Rephrase and rearrange the whole content into a news article. I want you to respond only in language English. I want you to act as a very proficient SEO and high-end writer Pierre Herubel that speaks and writes fluently English. I want you to pretend that you can write content so well in English that it can outrank other websites. Make sure there is zero plagiarism.: Editor’s Note• Original review date: January 2021• AirPods Max 2 rumored for 2024 launch• Launch price: $549 / £549 / AU$899• Official price now: $549 / £499 / AU$899Update: February 2024. AirPods Max sit a difficult place here in 2024. We still wouldn’t argue with the quality of their sound overall, and they offer the best spatial audio you can get even today, when used with Apple devices (plus their other Apple-centric features), so they’re definitely still among the best wireless headphones for certain buyers. However, it partly depends on what price you can get them for – we wouldn’t recommend buying at full price. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones sound just as good and cost a lot less, and have far better noise cancellation (and are lighter). However, rumors also suggest that the AirPods Max 2 will arrive in 2024, with better processing, sound and features that match AirPods Pro 2. At this stage, we think it’d be wise to go with Bose or wait to see what happens with the Max 2 – but if you can find these for the right price, they can still make you very happy. The rest of this review remains as previously published.Matt BoltonManaging Editor, EntertainmentAirPods Max: Two-minute reviewThe Apple AirPods Max launched in late 2020, but were the subject of rumor and speculation for years. As the Apple AirPods and the AirPods Pro have been extremely successful, expectations were high for the first ever Apple over-ear headphones.Did they live up to the hype? Yes and no. Rumors suggested the AirPods Max would be the most advanced wireless headphones ever, with futuristic features, like air gestures. If the Apple AirPods Max had come with those game-changing specs, their $549 / £549 / AU$899 price tag may be justified—unfortunately that’s not the case.In reality, the Apple AirPods Max are more ordinary than expected; albeit with extraordinary audio quality and brilliant quality of life features for those already devoted to the Apple ecosystem. The best thing about the AirPods Max is their sound, which is nothing short of outstanding. That’s why they’re a top pick in our definitive best headphones guide.They also hold a prime position in our best over-ear headphones guide, our best wireless headphones guide and our best noise-cancelling headphones guide. They can easily compete with all of the other rivals in those guides in this regard, with a wide, immersive soundstage and carefully balanced profile, with crisp trebles, smooth mids, and powerful bass frequencies. Apple AirPods Max SpecsWeight: 385gDimensions: 187.3 mm X 168.6 mm X 83.4 mm (H X W X D)Noise cancellation: YesBattery life: 20 hoursConnectivity: Bluetooth 5.0Chip: Apple H1 headphone chip (each ear cup)Controls: Digital Crown, Noise control button, SiriThe design, although divisive, is another win for Apple. With large, flat earcups crafted from hunks of stainless steel. The AirPods Max look unmistakably ‘Apple’ and feel premium, though the stainless steel build means they’re heavy—saying that, we did find them comfortable enough during our tests.One issue is the lack of a 3.5mm audio port; if you want to listen with a wired connection, or hook up the Apple AirPods Max to an amp or DAC, you’ll have to shell out for a USB-C to 3.5mm audio port adaptor. That seems miserly when you consider the price. Another thing that will put off the audiophile crowd is the lack of support for Hi-Res Audio codecs, which is limited to Apple’s own Apple Digital Masters. (Image credit: TechRadar)So despite their premium price and fantastic sound, they’re not marketed towards audiophiles. But their price means the Apple AirPods Max are hardly a mass-market product—casual listeners will be unwilling to shell out so much.We’ve decided the AirPods Max are aimed at Apple devotees, as there are many benefits open to Apple users and not Android users. These include immersive Spatial Audio, the ability to automatically switch between iOS devices, one-tap setup, hands-free Siri activation, and Audio Sharing. Post-launch updates include Conversation Boost, the ability to announce notifications with Siri, and integration with Apple’s Find My feature.For Android users, the AirPods Max are simply a high-performance pair of noise-cancelling headphones—and we can’t see how the high price is justified. If you’re a card-carrying member of the wider Apple ecosystem, you have a lot of money to spend on headphones, and don’t care about Hi-Res Audio, you won’t find headphones that sound better or are easier to use. If those points all apply to you but you prefer the true wireless earbuds form factor, it’s also worth taking a look at the newest Apple AirPods Pro 2, a pair of buds that offer a significant upgrade in terms of performance compared to the AirPods Pro (2019) but certainly aren’t cheap. If you’re wedded to the over-ear design, read on for our full Apple AirPods Max review.(Image credit: TechRadar)AirPods Max review: Price and release dateThe Apple AirPods Max cost $549 / £549 / AU$899Incredibly expensive compared to rivalsThe Apple AirPods Max cost $549 / £549 / AU$899 and were officially released on December 15, 2020.That price makes the Apple AirPods Max far more expensive than most of the best over-ear headphones on the market. Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 review for our current favorites. Although they’re still pricey, they cost significantly less than the AirPods Max at $399 / £380 / AU$649. And our pick of the best pair of budget over-ears cost $199 / £160, which you can find out more about in our Philips PH805 wireless headphones review. There’s no doubt about it, the Apple AirPods Max are incredibly expensive.There are rumors that Apple is planning to release a cheaper, sports-friendly variant of the AirPods Max, but even then you can expect those to cost a pretty penny. (Image credit: TechRadar)AirPods Max review: DesignStylish and minimal looksBut the design won’t appeal to everyoneHeavy at 385gAfter the price, the next biggest controversy surrounding the Apple AirPods Max is their design; they look quite unlike any other headphones on the market right now, with large flat earcups crafted from stainless steel, and a carrying case that’s instantly recognizable. There’s an unmistakably ‘Apple’ quality to the earcups; some may describe them as stylishly minimal, while others might say they’re rather featureless. Those that are looking for a bit more impact from their headphones may want to try the AirPods Max in one of their brighter color options, which include, silver, sky blue, green, and pinkWe weren’t sure about the overall design at first, but we have to say it’s grown on us; they do look rather special compared to the competition, with a build quality that feels suitably premium for the price. Special though they may be, those stainless steel earcups mean that the AirPods Max are quite heavy, coming in at 385g—for comparison, the Sony WH-1000XM4 weigh 254g. Sure, that extra heft does make the AirPods Max feel as though they’re sturdy and well-made, but it’s a lot of weight to be carrying around on your head all day. (Image credit: TechRadar)To offset that added weight, the Apple AirPods Max come with a headband made from a knitted mesh fabric that’s designed to reduce on-head pressure. The look of the headband is certainly novel, but after spending time with the AirPods Max, we’ve come to appreciate it—they’re very comfortable to wear despite their relative heaviness. Are they as comfortable as the Sony WH-1000XM4? We don’t think they quite measure up to the best headphones you can buy today in that respect, but the AirPods Max don’t come with that uncomfortable clamping feeling that some over-ear headphones cause. The headband frame itself is made from stainless steel, with telescoping arms that you can adjust to find a good fit – they’ll stay in place once you adjust them, so you won’t be constantly fiddling with the fit. The frame feels sturdy and well-made, but it’s not so heavy as to put pressure on your head. The memory foam earcups also feel comfortable, and can pivot independently to fit your head. The earcups are easily removable, snapping in place via a magnet; you’ll be able to buy replacement earcups for the AirPods Max for…
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