Headphones · 2020 · Apple

Apple AirPods Max (Lightning, 2020)

AirPods Max are Apple’s first over-ear wireless headphones. They have aluminium ear cups, a mesh canopy headband, an H1 chip in each cup, active noise cancellation with nine microphones and a Digital Crown borrowed from the Apple Watch. Testing placed the sound and noise cancellation among the best in class and criticised the weight, the lack of a 3.5 mm input and limited features on Android. Owners have reported condensation inside the ear cups for years.

AirPods Max 1, the first version with a Lightning charging port (2020); Silver, Space Grey, Sky Blue, Pink and Green. The 2024 USB‑C version and AirPods Max 2 are separate models.

Apple AirPods Max (Lightning, 2020) — Apple image of AirPods Max in Space Grey, front and side views.
Apple image of AirPods Max in Space Grey, front and side views.

Specifications

SpecificationValue
Audio technologyApple-designed dynamic driver; Active Noise Cancellation; Transparency mode; Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ

A Personalised Spatial Audio profile is created with an iPhone that has a TrueDepth camera; the feature needs compatible content and apps.

ChipApple H1 headphone chip in each ear cup
MicrophonesNine microphones in total: eight for noise cancellation; three for voice pickup (two shared with noise cancellation)
SensorsOptical, position and case-detect sensors plus an accelerometer in each cup; gyroscope in the left cup

The position and optical sensors detect when the headphones are put on or taken off to pause and resume playback.

ControlsDigital Crown (volume, play/pause, calls, track skip, Siri) and noise control button

Turning the Digital Crown changes the volume; the noise control button switches between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode.

BatteryUp to 20 hours of listening with Active Noise Cancellation or Transparency on; up to 20 hours of movies with Spatial Audio on; 5 minutes of charge gives about 1.5 hours of listening

Apple’s figures come from pre-production tests with an iPhone 12 Pro Max in November 2020.

Charging and caseCharging via Lightning; the battery enters an ultra-low-power state in the Smart Case

The box contains the headphones, the Smart Case and a Lightning to USB‑C cable. There is no separate power button; the Smart Case handles power saving.

ConnectivityBluetooth 5.0
Size and weight187.3 × 168.6 × 83.4 mm; 384.8 g with cushions; Smart Case 134.5 g
CompatibilityApple devices running the latest iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS or tvOS

They work as Bluetooth headphones with Apple devices on older software and with non-Apple devices, but functionality is limited.

From the manufacturer

Apple presents AirPods Max with computational audio, Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. Apple Support

Strengths and limitations

  • According to TechRadar’s Swedish edition the sound is wide and balanced, noise cancellation is on par with the Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose 700, and Transparency mode is very useful. The Digital Crown was more precise than touch controls, and pairing with iPhone and iPad was seamless. The 385 g weight is clearly more than Sony’s 254 g; the mesh band spreads the load but they may feel heavy to sensitive users. The lack of a 3.5 mm input (wired use needs a separate Lightning to 3.5 mm cable), no high-resolution codecs, and Android missing features such as Spatial Audio and automatic switching were criticised.

    TechRadar Sweden review (2020 launch period), one test unit.

    TechRadar Sweden: Apple AirPods Max review

  • 9to5Mac, citing a 404 Media round-up, reported that AirPods Max owners were still reporting condensation inside the ear cups about three years after launch: the inside of the cups gets wet after long sessions and, according to some owners, water seeps through the speaker holes. User and repair posts link this to lost audio or headphones randomly not working; these are owner claims. The report says Apple has not acknowledged a widespread defect, some owners got free replacements under warranty while others did not, and a settlement was being negotiated in a California class action.

    9to5Mac report (22 August 2023), relaying Apple Community and social media posts and 404 Media’s reporting on the lawsuit. Prevalence and failure rate are unknown.

    9to5Mac: AirPods Max owners still complain about condensation in the ear cups

Tags

2020APPLEAIRPODSKULAK-USTUKABLOSUZANCBLUETOOTHLIGHTNING

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Sources

  1. Apple Support: AirPods Max 1 tech specs
  2. TechRadar Sweden: Apple AirPods Max review
  3. 9to5Mac: AirPods Max owners still complain about condensation in the ear cups