, it was pretty darn close enough that it feels like I’m in my own private movie theater. I'm no expert, but it beat my old lost Bose I'm pretty confident. Then I turned on Transparency Mode, and suddenly I could hear everything.The sound quality? Chef’s kiss. Every note is crisp, rich, and perfectly balanced almost like your favorite song just got remastered by angels. It connect automatically with my iPhone and function the transfer from iPhone to iPad to iMac seamlessly. And comfort-wise, Apple clearly did their homework. I’ve worn these for 3-hour stretches, workouts, Netflix marathons, and “just one more song” sessions that turn into entire albums. No ear pain, no head pressure and they are easily adjustable really plush feel. Yes, they’re expensive. Yes, I hesitated. But now? Every other pair of headphones I own has been officially demoted to “guest use.” The purple finish is sleek, classy, and just different enough to stand out with a little uniqueness without screaming for attention. If you’re on the fence and your budget allow it, or with Black Friday coming, just take the plunge and buy it. You’ll thank yourself every time you hit play.

Overall still your best option even in 2025. As a medical student who's used them 12 hours a day for a few months of use here is my review. Transparency mode is the best on the market, noise cancellation is also outstanding. The accommodating ear cups are very comfortable unlike the shallow cups of the Sony MX6s. The build quality is second to none. The sound quality is exceptional and more vivid and immersive than AirPods pro 3 thanks to the bigger more capable drivers. Even with that being said I would have loved if they updated this 2024 release with the H2 chip, a lighter design, and better battery life/ANC, but even still they are on top. If you have more than two apple products like say a mac and iPhone and want headphones (not ear buds) these are a no brainer. I use my AirPods pro 3 for working out and phone calls but these for long study sessions as the silicon tips of AirPods build up ear wax after some time and for that reason are uncomfortable for me for extended use. I don't feel the weight becomes an issue for long use, but I do take them off for at least 5 mins an hour so I can take a quick break. I will say out the box they are quite tight but you can modify that search on google "Finally solved the AirPods Max clamping force tightness" and read the post on that. After stretching them out on my 15 hour study days I wear them about 12 hours. The 20 hour battery life for my purposes is excellent. They go into low battery mode after 5 minutes of not being on, even when not in the case, however the low power mode is slightly more efficient in the case as the bluetooth turns off, but this is negligible, and overall I will say the idle battery life is amazing. As far as the smart case, I like it, it's simple and effective, but its not fully protective so I wouldn't be throwing your AirPods in a bag with anything sharp that can damage the mesh headband. I also would be careful to order a light colored one if you wear anything on your skin often or expect them to get dirty/stained. Overall very happy with these airpods and use them everyday when I study.

I bought these AirPods Max in the new Midnight color as a Christmas present to myself after years of using cheaper over-ear headphones. I was hesitant about the price, but after three weeks of daily use, I completely understand what you're paying for. The sound quality is incredible. I'm not an audiophile, but I immediately noticed details in songs I've listened to a hundred times - background vocals, subtle guitar riffs, layered instruments I never caught before. Everything sounds crisp and balanced, not overly bass-heavy like some headphones. I've been re-listening to my entire library just to hear what I've been missing. Active Noise Cancellation is legitimately impressive. I used them on a flight to visit family over the holidays, and the plane noise just disappeared. At home, I can't hear my roommate's TV through the wall anymore. The Transparency mode is perfect for when someone talks to you - just press the Digital Crown and you can hear normally without taking them off. The fit is comfortable for long sessions. The memory foam cushions feel premium and the headband distributes weight well. I wore them for a 6-hour work session and never felt pressure or discomfort. The knit-mesh canopy on top is a nice touch - no cheap plastic feel. The USB-C charging is convenient since I can use the same cable as my iPhone 16 Pro Max. Battery life has been solid - I charge them maybe twice a week with 2-3 hours of daily use. Setup was instant with my iPhone - just held them near my phone and they paired immediately. Switching between my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook is seamless. I'll be listening on my laptop, pick up my phone, and the audio automatically switches over. The Digital Crown is intuitive for volume and playback control. Way better than fumbling with touch controls that never register right. Only minor complaint: they're heavy compared to plastic headphones. After 4+ hours, I notice the weight. Also, the Smart Case doesn't fully protect them - it's more decorative than functional. I'm careful about where I set them down. If you're on the fence because of price, I'd say wait for a sale. But if you use headphones daily and want the best audio experience, these are absolutely worth it. Made my Christmas morning playlist sound magical.

I’ve been using the Apple AirPods Max for a while now, and they truly feel like a luxury pair of headphones. From the moment you take them out of the box, the build quality stands out. The aluminum ear cups and mesh headband feel incredibly premium, and everything about them looks and feels high-end. Sound quality is the biggest highlight. The bass is deep and controlled, the mids are clear (especially vocals), and the highs are crisp without being harsh. The soundstage is wide and immersive, which makes music, movies, and even gaming feel more cinematic. The active noise cancellation is excellent—it blocks out background noise like traffic, airplanes, and people talking. Transparency mode is also very natural, so you can hear what’s going on around you without taking the headphones off. If you use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the Apple ecosystem integration is amazing. They connect instantly, switch between devices automatically, and Spatial Audio with head tracking makes movies and music feel like surround sound. Battery life is solid at around 20 hours with noise cancellation on. They’re also very comfortable, though they are heavier than some other headphones, which you might notice during very long listening sessions

These Apple AirPods Max are definitely a premium product, and after using them, I can say they live up to the hype. This is an easy 5-star review for me. From the moment you take them out of the box, they feel like a high-end piece of audio equipment. The design, materials, sound quality, comfort, and overall user experience all come together in a way that feels polished and genuinely impressive. The first thing that stands out is the build quality. These do not feel like cheap plastic headphones at all. They feel substantial, durable, and extremely well made, with a premium finish that immediately sets them apart from many other wireless headphones. The Starlight color looks beautiful too. It has a clean, elegant look that feels modern and upscale without being flashy. Sound quality is where these really shine. The audio is rich, detailed, and immersive, with a very balanced sound profile. Music comes through with excellent clarity, strong but controlled bass, crisp mids, and clear highs. Whether listening to vocals, podcasts, movies, or bass-heavy tracks, everything sounds refined and full. These are the kind of headphones that make you notice little details in songs that you may not have picked up on before. The active noise cancellation is outstanding. It does an excellent job of blocking out background noise and creating a more focused listening experience. Whether you are at home, on a plane, in an office, or dealing with everyday household noise, the noise cancellation makes a real difference. It helps create that isolated, immersive feeling that you want from premium over-ear headphones. On the other hand, Transparency Mode is equally impressive and very natural sounding. When you need to hear what is going on around you, it lets outside sound in clearly without making everything feel artificial or awkward. Personalized Spatial Audio is another feature that makes these feel especially high-end. It adds a wider, more theater-like soundstage when watching movies or listening to supported content, and it makes the whole experience feel more immersive. It is one of those features that sounds like a gimmick on paper until you actually use it and realize how much it adds. Comfort is also very good for over-ear headphones. The ear cushions feel soft, the fit feels secure, and the design distributes weight better than expected. They do feel more substantial than lighter headphones, but the materials and fit help keep them comfortable for long listening sessions. Once adjusted properly, they feel stable and well designed. Apple’s ecosystem integration is one of the biggest advantages here. Pairing is incredibly simple, switching between Apple devices is smooth, and everything feels intuitive. If you already use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, these headphones fit right into that setup with almost no friction. That convenience adds a lot to the overall value because the experience is so seamless and easy to use. Battery life has been solid, and the USB-C charging is a welcome update. That makes charging more convenient and keeps things more in line with the rest of modern devices. Controls are also easy to use and feel more precise than awkward touch controls found on some other headphones. The only real downside is that these are expensive, and they are definitely a premium-priced product. They also are not the lightest over-ear headphones on the market, which may matter to some people depending on personal comfort preferences. But in terms of quality, functionality, ease of use, and overall performance, they absolutely feel like a top-tier product. Overall, these are a great value for the price if you want premium wireless headphones that are easy to use, very functional, beautifully made, and deliver excellent sound. Between the fantastic audio quality, powerful noise cancellation, seamless Apple integration, and premium construction, these are absolutely worthy of 5 stars.

Most all of my personal electronics are Apple devices, largely because of the quality and the ability to go from product to product with ease. I've also been sold on noise-canceling headphone listening since I first began with Sony XM noise-canceling over-the-ear phone years ago. But I switched to Apple devices some time ago. These headphones, oddly designated as AirPods Max (they don't seem to be Pods to me), are pricey, but elegant, comfortable, and convey the kind of sound beautifully for the music I like (largely classical and neo-classical). The noice-cancellation is outstanding, and comes with what is pretty much standard aspects including ambient sound options that I rarely use. They feel heavy when picking them up -- but I can wear them for an extended period of time without tiring, and they feel remarkably light. The design for me is the best i've worn or seen. Sleek, easy, with only two subtle buttons on the upper right side. There have been some complaints about the "case" -- there is only a kind of packet that contains most of the phones, but nothing that encases the entire headphones. I haven't timed the battery/usage, but they do seem to use it up pretty quickly. Other more tech-savvy users will have more data on this and other details. I've had these a few short months and have no real complaints. Price is price -- you pay it or you don't. But I like what I got, and would buy them again in a heartbeat.

I own a pair of AirPods 4 [Noise Cancellation] and love them very much! I use them when I travel somewhere or go to work because their tiny size and convenient carrying/charging case make it easy for me to slip them into a small pocket in my backpack or into a jacket pocket. I saw these and thought they would be perfect for at-home use. The price was concerning, considering they were $400 more than my AirPods 4. That being said, I really liked how they looked and have always preferred headphones to earbuds. And life is just too short not to treat yourself to something extravagant on occasions. I purchased these and was immediately in awe at the color. I got them in sky blue, so these would match my iPad and my MacBook Air. Everything has to match, right? These headphones are lightweight, easy to adjust, if need be, and connecting them to my Apple devices was practically effortless. Since I only have used them with Apple devices, I can't say how compatible they are with other devices. The craftsmanship is stellar - these headphones are quality made for sure. As soon as you put them on your head, they turn on and are ready for use. And they disconnect the moment you remove them. I can have my cellphone on the other side of the room and be seated on a couch on the other side and there is no drop in sound quality or connectivity issue. That's a range of about 10 feet. Now, there are some little complaints. The battery life, while not bad, could be better. I don't have to charge my AirPods 4 that often, probably once every 2-3 weeks, and I use them almost daily. These headphones, with regular usage, have to be charged a little more frequently. The battery life is satisfactory enough for me not to be annoyed. Also, it makes sense that these would use more juice considering they are bigger and more powerful. While the design is excellent, at around $500 in price, these need additional protection for me to feel at ease when using them or if I ever take them outside the home. I bought silicone coverings to put over the mesh cushioning and protect it from body or hair oils when wearing them. I also bought transparent coverings for both the ear coverings, a protective band for the mesh band on top and a carrying case to keep them constantly protected. All protective accessories are from 3rd party manufacturers. A smart case came in the AirPods Max box, but it's not the best. And a cable [without the wall adapter] is included.

Cara, simplesmente perfeito. Não tenho oque reclamar e o melhor fone que já experimentei e outra que eu uso diversos fones da marcas ótimas

O case para guardar é muito ruim

Creo que la mayor incertidumbre de comprar estos se debe al precio y las competencias con precios mucho más accesibles, uno de los mas fuertes son los XM4 de Sony. Mi opinión sobre los Airpods Max teniendo experiencia con los XM4: Definitivamente debes tener un dispositivo Apple para considerar la compra de los Airpods Max. Si no cuentas con un iPhone, iPad o Mac ve y busca otras opciones. 1. Presentación: - No hay mucho que decir, los mejores de la gama. Calidad de los materiales bastante premium. - En cuanto el estuche, una desgracia. 2. Comodidad: - Son pesados, pero al utilizarlos se distribuye muy bien el peso siempre y cuando no se haga mucho movimiento en la cabeza. - Las almohadillas son reemplazables lo cual es muy bueno que hasta se puede personalizar los colores, son cómodas pero prefiero el material suave de los XM4. Eso sí, creo que cubre mas mi oído los Airpods Max. - 2 botones efectivos, uno de ellos es una coronilla para subir y bajar el volumen. Nada mejor que estos botones físicos los cuales aseguran una buena funcionalidad aparte en una ubicación bastante apropiada. 3. Tecnología Desde aquí adelanto que es el mejor apartado de los Airpods Max. - Ecualizador adaptativo, esto permite tener una fidelidad a como las canciones deben ser escuchadas. - Noise Cancelling/Transparencia: Peleados por el reinato contra los XM4 de Sony. Puedo decir que los Airpods se llevan la victoria, para el noise cancelling no es una gran diferencia pero para el modo transparencia simplemente nadie supera a Apple, una cosa espectacular. - Spatial Audio: Una maravilla al momento de ver series y películas compatibles, ésta tecnología integrada por Apple es única y ahora con la llegada de la compatibilidad con Apple Music y Dolby Atmos no tiene rival. El sonido 360° de Sony queda en ridículo. - Ecosistema de Apple: la fluidez de sincronizarlos y utilizarlos de inmediato con tus demás dispositivos Apple es el paraíso del mundo del Bluetooth. No existe ninguna otra compañía que te ofrezca la calidad conectividad como lo hace Apple. Calidad de audio: (Apple Music como mi servicio de comparación) El punto más importante pero puedo resumirlo fácilmente. En efecto, los AirPods Max tienen una calidad bastante buena y sí, superior ante los XM4. Que tanto? Diría que un 10-15% más, a que se debe este %? - Claridad y nitidez del sonido, un audio más limpio y sin distorsiones. - Los Airpods Max estan hechos para adaptarse a la música que se reproduce y por ende permite tener un sonido personalizado para cada canción. Otros audifonos se ajustan a la configuración predeterminada y quizás esos ajustes no sean lo mejor al escuchar otros géneros. - Al tener un balance los sonidos más beneficiados son los medios, así que si esperas unos graves robustos como ofrecen los Sony lamento decir que no serán así. Sí, tienen buenos graves pero no tan predominantes como muchas personas quisieran. Se podrán hacer ajustes dentro de la aplicación del servicio de música pero no directamente a los audífonos como lo es con los XM4 o los Bose 700. En mi opinión, prefiero más los sonidos como los artistas quieren que ma gente los escuche, así que prefiero la forma en que Apple lo hace. En lo personal creo que los Airpods son una excelente opción para aquellos que tienen la oportunidad de pagarlos, que pueda sacarle provecho al ecosistema y que igualmente estén suscritos al servicio de Apple Music por las grandes novedades que tendrá y las ventajas que tendrán los Airpods Max, dándole más justificación a la compra. Si no te interesa tanto el ecosistema y las funcionalidades que ofrecen los Max, no vale el precio extra al menos no por ese 10-15% de mejor calidad ante su mayor rival, los Sony XM4 que por cierto estan a la mitad del precio...

The AirPods Max are great for me. I needed to replace my very old Bose headphones which, after many years of loyal service, had lost their active noise cancellation function. I mainly use headphones to listen to music, occasionally to watch movies on my iPad — but their number one job is to block out my lovely wife, who also happens to be an Olympic-level snorer. I first bought a pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. They’re not bad, but there’s one feature you can’t turn off: when you’re lying down and turn your head, Bose assumes you’re taking the headphones off and shuts them down. When you turn your head back, they turn back on. So I was constantly losing the active noise cancellation. Very annoying. I returned them. Then I bought a pair of AirPods Max instead. I’m extremely pleased with them. The active noise cancellation is excellent — much better than my wife’s Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (though to be fair, hers were bought in 2020). What I also like about the AirPods Max is the design — perfect for sleeping. The ear cups are flat, which makes it much easier to lie on your side. The shape also makes them really comfortable. Yes, they’re more expensive, but I got them on sale, and for my needs, the price difference is definitely worth it. No headphones will completely block out snoring, but thanks to their excellent noise cancellation and comfortable shape, the AirPods Max do a great job of significantly reducing the nighttime “snorequake” from my spouse.

Desde hace tiempo quería comprarme unos AirPods Max y por fin me aventé a hacer la compra. Me la pensé mucho en hacerlo porque ya tenía unos AirPods Pro 2 y unos Bose QuietComfort II, así que ya teniendo un par in-ear y uno over-ear, no veía sentido comprar otros más. Así que voy a compartir mi experiencia con los AirPods Max, comparativa con otros audífonos, así como los pros y contras para que puedan decidir si este producto es o no para ustedes. -Primera impresión: como siempre, usar un producto de Apple es una experiencia única, desde abrir el paquete hasta el pairing y el uso intuitivo que ofrecen los productos. Fue fácil conectarlos a mi iPhone y en consecuencia a cada uno de mis productos, iPad, MacBook e incluso con el Apple TV. Así que si eres alguien que ha invertido en el ecosistema de Apple, en definitiva vas a tener una experiencia agradable con ellos. -Sonido: tienen un sonido muy agradable, con un rango amplio para bajos, medios y agudos, todo muy bien equilibrado y ecualizado. Los agudos no lastiman, los medios no se pierden y los bajos no retumban en tu cabeza. Si buscas bajos muy potentes, puede que estos no sean para ti, sus bajos son ricos y profundos pero para nada exagerados. La fidelidad del audio es espectacular y el audio espacial hacen de ellos una belleza. -Comfort: son pesados, ya que están hechos de aluminio y el marco es de metal, pero la banda ayuda bastante a que se distribuya muy bien el peso, no molestan y es fácil usarlos por horas pero definitivamente vas a notar el peso. Las almohadillas son bastante cómodas y al ser de tela son transpirables, lo que ayuda mucho a no sentir calor en las orejas. Su uso es bastante intuitivo ya que solo tienes el Digital Crown, que se puede personalizar para cambiar el volumen en una u otra direccion, también funciona como botón para pausar o adelantar canciones e interactuar con Siri, y tienes un segundo botón para activar o desactivar el Noise Cancelling. -Active Noise Cancelling: en definitiva el ANC de Apple es uno de los mejores de su clase en el mercado, muchos ex-retos incluso dicen que el mejor, pero ahí si tengo mis dudas. Para empezar, tanto mis AirPods Pro 2 como mis Bose QC35 II tienen ANC y de todos estos el que mejor cancelación brinda, al menos desde mi experiencia, es el de Bose. El de Apple no es malo, es muy bueno pero con Bose no escuchaba absolutamente nada del exterior, incluso los AirPods Pro 2 me dieron una mejor experiencia de ANC comparados con los Max, ya que al ser in-ear, tienen un mejor sello para evitar que entre el ruido exterior, mientras que los Bose al ser over-ear y tener almohadillas de vini-piel, sellaban muy bien. Los AirPods Max por otro lado si dejan entrar ruido exterior, cuando se está reproduciendo música no vas a notar el ruido externo, ya que hace un muy buen trabajo tapándolo, pero al pausar la música si vas a escuchar tu entorno, aunque muy leve, cosa que no pasa con los otros dos. Pros Si ya estás metido en el ecosistema de Apple son una excelente adición, pasar de un dispositivo a otro es muy fácil y tienen un gran sonido con un muy buen ANC, aunque no el mejor, según mi opinión. Contras Son caros y no necesariamente los mejores del mercado, si ya tienes otros audífonos over-ear como unos Sony o unos Bose, no vale la pena el cambio. No me malinterpretes, son buenos audífonos pero si ya tienes unos de esas marcar, no vas a ganar nada al hacer el cambio. Además aún no cuentan con adaptive audio mientras que los AirPods Pro 2 ya lo tienen, tampoco tienen un chip de ubicación precisa para localizarlos usando “Find My” Disculpen lo extenso de la reseña pero espero que les ayude a tomar una decisión sobre si estos audífonos son o no para ti. Intenté enfocarme en las cosas que yo me fijo a la hora de comprar unos audífonos. En definitiva me encantan y ahora que ya no tengo los Bose la vdd es que estos me cayeron muy bien, pero estoy muy consciente que no son para todos.