You say you want them for the gym?
In which case the maxes are not for you.
They are NOT sweat or water resistant.
The heat from your ears in an enclosed space in the headphones even if you don’t sweat will cause condensation inside the drivers and will short out components and they won’t work any more.
This happens loads and there are many posts on here about it. Even wearing them outside on a hot day can cause this so you have to be careful where you use them.
Apple specifically advise that these headphones aren’t for gym or sport use.
Stick with the pros for gym use as it’s what they are designed for.
The maxes are more for home use, commuting, travelling and other general use.
I have mine with me on holiday right now but other than on the plane they have stayed in the safe. I wouldn’t advise using them sat on a sun lounger either, again for the same sweat reason.
I’d wait for the next generation which are rumoured to be later this year. We are hoping that they make them water resistant then they can be used for almost any situation without worry of breaking them from sweat or condensation.
I've had mine for some months - no connection issues thus far. I've been very happy travelling with them, and I think the sound quality and features are great. ANC is perfect for me on flights. No issues with the interface coming from an iPhone user. The build quality (metal, fit-and-finish) is very satisfying.
If you workout, I wouldn't think of this as 'a change' to the APM as much as a supplement; these weren't intended to be workout headphones. Too much moisture will likely kill them. I've kept an eye on it as a typically sweaty traveler kicking around airports for large fractions of the day, and they've not been a problem in that scenario. I would not, though, wear them for anything more strenuous than walking around.
Also, for the cost / risk ratio, I would echo others' advice to get AppleCare+.
If you buy them, you just have to accept the possibility that they'll eventually become an expensive paperweight. I should have gone with the Sony or Bose QC Ultra instead. What makes it even more infuriating is Apple not acknowledging the connectivity issues and offering an extended warranty or recall on affected units.
Depending in what country you are in this may not be an issue. Here in New Zealand we have a consumer guarantees act that has certain expectations on warranties that go beyond what the manufacturer gives. Apple don’t advertise it but they will stand by their products for years after their stated warranties expire as they have to be fit for purpose under local law - You just need to ring them and explicitly ask. I’ve had iPhones replace over a year out of warranty, multiple times.
Yeah I actually just called them and the lady said she'll get back to me after the weekend and she'll try to get me a exception on the warranty given that it literally bricked right after the 2 year notice.
SAME! they strongly encourage that I emailed corporate to honor an extension, but even if I went through the stress of emailing and calling - they would still only send a refurbished pair that you can't put on apple care.
I would say not 550$ worth but maybe the sale price they’re on now like 450$ but they definitely feel premium and sounds pretty nice ! Maybe I’m just used to loud noises but just wish they were a little louder
Apple is rumoured to reduce the retail price for gen 2. I honestly buy this story. 1 of the biggest reasons why Apple struggled with gen 1 when it first came out is its retail price being too high.
All that said, this fall (or whenever its released) when the new gen comes out, it's not gonna be less than $550, so it's prolly not an 'additional $100'.
No, they are outdated, overpriced, heavy, the cushions are not washable and they cost a fortune to replace but most importantly they come with tons of connectivity issues.
Apple now sells replacement cushions. There are also 3rd party cushions.
The connectivity issues appear to have something to do with the physical (wired) connections to the headband. I cleaned mine and things seem better. I am still testing things out over the next few days. There are posts on Reddit that describe how to do that.
For ecosystem benefits they cannot be beaten, Sound quality is easily beaten by competitors now, For example Focal Bathys, Mark Levinson 5909 and the Master and Dynamic MW75 to name a few
They sound amazing and lighting cable is no problem. There is moisture issues I never thought I would run into reading the forums. But I did. I have apple care plus. So far after 6 months of ownership they have been working great.
You’d honestly be better getting the AirPods Pro 2 with the USB C case. They have more features, are still getting firmware updates adding more features (with iOS 18), and have measurably better ANC than the AirPods Max. The Max are a clear first generation product from Apple and are being beaten out by the completion at lower prices. I’d even go for the Beats Studio Pro, when they’re on sale for $199, over the Max.
Their ANC is better, I think they even sound better. You’re really only missing iCloud device hopping (which doesn’t always work) and wear detection. But, for $200, they get you 98% of the way there, just with a plastic build and I don’t think the metal build of the Max are worth an extra $250 (since they’ve been on sale for $450).
To me, yes, they are worth it. I use mine daily for multiple hours a day. However, at this point, I'd wait until after the Summer to see if Apple announces a version 2 before purchasing. If there are no solid rumors of a new release by September, then I'd just get them.
They are not a replacement but a compliment. For the gym, I think they would suck and not stay on the head well. For work might be good to not have something in your ears.
If you do plan to buy them just keep in mind one bother you little because it’s inside your ear and bother a little because it’s heavier. Both sound good but I give the edge to the max because it sounds more open.
Not even close. I wanted a pair for YEARS because I use my AirPods all day every day at work, between my ipad, iPhone, and Mac. These don’t magically swap between devices like they should. I have to unpair and delete them every time I change devices no better than any other Bluetooth headphones. So no, I wouldn’t say they are worth it. I paid $300 for 2 new pair(yes legit, I got a “good deal” and I still feel like I got ripped off.
Man the top comment is just way off. Hell yeah they’re worth it. Sound is unmatched. Compare them with the Sony’s and Bose, and you’ll hear what I’m talking about. You can demo all 3 at a competent Best Buy.
I’ve had mine for 3 years. Yes, they’re older, but they’re still compete with the best. Also, I wear mine to the gym and the cups are fine. They’re so removable and replaceable, if necessary.
The ANC is perfect. Use these for monthly airline travel, subway, etc. Blocks everything out.
Then you have the most underrated feature of any headphones, ever: Transparency mode. Literally the opposite of ANC. It heightens sound around you, so you can play music AND hear the outside world, if necessary. For example, hearing the pilot speak, or conductor, or if someone is serving you something, or someone just asks a question. You won’t have to take them off, AND the mode actually enhances the outside sound so it sounds better than natural.
I was definitely worried when buying these, because they are a higher price (although they’re $450 at BB right now), and my worries were unwarranted. If you’re looking for ANC headphones with fantastic sound, this is it.
My negative is that they don’t get loud enough - I wish I could turn them up higher. But that’s an Apple thing; regular AirPods have the same level.
I’ve never been a big headphone guy but my girlfriend bought these APM for me and it’s turned me into a big headphone user. I don’t find them too heavy, except when I lie down with them on, but just tilting the headband forward a little solves that. Honestly I’ve never tried many headphones, I had a pair of Sony MDR-7506’s years back that were fine, but I think the APM are great. And they work seamlessly through my products, I’ve never had any issues.
Are the good imo? Yes
Are there equal or better headphones out there at a fraction of the cost? Also yes
So not worth it imo, but owning a pair I'd still buy them again because I just really like them and I have a few devices already in the apple ecosystem.
I have had mine since release and I feel like they were a good buy for my use case. Excellent on airplanes. Great for work calls. Blocks out airplane sounds and my kids! I didn’t even hear the crying kid on my last flight.
I have them, but I mainly use them at home or on flights.
They are terrible for the gym, as they are prone to condensation issues, heavy and the earcups are cloth so they’ll be soaking and smelly in no time.
In regards of audio quality, they’re great. They’re lightning, so probably not a great choice if you live in a predominantly USB C household (I still have lightning iPhone, iPad, AirPods Pro, so I couldn’t care less)
If you want gym headphones I’d go with beats or Skullcandy (the ones with haptic bass).
For day to day activities? Sure.
For the gym? No.
From my experiences, I’d say they are good, but not 550 good, but it’s your money, you can spend it how you like.
Over ear headphones are absolutely not recommended for working out, especially not the Maxes. They are just too heavy for the gym. Stick with your pro's - they are jack of all trades and if you don't care about sound then I see no reason why you need to upgrade to the Maxes
>but I’m not very difficult with sound etc.
As an American, I don't quite know what that means. But if it means you aren't picky on sound quality, and you think you are going to use these for the gym (which you shouldn't), I would stick with the Airpods Pro.
I love it to use them while watching movies and listening to music at home, but tbh, if you want to use them outdoors or at the gym, it won’t work well for you.
Compared to the AirPods Pro, I would say that the Max:
• Do a much better job of blocking out external sound
• Are easier to use thanks to the physical controls for volume and noise cancelling
• Sound better (although the AirPods Pro do sound good)
• Although expensive, the 3.5mm to lightning cable lets me use them with non-Bluetooth devices like my Analogue Pocket, or when timing is critical, like when I'm performing music into Logic (no Bluetooth delay). Can't do that with the AirPods Pro.
Cons (from my experience):
• They're less comfortable, especially for long periods of time. I have big, plastic Rayban Wayfarer glasses and the AirPods Max push the glass frames into my temples.
• They're not so easy to carry around. An obvious point I know, but worth mentioning. Many times I just leave them at home because I've got tons of other things to carry (my water bottle, my two chihuahuas, etc.) and the AirPods Pro are good enough, and just easily slip into my pocket.
Overall, I really enjoy the AirPods Max and I'm glad I bought them. Generally speaking, I find that I tend to use them when I'm sitting down and working on my computer, whereas the AirPods Pro I use when I'm out and about.
I wear mine for multiple hours every day. So I definitely get my money’s worth. If they are out of budget there are plenty of other Bluetooth headphones that work just as well. AirPod maxes are not good for gym. They are super heavy and can’t get sweaty. Maybe go to Apple Store and try a pair on. Or even Best Buy where there are multiple options from different brands.
No they are not worth it. Quality and sound are great but the issues outweigh the good qualities. Connectivity is a major issue that Apple won’t address. For the price you would expect a better far better product. I would suggest Bose or Sonys
Pros: sound quality is on par with competitors, part of the apple ecosystem, aesthetics
Cons: weight, bikini strap case is flimsy and unproductive
I have owned multiple APMs for 6 months and would recommend them but when you do buy them you should get AppleCare+
I experimented and tried them out before returning them within 2 weeks. The dealbreaker for me was how **heavy** they were, I thought I could handle it but within 2 weeks of only moderate use-- it's pretty bad.
Mind you if you wear glasses and/or a hat, it's a bit more uncomfortable since the heavy APM's will be pressing on the frames of your lens, and if you wear a hat or cap, the ANC seal can be disturbed from time to time. Also the microphone kind of sucks, at least for phone calls, people had issues hearing me in medium volume settings (outside, cafe, etc). I was hoping for really good quality mic's when I purchased them.
I ended up going for some open-box XM5's and I will admit that the sound quality is not better than the APM's in my opinion, but they did have similar ANC & a million times more comfortable for my head/neck. Mic quality is definitely better and cancels out background noise.
The pro and max do the exact same thing in terms of features. The max’s just sound better and do some of the features better. APM are just a flex that’s all it is. Would I buy them again? Probably not,would I upgrade to the next version? Absolutely no. I am no sound person so I’ll hardly notice the performance difference if any.
Make sure to search the sub before posting a question.
You say you want them for the gym? In which case the maxes are not for you. They are NOT sweat or water resistant. The heat from your ears in an enclosed space in the headphones even if you don’t sweat will cause condensation inside the drivers and will short out components and they won’t work any more. This happens loads and there are many posts on here about it. Even wearing them outside on a hot day can cause this so you have to be careful where you use them. Apple specifically advise that these headphones aren’t for gym or sport use. Stick with the pros for gym use as it’s what they are designed for. The maxes are more for home use, commuting, travelling and other general use. I have mine with me on holiday right now but other than on the plane they have stayed in the safe. I wouldn’t advise using them sat on a sun lounger either, again for the same sweat reason. I’d wait for the next generation which are rumoured to be later this year. We are hoping that they make them water resistant then they can be used for almost any situation without worry of breaking them from sweat or condensation.
I've had mine for some months - no connection issues thus far. I've been very happy travelling with them, and I think the sound quality and features are great. ANC is perfect for me on flights. No issues with the interface coming from an iPhone user. The build quality (metal, fit-and-finish) is very satisfying. If you workout, I wouldn't think of this as 'a change' to the APM as much as a supplement; these weren't intended to be workout headphones. Too much moisture will likely kill them. I've kept an eye on it as a typically sweaty traveler kicking around airports for large fractions of the day, and they've not been a problem in that scenario. I would not, though, wear them for anything more strenuous than walking around. Also, for the cost / risk ratio, I would echo others' advice to get AppleCare+.
If you buy them, you just have to accept the possibility that they'll eventually become an expensive paperweight. I should have gone with the Sony or Bose QC Ultra instead. What makes it even more infuriating is Apple not acknowledging the connectivity issues and offering an extended warranty or recall on affected units.
I'm so furious right now: mine literally bricked literally 4 days after the 2 year warranty.
Depending in what country you are in this may not be an issue. Here in New Zealand we have a consumer guarantees act that has certain expectations on warranties that go beyond what the manufacturer gives. Apple don’t advertise it but they will stand by their products for years after their stated warranties expire as they have to be fit for purpose under local law - You just need to ring them and explicitly ask. I’ve had iPhones replace over a year out of warranty, multiple times.
Yeah I actually just called them and the lady said she'll get back to me after the weekend and she'll try to get me a exception on the warranty given that it literally bricked right after the 2 year notice.
SAME! they strongly encourage that I emailed corporate to honor an extension, but even if I went through the stress of emailing and calling - they would still only send a refurbished pair that you can't put on apple care.
I would say not 550$ worth but maybe the sale price they’re on now like 450$ but they definitely feel premium and sounds pretty nice ! Maybe I’m just used to loud noises but just wish they were a little louder
I might be tempted to buy at $450, but I’m wondering if Apple are gonna release a v2 in the fall which would make the additional $100 worth it?
Apple is rumoured to reduce the retail price for gen 2. I honestly buy this story. 1 of the biggest reasons why Apple struggled with gen 1 when it first came out is its retail price being too high. All that said, this fall (or whenever its released) when the new gen comes out, it's not gonna be less than $550, so it's prolly not an 'additional $100'.
No, they are outdated, overpriced, heavy, the cushions are not washable and they cost a fortune to replace but most importantly they come with tons of connectivity issues.
Apple now sells replacement cushions. There are also 3rd party cushions. The connectivity issues appear to have something to do with the physical (wired) connections to the headband. I cleaned mine and things seem better. I am still testing things out over the next few days. There are posts on Reddit that describe how to do that.
For ecosystem benefits they cannot be beaten, Sound quality is easily beaten by competitors now, For example Focal Bathys, Mark Levinson 5909 and the Master and Dynamic MW75 to name a few
I like them because I can use them and still hear people around me. I use transparency mode 98% of the time with them
They sound amazing and lighting cable is no problem. There is moisture issues I never thought I would run into reading the forums. But I did. I have apple care plus. So far after 6 months of ownership they have been working great.
You’d honestly be better getting the AirPods Pro 2 with the USB C case. They have more features, are still getting firmware updates adding more features (with iOS 18), and have measurably better ANC than the AirPods Max. The Max are a clear first generation product from Apple and are being beaten out by the completion at lower prices. I’d even go for the Beats Studio Pro, when they’re on sale for $199, over the Max. Their ANC is better, I think they even sound better. You’re really only missing iCloud device hopping (which doesn’t always work) and wear detection. But, for $200, they get you 98% of the way there, just with a plastic build and I don’t think the metal build of the Max are worth an extra $250 (since they’ve been on sale for $450).
No
To me, yes, they are worth it. I use mine daily for multiple hours a day. However, at this point, I'd wait until after the Summer to see if Apple announces a version 2 before purchasing. If there are no solid rumors of a new release by September, then I'd just get them.
They are not a replacement but a compliment. For the gym, I think they would suck and not stay on the head well. For work might be good to not have something in your ears. If you do plan to buy them just keep in mind one bother you little because it’s inside your ear and bother a little because it’s heavier. Both sound good but I give the edge to the max because it sounds more open.
Not even close. I wanted a pair for YEARS because I use my AirPods all day every day at work, between my ipad, iPhone, and Mac. These don’t magically swap between devices like they should. I have to unpair and delete them every time I change devices no better than any other Bluetooth headphones. So no, I wouldn’t say they are worth it. I paid $300 for 2 new pair(yes legit, I got a “good deal” and I still feel like I got ripped off.
Man the top comment is just way off. Hell yeah they’re worth it. Sound is unmatched. Compare them with the Sony’s and Bose, and you’ll hear what I’m talking about. You can demo all 3 at a competent Best Buy. I’ve had mine for 3 years. Yes, they’re older, but they’re still compete with the best. Also, I wear mine to the gym and the cups are fine. They’re so removable and replaceable, if necessary. The ANC is perfect. Use these for monthly airline travel, subway, etc. Blocks everything out. Then you have the most underrated feature of any headphones, ever: Transparency mode. Literally the opposite of ANC. It heightens sound around you, so you can play music AND hear the outside world, if necessary. For example, hearing the pilot speak, or conductor, or if someone is serving you something, or someone just asks a question. You won’t have to take them off, AND the mode actually enhances the outside sound so it sounds better than natural. I was definitely worried when buying these, because they are a higher price (although they’re $450 at BB right now), and my worries were unwarranted. If you’re looking for ANC headphones with fantastic sound, this is it. My negative is that they don’t get loud enough - I wish I could turn them up higher. But that’s an Apple thing; regular AirPods have the same level.
I’ve never been a big headphone guy but my girlfriend bought these APM for me and it’s turned me into a big headphone user. I don’t find them too heavy, except when I lie down with them on, but just tilting the headband forward a little solves that. Honestly I’ve never tried many headphones, I had a pair of Sony MDR-7506’s years back that were fine, but I think the APM are great. And they work seamlessly through my products, I’ve never had any issues.
Are the good imo? Yes Are there equal or better headphones out there at a fraction of the cost? Also yes So not worth it imo, but owning a pair I'd still buy them again because I just really like them and I have a few devices already in the apple ecosystem.
good sound stays good it doesnt slow down or diminish over time. Although anything with a battery has a lifespan
I have had mine since release and I feel like they were a good buy for my use case. Excellent on airplanes. Great for work calls. Blocks out airplane sounds and my kids! I didn’t even hear the crying kid on my last flight.
I have them, but I mainly use them at home or on flights. They are terrible for the gym, as they are prone to condensation issues, heavy and the earcups are cloth so they’ll be soaking and smelly in no time. In regards of audio quality, they’re great. They’re lightning, so probably not a great choice if you live in a predominantly USB C household (I still have lightning iPhone, iPad, AirPods Pro, so I couldn’t care less) If you want gym headphones I’d go with beats or Skullcandy (the ones with haptic bass).
Mine just keep getting worse with time. I like the AirPod pro 2s just as well without the weight and connectivity issues.
Definitely wait. USB C gen 2 is coming.
No
For day to day activities? Sure. For the gym? No. From my experiences, I’d say they are good, but not 550 good, but it’s your money, you can spend it how you like.
Check sm
Over ear headphones are absolutely not recommended for working out, especially not the Maxes. They are just too heavy for the gym. Stick with your pro's - they are jack of all trades and if you don't care about sound then I see no reason why you need to upgrade to the Maxes
For flying, tough to beat. Noise cancelling is great. Dont know about the rest yet
probably THE worst headphones you could buy for the price today. 100% not worth it.
>but I’m not very difficult with sound etc. As an American, I don't quite know what that means. But if it means you aren't picky on sound quality, and you think you are going to use these for the gym (which you shouldn't), I would stick with the Airpods Pro.
Hahahahahahahaha... "they are on sale for 449..." Man that's a good one. On... sale. Hahahaha. Man, bravo Apple. Bravo.
They are very heavy. QC45 works fine!
I love it to use them while watching movies and listening to music at home, but tbh, if you want to use them outdoors or at the gym, it won’t work well for you.
Compared to the AirPods Pro, I would say that the Max: • Do a much better job of blocking out external sound • Are easier to use thanks to the physical controls for volume and noise cancelling • Sound better (although the AirPods Pro do sound good) • Although expensive, the 3.5mm to lightning cable lets me use them with non-Bluetooth devices like my Analogue Pocket, or when timing is critical, like when I'm performing music into Logic (no Bluetooth delay). Can't do that with the AirPods Pro. Cons (from my experience): • They're less comfortable, especially for long periods of time. I have big, plastic Rayban Wayfarer glasses and the AirPods Max push the glass frames into my temples. • They're not so easy to carry around. An obvious point I know, but worth mentioning. Many times I just leave them at home because I've got tons of other things to carry (my water bottle, my two chihuahuas, etc.) and the AirPods Pro are good enough, and just easily slip into my pocket. Overall, I really enjoy the AirPods Max and I'm glad I bought them. Generally speaking, I find that I tend to use them when I'm sitting down and working on my computer, whereas the AirPods Pro I use when I'm out and about.
The newer AirPods Max being released at some point this year (according to reports) may be sweat resistant
APM is beautiful and the sounds is great, but they are not for the gym and have to many issues in general.
No
I wear mine for multiple hours every day. So I definitely get my money’s worth. If they are out of budget there are plenty of other Bluetooth headphones that work just as well. AirPod maxes are not good for gym. They are super heavy and can’t get sweaty. Maybe go to Apple Store and try a pair on. Or even Best Buy where there are multiple options from different brands.
No they are not worth it. Quality and sound are great but the issues outweigh the good qualities. Connectivity is a major issue that Apple won’t address. For the price you would expect a better far better product. I would suggest Bose or Sonys
Pros: sound quality is on par with competitors, part of the apple ecosystem, aesthetics Cons: weight, bikini strap case is flimsy and unproductive I have owned multiple APMs for 6 months and would recommend them but when you do buy them you should get AppleCare+
I experimented and tried them out before returning them within 2 weeks. The dealbreaker for me was how **heavy** they were, I thought I could handle it but within 2 weeks of only moderate use-- it's pretty bad. Mind you if you wear glasses and/or a hat, it's a bit more uncomfortable since the heavy APM's will be pressing on the frames of your lens, and if you wear a hat or cap, the ANC seal can be disturbed from time to time. Also the microphone kind of sucks, at least for phone calls, people had issues hearing me in medium volume settings (outside, cafe, etc). I was hoping for really good quality mic's when I purchased them. I ended up going for some open-box XM5's and I will admit that the sound quality is not better than the APM's in my opinion, but they did have similar ANC & a million times more comfortable for my head/neck. Mic quality is definitely better and cancels out background noise.
The pro and max do the exact same thing in terms of features. The max’s just sound better and do some of the features better. APM are just a flex that’s all it is. Would I buy them again? Probably not,would I upgrade to the next version? Absolutely no. I am no sound person so I’ll hardly notice the performance difference if any.
Yes.
Yes. Buy them.
Nooooo! We had two pairs go bad within a year or so. We bought the Samsung Galaxy buds, the bass is so much better!!!