After being long in the rumor mill, Apple has officially announced its first in-house wireless headphones with the AirPods Max. As the over-ear sibling of the AirPods we are all familiar with, the AirPods Max makes use of a new, Apple-designed H1 chip that manages the audio quality of the 40mm dynamic drivers that feature a dual neodymium ring magnet.
As for the overall design, the AirPods Max have a breathable mesh canopy on the headband which aids on reducing on-head pressure and distributing weight. The frame is made from stainless steel, with telecscoping arms extending for an optimal fit. Each earcup pivots independently according to the contours of the user’s head, ensuring an effective seal together with its memory foam cups. Like the Apple Watch, the AirPods Max has a digital crown for controlling volume, managing audio tracks, answering and ending calls, and activating Siri.
Each driver has its own H1 chip, wherein the AirPods Max utilizes computational audio to deliver the highest possible listening quality–regardless of the type of music you are listening. Apple claims that each chip has 10 audio cores that is capable of as many as 9 billion operations per second. Both chips are also essential in powering the key features of the AirPods Max, which includes Adaptive EQ, Active Noise Cancellation, spatial audio, and Transparency mode.
The AirPods Max are rated for up to 20 hours with ANC and spatial audio enabled, and come with a slim Smart Case that puts the AirPods Max in an ultra-low power mode when not in use.
Unlike the AirPods, the AirPods Max can be ordered in a variety of colors that include Silver, Space Grey, Sky Blue, Green, and Pink.
If you are planning to get one, prepare loads of cash: the AirPods Max in the Philippines is priced at Php 32,990, which is Php 1k less than the official SRP of the iPad Air 4th Generation in the 64GB WiFi-only variant. Unless you are 1) an audiophile who wants the best audio quality for lossless music files, or 2) a diehard Apple fan, you might want to think twice about getting the AirPods Max. There’s no word on local availability, but the AirPods Max will be available in the US on December 15.