# AirPods Max

AirPods Max are wireless Bluetooth over-ear headphones designed by Apple, and 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), more color options, and longer battery life.

## Overview

Apple announced 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.
AirPods Max have an H1 chip in each ear cup, 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.
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. The Smart Case includes magnets that switch AirPods Max to low-power mode.
AirPods Max are available in five colors: Space Gray, Silver, Sky Blue, Green, and Pink. Users can select from these five colors separately for the ear cushions and external chassis for a total of 25 color combinations (or 125 if using two different ear cushion colors).
Updated AirPods Max were released on September 20, 2024. They feature USB-C charging and new colors: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, and Orange.

## Compatibility

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.
Comparative technical specifications of all AirPods models vte :
| In production | Discontinued | Vintage | Obsolete |
| Model | Model | Model | iPhone Bluetooth Headset | AirPods (1st gen) | AirPods (2nd gen) | AirPods Pro (1st gen) | AirPods Max | AirPods (3rd gen) | AirPods Pro 2 (previously 2nd gen) | AirPods 4 | AirPods 4 with ANC |
| Timeline | Announced | Announced | January 9, 2007 | September 7, 2016 | March 20, 2019 | October 28, 2019 | December 8, 2020 | October 18, 2021 | September 7, 2022 | September 9, 2024 | September 9, 2024 |
| Timeline | Released | Released | June 29, 2007 | December 13, 2016 | March 20, 2019 | October 30, 2019 | December 15, 2020 | October 26, 2021 | September 23, 2022 | September 20, 2024 | September 20, 2024 |
| Timeline | Discontinued | Discontinued | March 23, 2009 | March 20, 2019 | September 9, 2024 | September 7, 2022 | In production | September 9, 2024 | In production | In production | In production |
| Model | Model number | L | A1221 | A1722 | A2031 | A2084 | A2096 | A2564 | A2931, A2699, A2698 | A3053, A3050, A3054 | A3056, A3055, A3057 |
| Model | Model number | R | A1221 | A1523 | A2032 | A2083 | A2096 | A2565 | A2931, A2699, A2698 | A3053, A3050, A3054 | A3056, A3055, A3057 |
| Model | Model number | Case | A1221 | A1602 (Lightning) | A1602 (Lightning) A1938 (Wireless, Lightning) | A2190 (Wireless, Lightning) A2190 (MagSafe, Lightning) | A2096 | A2897 (Lightning) A2566 (MagSafe, Lightning) | A2700 (MagSafe, Lightning) A2968 (MagSafe, USB-C) | A3058 (USB-C) | A3059 (Wireless, USB-C) |
| Model | Model identifier | Model identifier | [data missing] | AirPods1,1 | AirPods2,1 | iProd8,1 | iProd8,6 | AirPods1,3 | AirPodsPro1,2 and AirPods3,1 | AirPods1,4 and AirPods3,2 | AirPods1,4 and AirPods3,3 |
| Model | Order numbers | Order numbers | MA817AM (with iPhone dual dock) MB536AM (without iPhone dual dock) | MMEF2AM | MV7N2AM (Lightning) MRXJ2AM (wireless) | MWP22AM | MGYJ3AM (silver) MGYH3AM (space gray) MGYL3AM (sky blue) MGYM3AM (pink) MGYN3AM (green) (Lightning) (midnight) (starlight) (blue) (orange) (purple) (USB-C) | MME73AM | MQD83AM | | |
| Compatibility | Compatibility | Compatibility | Bluetooth 2.0 | iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch models with iOS 10 or later, Apple Watch models with watchOS 3 or later, and Mac models with macOS Sierra or later. | Devices running iOS 12.2 or later, macOS Mojave 10.14.4 or later, and watchOS 5.2 or later. | Devices that support Bluetooth, including Android and Windows devices, although certain features such as Siri require an Apple device running iOS 13.2, watchOS 6.1, tvOS 13.2, and macOS Catalina 10.15.1 | Devices that support 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. | Devices that support Bluetooth, including Android and Windows devices, although certain features such as Siri require an Apple device running iOS 15.1 or later, iPadOS 15.1 or later, macOS Monterey 12.0 or later, and watchOS 8.1 or later. | Devices that support Bluetooth, including Android and Windows devices, although certain features such as Siri require an Apple device running iOS 15.1 or later, iPadOS 15.1 or later, macOS Monterey 12.0 or later, and watchOS 8.1 or later. | | |
| System on a chip | System on a chip | System on a chip | None | Apple W1 chip | Apple H1 chip (343S00289, 343S00290) | Apple H1 chip | Apple H1 chip (343S00404) | Apple H1 chip | Apple H2 chip | Apple H2 chip | Apple H2 chip |
| Battery | Strength | Per AirPod | [data missing] | 0.093 Wh | 0.093 Wh | 0.16 Wh | 2 × 2.53 Wh (right ear cup) | 0.133 Wh | ? | ? | ? |
| Battery | Strength | Case | [data missing] | 1.52 Wh | 1.52 Wh | 1.98 Wh | 2 × 2.53 Wh (right ear cup) | 1.33 Wh | 1.997 Wh | ? | ? |
| Battery | Capacity | Capacity | No case | 398 mAh (case) | 398 mAh (case) | 519 mAh (case) | 664 mAh (right ear cup) | 345 mAh (case) | 523 mAh (case) | | |
| Firmware | Original release | Original release | Not upgradable | 3.3.1 | 6.3.2 | 2B584 | 3C16 | 3E751 | 5A374 | | |
| Firmware | Latest / final | Latest / final | Not upgradable | 6.8.8 | 6A326 | 6A326 | 6A326 (Lighting) 7A291 (USB-C) | 6A326 | 7A302 | 7A304 | 7A304 |
| Introductory US Price | Introductory US Price | Introductory US Price | 129$ | 159$ | 159$ | 249$ | 549$ | 179$ | 249$ | 129$ | 179$ |

## Criticism

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."
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. It has been suspected that the major cause is its full-metal body that naturally has temperature-dependent thermal conductivity.