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Apple · Headphones

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

Luxury over-ear headphones with custom dynamic drivers, computational audio, and anodized aluminum earcups.

List price

$549

14 attributes tracked

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Manufacturer list price, not a live offer. Confirm current pricing before you buy.

Weight

384.8 g (13.6 oz)

Active Noise Cancelling

Yes (Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation with dual H1 chips)

Battery life

20 hours (ANC + Spatial Audio enabled)

What it does well

  • Superb spatial audio with dynamic head tracking
  • Best-in-class transparency mode realism
  • Premium stainless steel frame with breathable mesh canopy

Where it gives ground

  • Heavier than plastic-built competitors at 384g
  • Smart Case provides minimal protection

Compare it head to head

The fastest way to decide is against the product you are actually cross shopping. Showing 4 of 14 published matchups.

Headphones12 differing specs

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

$549

Anker Soundcore Space One Pro

$199

Anker leads on 3 of 3 rankable specs and costs less.

See the breakdown
Headphones13 differing specs

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

$549

AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation

$179

Evenly split on rankable specs, so price and taste decide it.

See the breakdown
Headphones14 differing specs

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

$549

AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)

$249

Evenly split on rankable specs, so price and taste decide it.

See the breakdown
Headphones12 differing specs

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)

$549

Beats Studio Pro

$349

Beats leads on 3 of 4 rankable specs and costs less.

See the breakdown

Full specifications

Design

Type
Over-ear, closed-back
Weight
384.8 g (13.6 oz)
Foldable
No (swivels flat)
Carrying case
Smart Case included (low-power state trigger)
IP rating
No official IP rating

Audio

Driver
40 mm Apple-designed custom dynamic driver
Active Noise Cancelling
Yes (Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation with dual H1 chips)
Transparency mode
Yes (Adaptive Transparency Mode)
Supported codecs
AAC, SBC
Microphones
9 microphones total (8 for ANC, 3 for voice pickup)

Connectivity & Battery

Multipoint Bluetooth
Yes (seamless automatic switching across Apple devices)
Battery life
20 hours (ANC + Spatial Audio enabled)
Charging time
2 hours via USB-C (5 min charge gives 1.5 hours)

Ownership

Warranty
1 year
Most rows are from the official spec sheet. Marked rows are other published figures or our summary, not lab tests we ran.Official Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) spec sheet (opens in a new tab)

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Frequently asked

How much does Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) cost?

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) lists at $549 (manufacturer list price snapshot as of 2026-09-01). Retail prices vary by merchant and this is not a live quote.

What are Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)’s key specs?

Key specifications for Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) include weight (384.8 g (13.6 oz)), active noise cancelling (Yes (Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation with dual H1 chips)), and battery life (20 hours (ANC + Spatial Audio enabled)).

What does Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) compare against?

Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) is compared head to head against Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Anker Soundcore Space One Pro, Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C), Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Beats Studio Pro, Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Bose QuietComfort Headphones, and Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.