AirPods Max (2020)

AirPods Max brought H1 and active noise cancellation to over-ear headphones with a Digital Crown, magnetic cushions and Lightning charging.

Specs

Launch and context

Apple announced them on December 8, 2020 with immediate orders and shipping from December 15, priced at $549 in the US. The five original colors were space gray, silver, sky blue, green and pink. This model is the 2020 Lightning version; later connectors or revisions do not change its launch identity. [max-launch, max-spec]

How Apple presented it

Each ear cup contained H1 and an Apple-designed dynamic driver. Adaptive EQ, active noise cancellation, Transparency mode and spatial audio were part of the original proposition; spatial audio depended on compatible devices, apps and content. The Digital Crown controlled volume and playback alongside a listening-mode button. Apple advertised up to 20 hours with noise cancellation and spatial audio; test conditions and playback type matter. The Smart Case triggered power saving, rather than recharging the headphones. [max-launch, max-spec]

Documented issues

The Verge praised sound and noise cancellation but criticized price, weight near 385 grams and the Smart Case's limited protection. There was no power button or 3.5mm socket; wired listening required a compatible cable sold separately. The test noted that the headphones did not work passively by cable with a drained battery. These are design limits and review observations, not a failure rate. The cumulative technical sheet includes later software features such as Personalized Spatial Audio; not all date to December 2020. [max-review, max-spec]

Sources

• max-launch · Apple Newsroom, Apple introduces AirPods Max (2020-12-08) · https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/12/apple-introduces-airpods-max-the-magic-of-airpods-in-a-stunning-over-ear-design/
• max-review · The Verge, AirPods Max review (2020-12) · https://www.theverge.com/22177494/apple-airpods-max-headphones-review-price-features
• max-spec · Apple Support, AirPods Max 1 specs · https://support.apple.com/en-us/111858

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