There are several reasons why AirPods Max is considered some of the best headphones. However, there are many ways we think Apple cans can be improved for next-generation attempts at AirPods Max 2, or over-ear headsets.
We’ve been testing AirPods Max since the headset was first launched in December 2020. At the time of the initial review of AppleAirPodsMax, and after using it for over a year, there is something I want in the future. AirPods Max.
Little rumors have surfaced about the AirPods Max 2, but if you have to guess, one of the best noise-cancelling headphones you’ve ever worn will be a refreshed pair. AirPods don’t follow the same release schedule as the iPhone, but it seems appropriate to update the headset in December 2022, two years after the first version debuted. But that’s just speculation.
For now, I’ve come up with a list of what AirPods Max 2 expects to offer compared to the original AirPods Max:
1. New case
We like the AirPods Max design, especially the fun color range suitable for the retro aesthetics of headsets, but there are obvious flaws — the case. The “smart case” provides little protection for expensive headphones, leaving the headband completely exposed and vulnerable to damage. Also, because AirPods Max isn’t waterproof, the included case puts the port at risk if a water bottle leaks or rain penetrates the bag.
For now, the solution is to buy one of the best AirPods Max cases and covers. Some of the cases we tested are reasonably priced and even have a Smart Case magnet, so when you house your AirPods Max, you’re in low power mode.
2. Power button
AirPods Max has a big quirk. Unlike most devices and other Apple products, there is no power button. Excluding the power button is very strange and we think about it every time we use AirPods Max.
They go into low power mode when resting for a few minutes or in a magnetic smart case, but Apple still thinks it needs to provide a way to completely power down the AirPods Max. There is no reason why the digital crown button cannot be the power button.
3. Better battery life
AirPods Max’s up to 20 hours of battery life isn’t ridiculous. 20 hours is sufficient for commuting, working days and flights by plane. And because of its value, low power mode plays a good role in keeping AirPods Max in use even when it’s not in use.
However, some of the best wireless headphones have a longer battery life than AirPods Max. For example, the Sony WH-1000XM5 lasts up to 30 hours with the ANC active, so battery life is the main difference between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and AirPods Max. We hope that the next generation of AirPods Max will last up to 1000XM5.
4. Support for better audio formats
In terms of resolution and detail, AirPods Max feels like it’s almost peaking what Apple’s current wireless codec, AAC, can do. But as other companies like Sony are investing in new wireless transmission codecs that are faster and have higher bandwidth, it’s harmful for Apple to put that engineering cap on and bring something new to the scene. It will not be.
That’s why AirPods Max 2 really needs the new codecs the most. This matches or exceeds LDAC with a maximum bit rate of 990 Kbps and a maximum bit rate of 24 bit depth. Currently, AAC is limited to 264Kbps at 16-bit depth and 96kHz sample rate. This is CD quality, but not high resolution audio.
If Apple really wants to sell all of this as the last wireless headphone, it needs to show audiophiles that it’s doubling its efforts for the purest audio performance possible.
5. Low price
Another area where you want to see some wiggle rooms is price. At launch, the Apple AirPods Max costs $ 549 and is a pair of very expensive wireless headphones.
For comparison, the Bose Noise-Cancelling 700 (the company’s flagship wireless headphones) cost only $ 379, while the best noise-cancelling headphones of the year, the Sony WH-1000XM4, cost only $ 349. Apple’s overyear costs an additional $ 200.
We certainly understand that Apple’s products have a premium look and design, but I found it absurd for many to pay an additional $ 200 for a pair of wireless headphones. .. We don’t expect to see anything in the $ 300 range, but even a $ 100 price cut at launch could make the higher prices of headphones more tasty.
Looking for the best noise canceling headphones? Check out the new Sony WH-1000XM5, Bose Noise-Cancelling 700 and, of course, the original AirPods Max.