The AirPods Max are Apple's premium over-ear wireless headphones, known for their high-fidelity audio, Active Noise Cancellation, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. They come with a unique accessory called the Smart Case.
Audio Technology
- .Drivers: Apple-designed dynamic driver
- Audio Modes:
- Active Noise Cancellation.
-
Transparency mode.
- Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking.
- Adaptive EQ
Microphones and Sensors
- Microphones: 9 microphones total:
- 8 for Active Noise Cancellation.
- 3 for voice pickup (two of which are also used for ANC).
- Sensors (per ear cup):
- Optical sensor.
- Position sensor.
- Case-detect sensor.
- Accelerometer (also a Gyroscope in the left ear cup).
- Chip: Apple H1 headphone chip in each ear cup.
Controls
- Digital Crown:
- Turn for volume control.
- Press once to play, pause, or answer a phone call.
- Press twice to skip forward or end a call
- Press three times to skip back
- Press and hold for Siri
- Noise Control Button: Press to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode.
- Voice Control: "Hey Siri" support for hands-free commands.
Wireless: Bluetooth 5.0
Battery and Charging
- Battery Life: Up to 20 hours of listening time, movie playback, or talk time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation and Spatial Audio enabled.
- Fast Charging: 5 minutes of charge time provides about 1.5 hours of listening time.
-
Charging Port: USB-C.
Smart Case Functionality
The Smart Case is an integral part of the AirPods Max's power management system. Because the headphones lack a power button, the case is used to control their power state.
- Immediate Low-Power Mode: When the AirPods Max are placed in the Smart Case, they immediately enter an ultra-low-power state, significantly preserving the battery.
- Comparison to No Case: If you simply set the headphones down, they will go into a low-power mode after 5 minutes, but they will not enter the deeper, ultra-low-power mode until after 72 hours. The Smart Case expedites this process, which is why it's recommended for long-term storage.
- "Find My" Feature: It's important to note that in the deepest ultra-low-power state, which the case enables relatively quickly, Bluetooth and the "Find My" feature are turned off to maximize battery life.
