50 Macworld • March 2021AIRPODS MAX
adjusting the low and mid-frequencies
in real time”, but true audiophiles
who would spend £549 on a pair of
headphones will want to customize
the sound.
The AirPods Max are also missing
the U1 chip in the Apple Watch and
iPhone that brings accurate location
tracking and spatial awareness.
But the strangest missing feature
of the AirPods Max is the addition
of the Digital Crown on the right
cup. ( I originally thought it was
there to replace hands-free Siri
support, but I was wrong, it’s there.)
The Digital Crown merely replaces
the touch-sensitive buttons on the
AirPods and Beats headphones, and
it’s strange that Apple seemingly
stepped backward with the addition
of a button.
All of this isn’t to mention the
rumours that Apple was looking
to bring ‘leather-like fabrics’ and
magnetic cups that can be swapped
with different colours to customize
the look. That would add a uniqueness
to the AirPods Max that no other
headphone offers. As it stands, you
can only get the AirPods Max in one
colour, unless you want to spend
another £549 on a second pair.
The AirPods Max are very pretty
and I have no doubt that they’ll soundamazing. For £549, they just seem
extremely overpriced no matter who
the target audience is. I doubt it’ll
matter much – especially if Apple
launches a lower-priced version next
year – but for now the only the maxed
out about the AirPods Max is what
they’ll do to your credit card.50 Macworld • March 2021AIRPODS MAX
adjusting the low and mid-frequencies
in real time”, but true audiophiles
who would spend £549 on a pair of
headphones will want to customize
the sound.
The AirPods Max are also missing
the U1 chip in the Apple Watch and
iPhone that brings accurate location
tracking and spatial awareness.
But the strangest missing feature
of the AirPods Max is the addition
of the Digital Crown on the right
cup. ( I originally thought it was
there to replace hands-free Siri
support, but I was wrong, it’s there.)
The Digital Crown merely replaces
the touch-sensitive buttons on the
AirPods and Beats headphones, and
it’s strange that Apple seemingly
stepped backward with the addition
of a button.
All of this isn’t to mention the
rumours that Apple was looking
to bring ‘leather-like fabrics’ and
magnetic cups that can be swapped
with different colours to customize
the look. That would add a uniqueness
to the AirPods Max that no other
headphone offers. As it stands, you
can only get the AirPods Max in one
colour, unless you want to spend
another £549 on a second pair.
The AirPods Max are very pretty
and I have no doubt that they’ll soundamazing. For £549, they just seem
extremely overpriced no matter who
the target audience is. I doubt it’ll
matter much – especially if Apple
launches a lower-priced version next
year – but for now the only the maxed
out about the AirPods Max is what
they’ll do to your credit card.