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Everything you should know about Apple's new AirPods Max

PREMIUM LOOK: We all know Apple’s penchant for minimalism, but the AirPods Max go a little further: Its oversized anodised aluminium ear cups, with a custom mesh textile cushion, are a statement in itself. The knit mesh canopy is lightweight, the stainless steel frame is soft to touch and the telescopic arms extend and retract smoothly, yet locking firmly into place. On the right ear cup is an Apple Watch-esque control panel, which includes the button cycles between noise cancellation and ambient sound, while the Digital Crown (yes!) lets you control the volume, playback and calls.

There’s a lighting port below the right ear cup, which is odd as it is normally on the right. It doesn’t have a 3.5mm audio port, so that means you will need to invest in a lighting cable if you wish to use it wired. It also comes with a Smart Case, which switches to low-power mode when you slip in the headphones. Now that’s good, but it only protects the cups, leaving the rest of the headphones exposed to danger. Better if it were a hard case for this kind of product, right?

PREMIUM SOUND: What can we say? Or, rather, what can we hear? The AirPods Max has great sound quality, with crisp treble and mids complemented by solid bass, thanks to high-fidelity tech. You’ve also got spatial audio that gives a cinema-like experience.

IN CONTROL: Unsurprisingly, this is a match made in sound heaven for the devotees. Much like the previous two AirPods, you get a host of Apple-specific features, such as switching automatically between Apple devices, an easy one-tap setup and, of course, hands-free Siri. These features, along with spatial audio and audio sharing, aren’t available for Android users. Sure, you can Bluetooth-pair it with any Android device and still enjoy the great sound quality sans those other features.

SECRET FEATURE: Here’s something the teardowns have discovered: If you remove either of the cushions, you will find a tiny hole just below, where the arms are attached. Reports say that if you just give it a gentle nudge, the entire headband comes off. Apple has never said anything, but this can be a sign that we may be able to swap headbands in the future. Was the inclusion of the Digital Crown a clue?

AND SO: Apple’s nailed it with the AirPods Max, staying true to the hype that had been created. However, even if it’s right up there with the best headphones available in the market, it’s even higher when it comes to the price. It isn’t for everyone, if you take into consideration that its full potential will only be realised with an Apple device.