A boatload of hardware was announced at Apple’s ‘It’s Glowtime’ event, including two AirPods 4 models that come with the option of Active Noise Cancellation and one without. Given that these wireless earbuds also feature the company’s latest H2 chip and are significantly more affordable, one might assume that the new AirPods Max will also be treated with the same hardware. Sadly, that is wishful thinking as the premium wireless headphones come saddled with a chip that is now four years old, making us wonder if these are positioned as a premium audio product or a fashion statement made for flaunting.
Even with a transition from Lightning to USB-C, the new AirPods Max lineup will likely be overshadowed by the AirPods 4’s popularity
Comparing the specifications of the new AirPods Max and the AirPods 4, we found the biggest difference between them was the H2 chip. While some might discount Apple’s custom H2 as being nothing more than a generation higher than the H1, there are a ton of advantages that we will talk about here. The first one is better Active Noise Cancellation, with Apple claiming that the H2 can cancel out twice the noise compared to the H1 and provide improved acoustics, leading to richer bass and clearer sound.
The H2 chip also supports Adaptive Transparency Mode, which uses on-device processing to reduce unwanted loud noise sources to help you hear better without canceling the sound entirely. With the AirPods Max, you will not experience any of these perks as it is outfitted with the H1 instead of the H2, so the only advantage you have are those large earcups that help to muffle the background noise when you listen to any audio. Thankfully, the transition from Lightning to USB-C is welcome as it negates the requirement of carrying around two cables at once.
However, at a price of $549, Apple has clearly pointed out that the AirPods Max is targeted at affluent customers, as there are better options available from the company. The only drawback in the technology giant’s wireless audio product range is that the AirPods Max are the only headphones available at this time, so if this specific category is the one you are after because wireless earbuds do not appeal to you, there is no alternative, assuming you want an option with the Apple logo on it.
If you do not care whether the latest AirPods Max comes with a USB-C port or not, we recommend picking up one of the older models that comes in a different finish and a Lightning port. For instance, the Pink variant is going for $429 on Amazon right now, making it the lowest price out of the four previous colors. Then again, if your pocket is not suited to such an expensive purchase, you can pre-order any AirPods 4, which start from just $129.99 and feature Apple’s newest custom H2 chip.
