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AirPods Max

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AirPods Max
Image
Image
AirPods Max in Space Gray
DeveloperApple Inc.
Manufacturer
Product family
AirPods
TypeWireless headphones
Released
  • 1st generation with Lightning: December 15, 2020; 5 years ago (2020-12-15)
  • 1st generation with USB-C: September 20, 2024; 21 months ago (2024-09-20)
  • 2nd generation: April 1, 2026; 3 months ago (2026-04-01)
Introductory price
Discontinued
  • 1st generation with Lightning: September 9, 2024 (2024-09-09)
  • 1st generation with USB-C: March 16, 2026 (2026-03-16)
  • Apple H1 (1st generation) (each ear cup)
  • Apple H2 (2nd generation) (each ear cup)
InputNine microphones, optical sensor (each ear cup), position sensor (each ear cup), case-detect sensor (each ear cup), accelerometer (each ear cup), gyroscope (left ear cup)[1]
ConnectivityBluetooth 5.0 (1st generation)
Bluetooth 5.3 (2nd generation)
Lightning port (before September 20, 2024) or USB-C port (after September 20, 2024) for charging and audio line-in via USB and 3.5mm jack[1]
Current firmware
  • AirPods Max Lightning: 6F25[2]
  • AirPods Max USB-C : 7E108[2]
  • AirPods Max 2 : 8E258[3]
DimensionsAirPods:
6.64 x 3.28 x 7.37 in
(168.6 x 83.4 x 187.3 mm)[1]
WeightAirPods
13.6 ounces (384.8 g)
Charging case
4.74 ounces (134.5 g)[1]
Model Number
AirPods Max (USB-C)
Model number: A3184
Year introduced: 2024
AirPods Max (Lightning)
Model number: A2096
Year introduced: 2020
RelatedAirPods, AirPods Pro
Websiteapple.com/airpods-max

AirPods Max are wireless Bluetooth over-ear headphones designed by Apple, first released on December 15, 2020. They are Apple's highest-end option in the AirPods lineup, sold alongside the base model AirPods and mid-range AirPods Pro.

The main changes of the AirPods Max over the mid-range AirPods Pro are the over-ear design with larger speakers, inclusion of Apple's Digital Crown (found on the Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro), more color options, and longer battery life. An updated version of the first generation model with USB-C charging was released on September 20, 2024.

Apple released a second-generation model, with the H2 chip, in April 2026.

Models

[edit]

First generation

[edit]

Apple announced the first generation AirPods Max on December 8, 2020, via a press release, and released them on December 15, 2020. AirPods Max features an over-ear headphone design, introduced under the leadership of CEO Tim Cook and the company's product marketing team. Among those credited with their development were Apple's lead designers, along with Rayan Rechka, who was noted for his contributions to the color finishes of the headphones.

AirPods Max feature an H1 chip in each ear cup,[4] which is also found in the second-generation AirPods and first-generation AirPods Pro. AirPods Max, like the AirPods Pro, come with Apple's Active Noise Cancellation technology for blocking outside noise, and Transparency mode for listening to sounds around users. The "Digital Crown", similar to that of the Apple Watch, allows users to play or pause audio, control volume, skip tracks, control phone calls, and activate Siri. Proximity sensors automatically detect when they are on a user's head and play or pause audio accordingly. Spatial audio uses built-in gyroscopes and accelerometers to track movement of the user's head and provide what Apple describes as a "theater-like" experience.[5][4][6]

Apple claims 20 hours of battery life, with five minutes of charging delivering 1.5 hours of listening time. AirPods Max are charged via the Lightning port. The Lightning port can also be used for line-in audio, with Apple selling cables with USB-A, USB-C and 3.5mm headphone ends.

AirPods Max are bundled with a Smart Case for storing.[4] The Smart Case includes magnets that switch AirPods Max to low-power mode.[7]

AirPods Max are available in five colors: Space Gray, Silver, Sky Blue, Green, and Pink. Users can select from these five colors for each of the ear cushions and the external chassis.[8]

USB-C version

[edit]

Apple announced an updated version of the first generation AirPods Max on September 9, 2024, at a special event and released them on September 20, 2024. They feature a USB-C port for data and charging and come in new colors: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, and Orange.[9] Support for lossless and ultra‑low latency audio was added in iOS/iPadOS 18.4 and macOS Sequoia 15.4 for the USB-C models when connected to a device using a USB-C cable. They support up to 24-bit/48 kHz lossless audio.[10]

Second generation

[edit]

Apple announced the AirPods Max 2 on March 16, 2026, which added the H2 chip and Bluetooth 5.3. It is set to release in April 2026.[11] It features improved sound quality and active noise cancellation along with new additions including live translation, adaptive audio, audio recording, voice isolation and using Siri via head gestures. The second-generation also supports lossless audio over a USB-C connection.[12][13]

Compatibility

[edit]

AirPods Max are compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth, including Android and Windows devices, although certain features such as Siri require an Apple device running iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, watchOS 7.2, tvOS 14 or macOS Big Sur.[14]

Legend   Discontinued and unsupported   Discontinued but supported   Current   Upcoming
Comparative technical specifications of all AirPods models
Model iPhone Bluetooth Headset[15] AirPods
(1st gen)		 AirPods
(2nd gen)		 AirPods Pro
(1st gen)		 AirPods Max
with Lightning		 AirPods
(3rd gen)		 AirPods Pro 2 AirPods 4 AirPods 4
with ANC		 AirPods Max
with USB-C		 AirPods Pro 3 AirPods Max 2
Timeline Announced January 9, 2007[16] September 7, 2016 March 20, 2019 October 28, 2019 December 8, 2020 October 18, 2021 September 7, 2022 September 9, 2024 September 9, 2025 March 16, 2026
Released June 29, 2007[16] December 13, 2016 October 30, 2019 December 15, 2020 October 26, 2021 September 23, 2022 September 20, 2024 September 19, 2025 April 1, 2026
Discontinued March 23, 2009[16] March 20, 2019 September 9, 2024 September 7, 2022 September 9, 2024 September 9, 2024 September 9, 2025 In production March 16, 2026 In production
Model Model number[17] L A1221 A1722 A2031 A2084 A2096 A2564 A2931, A2699, A2698 A3053, A3050, A3054 A3056, A3055, A3057 A3184 A3064 A3454
R A1523 A2032 A2083 A2565 A3063
Case A1602 (Lightning) A1602 (Lightning)
A1938 (Qi, Lightning)		 A2190 (Qi, Lightning)
A2190 (MagSafe, Lightning)		 A2897 (Lightning)
A2566 (MagSafe, Lightning)		 A2700 (MagSafe, Lightning)
A2968 (MagSafe, USB-C)		 A3058 (USB-C) A3059 (Qi, USB-C) A3122
Model identifier [data missing] AirPods1,1[18] AirPods2,1[18] AirPodsPro1,1
Airpods2,2
iProd8,1[18]		 AirpodsMax1,1
iProd8,6[18]		 AirPods1,3
Audio2,1[18]		 AirPodsPro1,2
AirPods3,1[18]		 AirPods1,4
AirPods3,2[18]		 AirPods1,5
AirPods3,3[18]		 AirPodsMax1,1[18] AirPodsPro1,3
AirPods3,4[18]		 AirPodsMax1,2
AirPods3,6[18]
Order numbers MA817AM (with iPhone dual dock)
MB536AM (without iPhone dual dock)		 MMEF2AM MV7N2AM (Lightning)
MRXJ2AM (Qi)		 MWP22AM MGYJ3AM (silver)
MGYH3AM (space gray)
MGYL3AM (sky blue)
MGYM3AM (pink)
MGYN3AM (green)		 MME73AM MQD83AM (Lightning)
MTJV3AM (USB-C)		 MXP63LL MXP93LL MWW43AM (midnight)
MWW53AM (starlight)
MWW63AM (blue)
MWW73AM (orange)
MWW83AM (purple)		 MFHP4LL MHWK4AM (midnight)
MHWL4AM (starlight)
MHWM4AM (blue)
MHWN4AM (orange)
MHWP4AM (purple)
Compatibility Bluetooth Bluetooth 2.0 Bluetooth 4.0 Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.3 Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.3
OS support
for Siri		 N/a iOS 10
watchOS 3
macOS Sierra[19]		 iOS 12.2
watchOS 5.2
macOS Mojave 10.14.4[20]		 iOS 13.2
watchOS 6.1
tvOS 13.2
macOS Catalina 10.15.1		 iOS 14.3
iPadOS 14.3
watchOS 7.2
tvOS 14
macOS Big Sur[21]		 iOS 15.1
iPadOS 15.1
watchOS 8.1
tvOS 15.1
macOS Monterey 12.0[22]
System on a chip None Apple W1 chip Apple H1 chip Apple H2 chip Apple H1 chip Apple H2 chip
Battery Power Per AirPod [data missing] 0.093 Wh 0.16 Wh 2 × 2.53 Wh (right ear cup) 0.133 Wh 0.182 Wh ? 2 × 2.53 Wh (right ear cup) 0.221 Wh 2 × 2.53 Wh (right ear cup)
Case 1.52 Wh 1.98 Wh 1.33 Wh 1.997 Wh ? 1.334 Wh
Capacity No case 398 mAh (case) 519 mAh (case) 664 mAh (right ear cup) 345 mAh (case) 523 mAh (case)
2 × 49.7 mAh (earbuds)		 ? 664 mAh (right ear cup) 344.58 mAh (case)
2 × 58 mAh (earbuds)		 664 mAh (right ear cup)
Firmware Original release Not upgradable 3.3.1 6.3.2 2B584 3C16 3E751 5A374 8B39 8B39 7A291 8A357 8E258
Latest / final[2] 6.8.8 6F21 6F21 6F25 6F21 8B41 8B39 8B39 7E108 8B41 8E258
Introductory US Price $129 $159 $159 $249 $549 $179 $249 $129 $179 $549 $249 $549

Criticism

[edit]
Image
AirPods Max with Smart Case

The AirPods Max Smart Case's design has been mocked by technology reviewers, along with users on Twitter for its resemblance to that of a bra or purse. Reporter Daniel Piper of Creative Bloq states: "If we're not entirely convinced by the design of the AirPods Max themselves, we're utterly baffled by that of their charging 'Smart Case'. The shape resembles, well, lots of things, from handbags to body parts."[23][24][25]

Numerous people have reported that condensation can build up near the drivers of the closed-back headphones after prolonged use under the removable ear cups.[26] It has been suspected that the major cause is its full-metal body that naturally has temperature-dependent thermal conductivity.[27]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 "AirPods Max - Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "About firmware updates for AirPods". Apple Support. Apple Inc. April 2, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  3. ↑ Cite error: The named reference AirPods Frimware was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. 1 2 3 "Apple Announces AirPods Max Over-Ear Headphones With Noise Cancellation, Priced at $549". www.macrumors.com. December 8, 2020. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  5. ↑ Welch, Chris (December 8, 2020). "Apple announces $549 AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones, coming December 15th". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  6. ↑ Sherr, Ian. "Apple announces $549 AirPods Max over-ear headphones, preorders today, launch Dec. 15". CNET. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  7. ↑ Lovejoy, Ben (December 17, 2020). "PSA: How to switch off AirPods Max without Apple 'bra' case". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Here Are All 25 AirPods Max Color Combinations You Can Make With Swappable Ear Cushions". MacRumors. December 8, 2020. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Apple refreshes its AirPods Max with USB-C and new colors". Engadget. September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ Pathak, Khamosh (March 25, 2025). "If You Want Lossless Audio on Your AirPods Max, You're Probably Going to Need Another Dongle". Lifehacker. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  11. ↑ Rossignol, Joe (March 16, 2026). "Apple Announces AirPods Max 2 With H2 Chip and More". MacRumors. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Apple introduces AirPods Max 2". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  13. ↑ Christoffel, Ryan (March 16, 2026). "Apple unveils AirPods Max 2 with H2 chip, upgraded noise canceling, and more". 9to5Mac. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Set up AirPods Max with your Mac and other Bluetooth devices". Apple Support. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  15. ↑ Included for comparison purposes
  16. 1 2 3 "iPhone Bluetooth Headset – Specs, Release Date, and Original Price". August 14, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Identify your AirPods". Apple Support. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Device Selection (AirPods)". AppleDB. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  19. ↑ "AirPods (1st generation) – Technical Specifications". support.apple.com. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  20. ↑ "What's the difference between AirPods 1 and AirPods 2?". iMore. January 22, 2020. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Set up AirPods Max with your Mac and other Bluetooth devices". Apple Support. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Get started with AirPods (3rd generation)". support.apple.com. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  23. ↑ Piper, Daniel (December 8, 2020). "Forget AirPods Max, everyone's talking about Apple's new Smart Case". Creative Bloq. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  24. ↑ Hartmans, Avery. "Apple's new $550 AirPods Max headphones come with a carrying case that people are already saying looks like a purse or a bra". Business Insider. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  25. ↑ Cooper, Gael Fashingbauer. "The case for Apple's new AirPods Max could double as a bra, the internet decides". CNET. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  26. ↑ Ali, Darab (December 31, 2020). "Apple AirPods Max Condensation Issue Forming Water Droplets on Under Removable Earcups, Near Drivers". News18.
  27. ↑ Hardy, Ed (December 29, 2020). "AirPods Max condensation makes some owners sweat". Cult of Mac. Archived from the original on January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
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