Apple’s AirPods Max Are $150 Off for a Few More Hours

I’ve been an Android user for years, but I just got an iPhone this past Christmas, 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 2024 AirPods Max offer a fantastic 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 with the recent launch of the AirPods Max 2, the 2024 version is seeing a great discount during the Amazon Big Spring Sale. Yes, they’re still expensive, but when it comes to flagship Apple products, any discount is a good discount—but this one is only sticking around until the sale ends tonight.

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, you have a lot more premium options, but the AirPods Max still stack up well. Plus, 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.

There are some downsides: They’re heavier than many pairs of headphones, at 13.6 ounces, due to 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.