Apple's AirPods Max are a top-class pair of over-ear headphones, but this level of audio quality doesn't come cheap. Released in 2020, Apple's AirPods Max have been on the market for a while, yet still retail at $549/£549. Thankfully, we often see this price drop to more reasonable levels. And the best prices we've seen on the AirPods Max are $350 in the US and around £370 in the UK.
What makes the AirPods Max so great? I have a pair of these cans, and they are by far the best quality headphones in my collection, also with the best active noise cancellation too. They have a luxurious metallic design and can be worn comfortably for hours of use. However, the headset's 'case' is a bit of a joke, as is the lack of an on-and-off switch. Perhaps elements that will be rectified when the rumoured AirPods Max 2s come out (suspected mid-2024).
Don't ever pay full price for your Airpods Max, as we know from experience that a price drop will always be just around the corner, and we've rounded up the best deals for you below. If you're also considering some inner earphones, we have a roundup of the best AirPods Pro 2 prices. Or if you're not loyal to Apple for your audio then we also suggest taking a look at the best Google Pixel Buds Pro prices, as well as our review of the Edifier Neobuds Pro 2 for truly immersive sound.
Weight: 350g | Drivers: 40mm dynamic | Features: Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking | Noise Cancellation: Yes | Chip: Apple H1 | Battery: Up to 20 hours | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
Stunning sound
Amazing noise-cancelling
Comfortable to wear
Hey Siri voice control
No off switch
Competing brands offer lighter options
The AirPods Max might be four years old now, but when Apple released the headphones in 2020, we were immediately impressed with their design, comfort, sound quality and active noise cancellation. But we have to be honest, at $549/£549, the price was pretty hard to swallow. Especially when there are other headphones on the market with ANC for a couple of hundred bucks less.
However, we've started to see much better AirPods Max deals lately. Today, we quite regularly see prices of around $449/£449 at retailers such as Amazon. That's a saving of $100/£100 on Apple's original price. We have occasionally seen AirPods Max prices fall even cheaper than this, but those deals don't last very long, so if you do see any prices lower than the above, we recommend snapping it up quickly.
As we explain in our in-depth AirPods Max review, these remain to be the best Apple headphones to date for sound quality. When we reviewed them, we were extremely impressed with the noise cancellation, which easily rivals the industry-leading Sony WH-1000XM4s. But it's worth noting that these headphones aren't high-res ready in any meaningful way, with only SBC and AAC communication – and no LDAC or aptX which might disappoint some audiophiles.
FAQS
Are the Apple AirPods Max worth it?
If you're an Apple die-hard fan, you won't need much persuading. The AirPod Max are Apple's best headphones to date, and they fit effortlessly in the Apple ecosystem. They also look the part. But if you're not an Apple fan and need convincing, here's what we think...
Compared to other industry-leading noise-cancelling headphones that we have hands-on tested and reviewed, the AirPods Max rank right at the top on many criteria, and very high in others. We think they're among the best for sound quality, design and noise-cancelling. They're deep and rich in their sound balance, with dynamic, expansive and natural sound. They look beautiful and are made with top quality materials and fit comfortably with long use. The noise-cancelling is arguably better than the other leading option, the Sony WH-1000XM4s – that is to say, exceptional.
Where it's not all gravy is that the AirPods come with a fairly, well, weird case. It does little to protect the actual headphones and it doesn't actually turn the headphones 100% off. That means that if you leave your AirPods Max lying around for a while, don't expect them to be battery full when you pick them up. However, the battery is good, and charging to full is quick, so this may not be a deal-breaker.
How much are the AirPods Max?
The Apple AirPods Max went on sale in December 2020 for $549/£549. That makes them considerably more expensive than many other noise-cancelling, over-ear headphones. That's if you buy them directly from Apple. However, we see quite regular AirPods Max deals from third-party retailers. The record lowest AirPods Max prices we've seen to date are $350 in the US and £370 in the UK, but these were one-off deals that didn't last long. Most often, they can be found for around $500 and £449.
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Beren has worked on creative titles at Future Publishing for over 13 years. Cutting his teeth as Staff Writer on the digital art magazine ImagineFX, he moved on to edit several creative titles, and is currently the Ecommerce Editor on the most effective creative website in the world. When he's not testing and reviewing the best ergonomic office chairs, phones, laptops, TVs, monitors and various types of storage, he can be found finding and comparing the best deals on the tech that creatives value the most.
