Apple launches its very first high-end (and overpriced) headphones just for Christmas

Apple has not finished launching products at the end of the year. For Christmas, you can treat yourself to its very first top-of-the-range helmet, launched at… 629 euros.

Apple has a very busy end of year 2020. Since September, the multinational has launched a whole host of products. Watches, phones, PCs equipped with a home processor, tablets … If you have no ideas for Christmas, Apple offers you plenty of choice. Still not convinced? The Cupertino company announced, by surprise, the AirPods Max. This is a high-end helmet, the price of which is already dizzy: 629 euros in France.

There is no point in comparing the AirPods Max with the competitors offered by Bose and Sony, which are much cheaper. With his product, Apple A priori targets an audiophile audience ready to put several hundred euros on the table to have good listening quality. Without testing the AirPods Max, we can hardly judge this very high price against its natural rivals. And there are already some very expensive active noise canceling wireless headphones. We think of Master & Dynamic’s MW65, billed at 499 euros.

For further

The AirPods Max hoop

Source: Apple

AirPods Max are … headphones

Of course, Apple touts the design of AirPods Max, which he describes defines as “”. It is true that the AirPods Pro made a strong impression with their high performance active noise reduction in a menu format. With the Max declination, we should take a further step. Also promised: high fidelity sound, adaptive equalization and spatial audio rendering for more immersion.

The designers have worked on the helmet to be as comfortable as possible, with ideal weight distribution. The goal is to reduce the feeling of pressure on the skull, an annoyance that can appear during long sessions. The bar, in stainless steel, is equipped with telescopic branches adjustable in height. It is covered with a breathable mesh fabric headband. The pads, for their part, incorporate a memory foam.

Note thatApple recycles the Digital Crown ofApple Watch on his AirPods Max. It offers several commands:

• Turn to adjust the volume;
• Press once to start playback, pause or answer a call;
• Press twice to go to the next track;
• Press three times to go back;
• Long press to talk to Siri.

There is also a button to switch from active noise reduction to Transparency mode. There is no power button: when they are stored in their Smart Case, the AirPods Max go into low consumption mode, knowing that the autonomy increases to 20 hours.

AirPods Pro Max

Source: Apple

What do AirPods Max do?

Apple therefore sees the AirPods Max as an even more advanced version of its AirPods, even if we go from an earphone to headphones format. We obviously find the ecosystem that facilitates configuration and use (if you are already a user Apple). During the first use, it will suffice to bring the AirPods Max closer to your iPhone to configure them in a few minutes.

Like the AirPods Pro, the AirPods Max are equipped with active noise reduction, to immerse yourself even more in your favorite playlists (if possible played via Apple Music) through eight microphones. On the other hand, there is the Transparency mode, which allows you to keep a link with your environment (when approaching a pedestrian crossing, for example).

To ensure listening quality commensurate with the investment, Apple bet on ” “. AirPods Max are also compatible with Dolby Atmos format and 5.1 and 7.1 signals. We are promised an exemplary spatialization with an ideal placement of objects. Apple goes so far as to evoke “” and uses the gyroscope present in the left atrium to adjust the rendering according to the movements of the head.

What do AirPods Max look like?

AirPods Max pad

Source: Apple

The AirPods Max hoop

Source: Apple

The 5 colors of AirPods Max

Source: Apple

AirPods Max left earpiece

Source: Apple

AirPods Max case

Source: Apple

Worn AirPods Max

Source: Screenshot

AirPods Max in pink

Source: Apple

AirPods Max in green

Source: Apple

AirPods Max launch and price

AirPods Max are due out on December 15, a few days before Christmas. Five colors on the program: space gray, silver, green, sky blue and pink. They come with a Smart Case and… a Lightning cable. We give you the price: 629 euros.