Headphones and earbuds beta · Apple
Owners keep the AirPods Max for noise cancellation that holds up in loud environments and for the sound quality that makes them a daily pick for many, even at a premium price.
Noise cancellation draws clear praise: owners say it strips out most ambient sound even at low listening volumes, and several compare it favorably against other high-end ANC headphones they've owned.
Price value is a clear complaint. Multiple owners say the retail price is not justified by the performance, with some feeling ripped off even after paying less than list price.
Pick up to three. You get a page with just those, side by side, on the subjects owners raised.
Once the initial excitement fades, the noise cancellation keeps doing its job in daily use, and sound quality remains a reason some owners reach for these over other headphones they own, especially for certain genres or spatial audio. Transparency mode is another feature that keeps earning praise, with some owners saying it makes them feel like they can hear normally even with the headphones on.
What owners have had to adjust to is more mixed. Sound quality itself is a divided topic: while many praise it, a notable number have reservations or mixed feelings, sometimes tied to fit or personal preference. Weight and ear comfort come up as an adjustment for some, with a few owners saying they reach for lighter headphones instead for workouts or extended wear, even though they still value the Max for other listening.
Comfort holds up well for most owners who raised it, with some reporting years of use without issue. Noise cancellation and sound quality are the two features owners describe as continuing to perform over time, which is part of why some keep choosing them over newer or cheaper alternatives.
Long-term durability specifics are thin in what owners actually reported. Complaints skew toward things noticed early rather than breakdown over years: ear tip fit, volume level falling short of expectations, and customer support experiences when problems come up. Owners don't describe a pattern of things wearing out or failing with age in this sample, so that part of the picture is genuinely unclear rather than reassuring.
Parts named in the 3 accounts that describe a failure
Counted from the owners who raised each subject, not from everyone. A subject is judged once at least 4 owners raise it.
9 more subjects came up from fewer than 4 owners each, which is not enough for a fair reading. To see how it stacks up, compare it with another machine.
The same owner, asked again at each point. Fills in as owners answer.
More in headphones and earbuds: Apple AirPods 4, Apple AirPods Pro, Apple AirPods Pro 2.
Public discussions we read and summarised in our own words. Nothing here was submitted to Still Kicks.
Counted from public accounts by people who said they own it, and summarised by Still Kicks in its own words. Not a manufacturer claim, a lab test or an estimate.
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