The Real Deal on AirPods Max: Are They Worth the Hype and the Price?

The Real Deal on AirPods Max: Are They Worth the Hype and the Price?

I'll be honest, I didn't read a single review or look at any feedback before buying, so I had no idea what to expect from the AirPods Max. The opinions of reviewers were all over the place, and it only added to my confusion. Some claimed the headphones were perfect in every way, while others said the opposite, and although both parties agreed on the build quality and materials, their opinions on sound quality were all over the map.

I've had these earbuds in my hands for a bit now, and the first thing that caught my eye was the packaging. It's huge and heavy, way bigger and heavier than my AirPods Pro, and it's even heavier than the competition because the cups are made of metal. Okay, enough about that - let's get down to business and talk about the earbuds themselves, because there's a lot to share.

I'll start by saying that Apple's products have a great demand, including on the secondary market, and almost all of their products are successfully copied and counterfeited by 'friends' from China. AirPods Max wasn't an exception. Initially, the copies were of low quality, so it wasn't hard to tell the fake from the original, but over time the copies improved and were brought to an almost identical resemblance, making it much harder to distinguish the fake from the real deal. I didn't feel like buying from the official store due to the price, but I also didn't want to buy some cheap knockoff. As it turned out, in 80% of cases, it was the latter that was presented on many online platforms.

So, here's my personal experience for you, valued readers. First and probably the easiest thing to check is the packaging, or rather the box. The material, texture, labels, logos, font, and overall build quality. Most of the time, it's in the small details that you can spot the discrepancy between the original and the fake, both visually and tactically. And the most important thing is, don't rush. If the seller is pushing you or trying to divert your attention, that's already a red flag. Of course, no one's going to spend the entire day with you, but I think 10-15 minutes is a reasonable amount of time they can spare.

So, let's start with a visual and tactile inspection of the packaging. If the box is sealed, take a close look at the seam. The seam on the plastic film should be perfectly smooth and thin all the way around. If it's wavy, irregularly shaped, or catches on your finger when you touch it, that's a red flag. Apple would never allow such sloppiness. Modern equipment and a well-oiled production process, along with quality control, just won't let blatant defects slip through. Also, take a look at the tab with the arrow on the same plastic film. If it stays in your hand when you pull on it, that's another warning sign.

When the packaging is open and the earbuds have been used, there are even more factors to consider. Take a close look at everything – don't miss a single detail. For me, it was as simple as this. The case where the earbuds were stored was made of plastic (the originals use cardboard), and when I lifted it, I was met with a disturbing sight. Residue from adhesive and other substances continued to confirm my suspicions, and effectively sealed the deal on these AirPods.

It's worth taking a closer look at these alternatives. By the way, the plastic earbuds aren't a great indicator - some brands are already using cardboard and have fewer issues. At the end of the day, even the original box could be authentic, and the headphones could be great, but still a copy. If you're unsure about your knowledge and skills, it's better to buy from an official reseller or a phone store, even if it's more expensive - at least you'll have peace of mind.

Aside from the plastic earbuds, the decorative caps might also be made of plastic, reminding me that the originals are made of paper (cardboard). Still, I think even fake AirPods Max might come with the same kind of caps.

I don't think it makes sense to talk about the bundle, as it's hard for a regular user to distinguish the fake charging cable, for instance, and I don't think it's worth focusing on it.

The fake will give away other details, but I'll get to those later. One of those details could be the device's weight. As you know, the original AirPods Max weigh almost 400 grams without the extra weight, and when I had the fake in my hands again, I immediately sensed that its weight didn't match the original. Although the overall quality of the fake was decent, I did notice that the sound wouldn't always pause when I took the headphones off, and it happened occasionally. I was also surprised that there were no factory labels under the removable ear cups. None at all.

What caught my attention was the weak noise cancellation, which was immediately noticeable in a quiet room. I wonder how it would perform in a noisy environment, like a metro. That's a rhetorical question. It's those little details that made up my overall impression.

I've gotta say, my impression of the seller and their copy was that they were trying to pull one over on an inexperienced buyer. Apart from that, these knockoff AirPods Max were pretty much identical to the real thing. I noticed the animation in the iPhone settings menu, and all the characteristic original records with the serial number and firmware were still there, even on the official website. Everything from noise cancellation to transparency settings was present. Even the sound quality was surprisingly good, with clear bass, mids, and highs. But, let's be real, they can't compare to the real deal. You don't even need to be an audiophile to notice the difference.

If you're serious about buying and do your research on the telltale signs of a fake, I think you'll be okay, even with the best knockoff. I mean, the Chinese can't replicate the original perfectly, so they'll always cut corners and skimp on materials, which is reflected in the price. I had another experience that made me wary. I found another listing for AirPods Max and contacted the seller, asking for the serial number and photos of the headphones without any tampering. The serial number on the box checked out on the company's website, but the one on the headphones itself didn't match. And the worst part was that the screws underneath the ear cups were a crosshead, not a star. I noticed that by chance. Needless to say, my interest in the product was gone. To be honest, the seller couldn't explain why the serial numbers didn't match.

Later, after carefully studying the photos in the ad and the sticker on the box with the serial number, I found the following inscription: 'AirPods Max Black with Black Headband'. As we know, the original AirPods Max are currently available in five colors, and black isn't one of them. There's Space Gray, but not black. So, the sticker label should have read: 'AirPods Max Space gray with Black Headband'. This is just another confirmation that we're dealing with a copy – and not a high-quality one at that.

I've told you about just two major cases where I encountered non-original products and dishonest sellers, though I suppose it's possible people just didn't realize they had a copy. There were also some minor cases where it was harder to tell, but I still managed to spot the differences, mostly intuitively.

For instance, I noticed that the hinged headband made a faint creaking sound, and the right earcup was missing a stripe on the bottom. By the way, the earcups in the cheapest copies might be made of regular plastic, not anodized aluminum, which would explain the weight difference – unless the manufacturer added some sort of weight to compensate, which sometimes happens.

One thing I noticed about the knockoff AirPods Max is the seam on the ear cushions. In the originals, they're perfectly smooth and wrinkle-free, and they hold their shape for ages. Meanwhile, the fakes often look tired from the get-go, with creases and wrinkles galore.

I wish I'd gotten to try out the original AirPods Max before buying, just so I'd know what to expect. But honestly, it's a lot easier to figure out if you need them after hearing the real deal. You get a sense of how they fit, how they look, and most importantly, how they sound.

I was blown away by the sound after I bought them. And it just so happened that I got a great deal – new, sealed, and not activated, all for a fair price. They came all the way from Germany, which was a nice touch. I opened them up, took them out, put them on, and started listening.

At first, the sound seemed pretty standard and unimpressive. But, hold up! I don't want to rush into things. The AirPods Max look great in pictures, but in real life, they're even more interesting. There's this Apple magic to them. Before this, I had AirPods Pro, and I have to say, they didn't evoke the same emotions - just earbuds, earbuds, maybe it was just habit. But these are different. Holding a kilo of them in your hands, you realize you're holding something. Both visually and tactilely, the earbuds look great.

For the first ten minutes, I just stared at them and spun them around in my hands like some ancient relic. I wanted the Space gray color, which I think is the most practical and interesting, although maybe a bit dull in some lighting. Depending on the lighting, it can change from a light gray to almost black.

They look super tiny, I have to say. From an aesthetic standpoint, I have to admit I like these colors more than the others. They're not as playful as the blue, pink, and green ones, and they're not as flashy as the silver with white ones (which is what I originally wanted), but they're universal and don't come across as childish.

In fact, my husband likes this color too, and I'm not sure I could see him with the pink or blue AirPods Max, since we were planning to use them together.

The silver with white silicone ones are out of the question because of their impracticality – if the silicone can be cleaned somehow, that's one thing, but what about the non-removable white mesh? I'm not sure what to do with that...

So, what are the AirPods Max all about? They're definitely a top-notch product, but not everyone can afford them, and not everyone needs them, I guess. So, before you buy, weigh the pros and cons – maybe this is just a fleeting fancy, and in the end, the device will end up on a shelf or get resold at best.

But if you're dead set on this choice, go ahead and enjoy the ride. These earbuds are seriously good, and I find myself wanting to listen to music, movies, Spotify, YouTube, podcasts, and more. Games are a whole different story, especially first-person shooters – it's like you're right in the thick of it. Each earbud has a 40-millimeter dynamic driver, which is pretty standard these days. For music, it's recommended you listen in Apple's Alac format (M4A container), or FLAC, but you'll need a third-party app since iPhone doesn't support it.

Apple Lossless (Apple Lossless Audio Codec, ALAC) is an open audio codec for lossless compression of digital music, developed by Apple.

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is a free codec that compresses audio files without losing any quality. Unlike other audio codecs that compress with losses (MP3, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, Opus), FLAC keeps everything intact.

But in most cases, the old faithful MP3 will satisfy a big chunk of the audience due to its widespread adoption and versatility. On the other hand, the same AAC will be a lot more interesting in this regard. The maximum bitrate (ceiling) of AAC is 529 kbps – that's significantly higher than aptX, whose maximum bitrate in stereo is 384 kbps. By the way, neither aptX nor aptX HD is supported by AirPods Max, just FYI. But I'm happy to report that MP3s with a bitrate of 256-320 kbps sound incredibly good, if not better, and you're unlikely to notice a blatant difference between different audio formats when listening blindly.

Either way, the option is there, and it's up to you to decide. The key is to set everything up correctly in the first place on your iPhone, so the sound won't sound flat and compressed. Still, you can't unlock the full potential of these headphones right off the bat, at least not wirelessly – and even if you try to do it via a wired connection, the cable isn't included in the package, and any other cable from a third-party manufacturer won't work. Apple is happy to sell you a cable (MR2C2ZM/A), but be prepared to pay a pretty penny for it, and it looks pretty flimsy without any serious insulation. It's clear it's not worth the asking price.

In short, these headphones seem to be hinting that you should just stick to Bluetooth playback and not worry about it. On the other hand, the option to connect via a wired connection is still there, albeit with an original cable. Personally, my needs were fully met by the wireless protocol, so the lack of a cable in the package didn't bother me much. However, the lack of a power adapter did leave a slight sour taste, just like with my iPhone. That's beyond my understanding, and I won't comment on it. But in terms of sound quality, everything is spot on.

Now, when it comes to listening to an old track, I pick up on things I never heard before. The same song sounds fresh, with added detail. I can hear instruments that were previously muffled or not as prominent. The sound separation is on par with high-end professional headphones, and I'm not just saying that because the AirPods Max aren't cheap. The bass is also spot on, despite what anyone might say. It's very well-controlled, if you will. Soft, deep, and rich. As someone who's not an audiophile, I struggle to put it into words – it's something you need to hear for yourself. But I'm confident in saying that if you're the type who loves a 'boomy' bass, where your ears feel like they're flapping in the wind, then these aren't for you.

I think the amazing sound of these headphones is helped out by the adaptive equalizer, which really brings out the bright and rich audio track, adjusting the sound in real-time depending on the track and external conditions. That's why I found myself listening to music for hours on end in these headphones - even more than I did in my AirPods Pro. It's not love at first sight, though - you fall in love with these headphones gradually. The best noise-cancelling and transparency mode, stylish design, and comfort make the AirPods Max pretty competitive and standout on the market.

Even in the metro with its old trains and constant rumble, the extra noise is pretty much eliminated by the 'Max's, and the transparency mode makes it sound like you're not even wearing headphones at all - with clear positioning of each sound source in space, not just a jumbled mess of sounds. Those microphones, by the way, are a big deal - there are nine of them in total, four on each earcup, with three used for noise-cancelling and one for voice recognition, and the ninth one (I think) for Siri voice commands.

I've gotta say, the H1 chip is a beast, considering the sound it produces and processing it with its ten cores. Apple claims it can perform up to 9 billion operations per second. The device itself is built with anodized aluminum, specifically the cups, stainless steel headband arms, and a soft-touch silicone, topped off with a breathable and shock-absorbing mesh. Guess it's to prevent the headband from getting sweaty. And then there are the replaceable ear cushions with memory foam on a textile base, complete with strong magnets. Since they're replaceable, you can swap them out if you want or need to, giving the device a bit of a refresh in terms of color. Each ear cushion has 'L' and 'R' stitched inside for proper reinstallation after removal. That's a nice touch.

When taking the AirPods Max out of their Smart Case, the cups sometimes knock against each other, producing a dull thud. It's unclear how this will affect the cups themselves, but it's not a hard hit, so maybe nothing will happen. However, if you're not careful, they might get scratched. Overall, the mechanisms and hinges on the AirPods Max are quite reliable, well-built, and give you confidence. The Digital Crown handles volume, play/pause, track switching, and call answering, and it's smooth to turn and press, producing a barely audible click and a nice feel. You can adjust the direction of the Crown's rotation for volume control in iPhone settings, as well as the adjacent button for switching playback modes (noise cancellation/ transparency).

The Digital Crown is easy to use, but there are occasional accidental touches that can easily change the volume due to its light rotation.

Digital Crown and the noise-cancelling and transparency controls - that's a nice touch. The charging port is the same old lightning, and there's a tiny LED next to it. In one of the cups, there's a magnet to activate the ultra-low power mode when you put the earbuds to sleep by placing them in the included case, which also has a magnet. I've read that, theoretically, you could use a small magnet to activate the mode, but I haven't tried it. The lack of a dedicated power button is a weird decision, but it's actually really convenient to just start using the earbuds without having to go through extra steps. Whether they're in the case or not, I haven't noticed any significant drop in battery life, so it's all well thought out.

I've also been experimenting with the spatial audio feature on the AirPods Max, which creates an immersive virtual audio scene when paired with compatible video content. On my iPhone, I can tweak the settings to get a sense of how it works - for example, if an actor is speaking from the left in a movie, I can turn my head to hear them speaking directly in front of me.

Of course, it all depends on the quality of the content and its surround sound capabilities. And, as of June 2021, I'm still experimenting with the feature to see how it works in different scenarios.

I'm super stoked that Apple Music subscribers will get access to sound in a whole new generation - spatial audio with Dolby Atmos. Apple just announced they're supporting this tech in Apple Music, and it's going to be a game-changer. New Dolby Atmos tracks will be added all the time, and albums available in Dolby Atmos will have a special icon for easy recognition.

And if that's not enough, Apple Music is also getting a massive boost - over 75 million songs will be available in Lossless Audio. That's music to the ears of anyone who loves clean, uncompressed audio. Of course, the service isn't free... but as a 'max' user, I've gotta say - the sound quality is amazing. I've been using them as headphones for a week now, and the build quality has really surprised me. The sound is crystal clear, and I can hear my friend's voice perfectly - even in a noisy environment. But I have to admit, I haven't tested them in windy conditions yet. At home or in the office, though, they're perfect. The voices are clear and natural, with no distortion whatsoever.

The most comfortable thing about this device is that you don't feel any discomfort, especially if you adjust the telescopic headrest correctly from the start. The mesh serves as a shock absorber and helps distribute the weight of the device evenly. I've got to give credit to the engineers and developers behind this device – they've done a fantastic job.

I've got to say, Apple claims the earbuds don't contain PVC, beryllium, or mercury, plus brominated flame retardants. That's good to know. What's not good is saying these are only for home use. Don't get me wrong, they're not designed for marathons or high-intensity sports. They're more of an office and home companion, perfect for casual strolls or commutes. That doesn't diminish their value, though. When choosing and buying this device, keep that in mind. If you're not a die-hard Apple fan with an iPhone or iPod, and you're rocking an Android device instead, I wouldn't recommend AirPods Max. The functionality is severely limited – spatial audio, adaptive EQ, seamless switching, quick pairing, and Siri voice control just don't work. Without those perks, the earbuds lose their appeal. You might want to consider Sony's thousandth series or Bose's 700s as alternatives. They're strong competitors in every aspect.

I've gotta say, my overall impression of these headphones is super positive, especially considering the price, lack of an audio cable, charging dock, and weird carrying case, all of which are pretty hefty cons. But let's be real, the sound, design, build quality, and the fact that they help you stand out from the crowd totally make up for it. I haven't had enough experience to confirm or deny some users' claims about condensation forming under the earcups, but so far, so good. One thing that does check out is the battery life, which lasts a claimed 20 hours with noise cancellation, and I can confirm that's accurate. Charging is pretty straightforward, and the battery life is pretty consistent, even after multiple charges.