We may earn a commission from links on this page.
Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Credit: Illustration by Ian Moore and product image courtesy of Amazon.
I’ve been an Android user for years, but I just got an iPhone last month, and I suddenly find myself coveting Apple’s premium headphones—despite the high price. The AirPods Max were refreshed during the 2024 Apple Event, and given some worthwhile updates, including support for personalized spatial audio, a USB-C port, and additional colors. As such, the latest AirPods Max offer the best all-around experience for Apple users, but they’re also one of the most expensive pairs of headphones you can buy, normally running more than half a grand.
But between now and Jan. 28, you can get them for $429.99 from Best Buy. Yes, they’re still expensive, but when it comes to flagship Apple products, any discount is a good discount.
When the AirPods Max came out in 2020, there wasn’t a lot of competition for headphones that could handle active noise-cancelling (ANC) and ambient awareness and provide top-tier audio performance. These days, there’s stiff competition in all of those categories, especially at this price point, but the AirPods Max still stack up well, and they still make a statement. Yes, you’re paying a premium price for the brand recognition as well as the quality. And if that’s what you’re after, these headphones are it.
When it comes to features, the AirPods Max aren’t jam-packed, but what’s here is pretty excellent (it’s all very on-brand, given Apple’s minimalist MO). They are among the best ANC headphones you can buy, they provide good ambient awareness so you can hear your surroundings as you listen, and they offer adaptive EQ and spatial audio that adjusts levels automatically based on your environment, according to PCMag’s “excellent” review. The updated cans also now support lossless audio, low-latency audio, and USB-C audio.
What do you think so far?
There are some downsides: They’re heavier than regular headphones, at 13.6 ounces. This comes from the use of metal for the design material. You also can’t manually adjust the EQ to your liking, so if you don’t like the sound signature, you’re out of luck. Finally, and this might just be me, but the included smart case is ugly and doesn’t protect the mesh that rests on your head (a delicate part of the headphones), but you don’t have the option not to use it, as you need the smart case to put your headphones in “sleep” mode to prolong the 20 hours of battery aren’t drained.
Deals are selected by our commerce team
