4 years later, are the AirPods Max still worth it?

When Apple released the AirPods Max in December 2020, they made quite a splash in the high-end headphone market. Now, four years later, I’m taking a fresh look at these premium headphones to determine if they’re still worth the investment in 2024 or if potential buyers should look elsewhere or hold out for the rumored AirPods Max 2.

What still impresses

Sound quality remains a standout feature of the AirPods Max. Their frequency response closely aligns with our preference curve, although there is a 5dB under-emphasis between 2-6 kHz. Listening to really bass-heavy music, I do hear less detail than I’m used to from instruments like hi-hats, cymbals, and high-octave synths.

After listening to a few songs, I thought that the AirPods Max sounded good playing EDM and pop tracks, but I did find myself wanting more detail in the highs, especially for more lo-fi-sounding tracks.

Looking at the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS), the headphones scored an impressive 4.5, outperforming popular competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM4 and XM5. Most users will find the sound signature pleasing.

The AirPods Max’s active noise cancelation (ANC) capabilities are also still top-tier. Our tests show they can reduce outside noise by about 87%, outperforming many newer models, especially in crucial low-frequency ranges. This makes them excellent for commutes, air travel, and noisy environments.

Transparency Mode remains one of the best implementations we’ve experienced. It allows for natural-sounding ambient awareness without compromising audio quality, a feature that’s particularly useful in urban environments.

Overall, for Apple ecosystem users, it’s just super convenient to be able to seamlessly switch between your iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. Plus, features like Spatial Audio do a great job rendering an illusion of 3D space if you prefer an immersive listening experience. Few competitors in 2024 can match this level of ecosystem integration, maybe only Samsung in the Android space.

While the AirPods Max still shine in many areas, they’re not without their drawbacks. Let’s look at where these headphones are showing their age.

Signs of age

While the premium build quality of the AirPods Max was impressive in 2020, some design choices haven’t aged well. For instance, the white color option is prone to discoloration. Within a year’s time, the fabric padding on our office pair of AirPods Max went from white to yellow, which doesn’t exactly make them pleasant to wear. You can buy replacement earpads, but they cost an eye-watering $69. Bizarrely, Apple does not sell replacements for the headband.

Then there’s the lack of folding hinges, which diminishes portability and takes up more space in your bag. The so-called “Smart Case” barely provides any protection with its sports-bra-esque design or much functionality beyond enabling an ultra-low power mode to save battery life, which is disappointing for headphones at this price point.

Beyond aesthetics and durability concerns, the AirPods Max also lags behind in terms of connectivity options. The AirPods Max only supports SBC and AAC codecs, lacking newer high-quality options like aptX or LDAC. The Lightning port is also severely outdated and was already a nuisance at launch as the majority of the industry has shifted to USB-C. Furthermore, the AirPods Max uses the older H1 chip for processing, so you will miss out on newer features like Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. These features are only available with the H2 chip on products like the AirPods Pro 2.

Battery life is also a sore spot for these headphones. In our lab testing, the AirPods Max lasted around 21 hours on a single charge, with ANC on. That’s fine for a flight or daily commute, but the AirPods Max doesn’t last as long as newer flagships from the likes of Bose, Sony, or Senheisser.

Finally, the price remains a significant factor. Even four years post-launch the AirPods Max is currently$299.99 at Best Buy, making them one of the most expensive wireless headphones you can buy. When not on sale, they are hard to justify at full price, especially since you could get headphones with better features, codecs, and battery life like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Sony WH-1000XM5, or Sonos Ace for about a hundred dollars less.

Given these strengths and weaknesses, let’s consider the overall value proposition of the AirPods Max in 2024.

Are the AirPods Max worth it in 2024?

While the AirPods Max still impresses in key areas like sound quality and ANC performance, their age is showing in terms of connectivity options, battery life, and some design elements. For Apple ecosystem users who can find them at a significant discount (though they don’t go on sale that often), they may still be a worthy purchase. But if you need high-end wireless headphones, there are plenty of alternatives to the AirPods Max to consider.

Given the rumors of an AirPods Max 2 release in late 2024 or early 2025, I recommend most potential buyers wait. The anticipated improvements in the second-generation model are likely to address many of the current version’s shortcomings, such as USB-C charging, the H2 chip for better performance, a more protective case, and possibly lossless audio support. Patience for the AirPods Max 2 might be worth more.

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