---

title: "AirPods Max" type: article version: 1 created: 2026-04-07 status: published scope: public tags: ["articles-with-short-description", "short-description-is-different-from-wikidata", "use-mdy-dates-from-july-2020", "all-articles-with-lists-with-data-missing", "data-missing-from-june-2022"] sources:

• url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirPods_Max license: CC BY-SA 4.0

---

AirPods Max

::summary AirPods Max are wireless Bluetooth over-ear headphones designed by Apple, first released on December 15, 2020. They are Apple's highest-end option in the AirPods lineup, sold alongside the base model AirPods and mid-range AirPods Pro. ::

AirPods Max are wireless Bluetooth over-ear headphones designed by Apple, first released on December 15, 2020. They are Apple's highest-end option in the AirPods lineup, sold alongside the base model AirPods and mid-range AirPods Pro.

The main changes of the AirPods Max over the mid-range AirPods Pro are the over-ear design with larger speakers, inclusion of Apple's Digital Crown (found on the Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro), more color options, and longer battery life. An updated version of the first generation model with USB-C charging was released in September 20, 2024.

Apple released a second-generation model, with the H2 chip, in April 2026.

Apple announced the first generation AirPods Max on December 8, 2020, via a press release, and released them on December 15, 2020. AirPods Max features an over-ear headphone design, introduced under the leadership of CEO Tim Cook and the company’s product marketing team. Among those credited with their development were Apple’s lead designers, along with Rayan Rechka, who was noted for his contributions to the color finishes of the headphones.

AirPods Max feature an H1 chip in each ear cup, which is also found in the second-generation AirPods and first-generation AirPods Pro. AirPods Max, like the AirPods Pro, come with Apple's Active Noise Cancellation technology for blocking outside noise, and Transparency mode for listening to sounds around users. The "Digital Crown", similar to that of the Apple Watch, allows users to play or pause audio, control volume, skip tracks, control phone calls, and activate Siri. Proximity sensors automatically detect when they are on a user's head and play or pause audio accordingly. Spatial audio uses built-in gyroscopes and accelerometers to track movement of the user's head and provide what Apple describes as a "theater-like" experience.

Apple claims 20 hours of battery life, with five minutes of charging delivering 1.5 hours of listening time. AirPods Max are charged via the Lightning port. The Lightning port can also be used for line-in audio, with Apple selling cables with USB-A, USB-C and 3.5mm headphone ends.

AirPods Max are bundled with a Smart Case for storing. The Smart Case includes magnets that switch AirPods Max to low-power mode.

AirPods Max are available in five colors: Space Gray, Silver, Sky Blue, Green, and Pink. Users can select from these five colors separately for the ear cushions and external chassis for a total of 25 color combinations (or 125 if using two different ear cushion colors).

Apple announced an updated version of the first generation AirPods Max on September 9, 2024, at a special event and released them on September 20, 2024. They feature a USB-C port for data and charging and come in new colors: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, and Orange. Support for lossless and ultra‑low latency audio was added in iOS/iPadOS 18.4 and macOS Sequoia 15.4 for the USB-C models when connected to a device using a USB-C cable. They support up to 24-bit/48 kHz lossless audio.

Apple announced the AirPods Max 2 on March 16, 2026, which added the H2 chip and Bluetooth 5.3. It is set to release in April 2026. It features improved sound quality and active noise cancellation along with new additions including live translation, adaptive audio, audio recording, voice isolation and using Siri via head gestures. The second-generation also supports lossless audio over a USB-C connection.

AirPods Max are compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth, including Android and Windows devices, although certain features such as Siri require an Apple device running iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, watchOS 7.2, tvOS 14 or macOS Big Sur.

Legend

Model	iPhone Bluetooth Headset	AirPods(1st gen)	AirPods(2nd gen)	AirPods Pro(1st gen)	AirPods Maxwith Lightning	AirPods(3rd gen)	AirPods Pro 2	AirPods 4	AirPods 4with ANC	AirPods Maxwith USB-C	AirPods Pro 3	AirPods Max 2
Timeline	Announced
Released
Discontinued
Model	Model number	L
R
Case
Model identifier
Order numbers
Compatibility	Bluetooth
OS supportfor Siri
System on a chip
Battery	Power	Per AirPod
Case
Capacity
Firmware	Original release
Latest / final
Introductory US Price

The AirPods Max Smart Case's design has been mocked by technology reviewers, along with users on Twitter for its resemblance to that of a bra or purse. Reporter Daniel Piper of Creative Bloq states: "If we're not entirely convinced by the design of the AirPods Max themselves, we're utterly baffled by that of their charging 'Smart Case'. The shape resembles, well, lots of things, from handbags to body parts."

Numerous people have reported that condensation can build up near the drivers of the closed-back headphones after prolonged use under the removable ear cups. It has been suspected that the major cause is its full-metal body that naturally has temperature-dependent thermal conductivity.

• Apple headphones – Lineup of products manufactured by Apple, Inc
  • AirPods – Wireless earbuds produced by Apple
  • AirPods Pro – Wireless earbuds produced by Apple
• Pixel Buds – Line of earbuds developed by Google
• Samsung Galaxy Buds Live – 2020 wireless earbuds by Samsung Electronics

::callout[info] This article is sourced from Wikipedia and is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirPods_Max ::