Apple introduces AirPods Max – and it’s super expensive

Apple has officially announced its new and innovative AirPods Max, with wireless over-ear design that promises the magic of AirPods’ high-fidelity sound.

With a combination of a custom acoustic design, immersive spatial audio and an Adaptive EQ for a breakthrough listening experience, AirPod Max is the first pair of noise-cancelling headphones to feature the Apple logo.

But it’s not cheap. The AirPods Max headphones cost a hefty $549! *cue gasp

Yes, you’ll have to cough up a big amount of money for the privilege of wearing them. That’s nearly double the price of some of the best over-ear headphones available in the market.

“AirPods are the most popular headphones in the world, beloved for their effortless setup, incredible sound quality, and iconic design. With AirPods Max, we are bringing that magical AirPods experience to a stunning over-ear design with high-fidelity audio,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

“The custom acoustic design, combined with powerful H1 chips, and advanced software enable AirPods Max to use computational audio to wirelessly deliver the ultimate personal listening experience.”

Unlike the AirPods and AirPods Pro, this new Apple innovation comes in multiple colors – dark gray, silver, blue, green and pink. It also offers a 20-hour battery life with charging done through Apple’s Lightning connector and not through a USB-C cable. And no, a charging brick does not come in the box.

Is it worth the price?

In all fairness, the AirPods Max promises some impressive functionality that can somehow justify its price. The new headphones come in eye-catching stainless steel design, complete with 40-millimiter drivers for pumping out satisfying deep bass and crisp clean highs so every note of your favorite music can be heard.

From the canopy to the ear cushions, every part of the the headphones is crafted exceptionally. The breathable knit mesh canopy, spanning the headband, is made to distribute and reduce on-head pressure.

Each ear cup attaches to the headband through a revolutionary mechanism that balances and distributes ear cup pressure, and allows it to independently pivot and rotate to fit the unique contours of a user’s head.

The Digital Crown, inspired by Apple Watch, offers precise volume control and the ability to play or pause audio, skip tracks, answer or end phone calls, and activate Siri.

Equipped with an Apple-designed H1 chip in each ear cup, a custom acoustic design, and advanced software, AirPods Max use computational audio to deliver the highest quality listening experience possible. Utilizing each of the chips’ 10 audio cores — capable of 9 billion operations per second — computational audio powers a breakthrough listening experience that includes Adaptive EQ, Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and spatial audio.

The magic of AirPods

The new AirPods Max joins the existing and well-loved AirPods family in delivering unparalleled wireless audio. The magical setup experience customers love with today’s AirPods and AirPods Pro extends to AirPods Max with one-tap setup, followed by automatic pairing with all the devices signed in to a user’s iCloud account.

AirPods Max automatically detect when they are on a user’s head using the optical and position sensors. Once in place, AirPods Max play audio and can pause once removed or when the user simply lifts one ear cup.

If you’re willing to take out $549 from your pocket for headphones, you can pre-order the new AirPods Max now from Apple. Shipping begins on Tuesday, December 15.

This can be a perfect Christmas gift to a loved one.