AirPods Max: 8 things you need to know if you bought Apple's new headphones (2024)

Yes, the AirPods Max are Bluetooth headphones and should connect to any Bluetooth-enabled audio device. However, you lose some extra features, like hands-free Siri (for voice commands) and Apple's new spatial-audio surround-sound feature, which is pretty cool and only works with iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad.

To connect, you simply hold down the noise control button (the button that allows you to toggle between noise canceling and transparency modes) to make the headphones discoverable as a Bluetooth device. You then find it in the Bluetooth settings menu on your other device.

The AirPods Max currently stream onlyAACand not aptX, aptX HD or Sony's LDAC codecs, which are compatible mostly with Android devices. It's possible that support for additional codecs -- and additional features -- could be added in the future with a firmware upgrade, but for now there's just AAC. That's just fine for owners of Apple's devices, which these headphones are optimized for. Although Android devices support AAC streaming, there have been reports thatthey don't handle it as well as iOS devices.

I do not recommend that Android owners buy the AirPods Max at this time, particularly given the high price.

Alas, Apple didn't include a cable for wired listening, which would come in handy if you wanted to plug into an in-flight entertainment system on a plane (most still required a wired connection). That's kind of absurd considering what the AirPods Max cost, even if Apple is concerned about its unused -- or lightly used -- accessories ending up in landfills.

The USB-C-to-Lightning cable that comes with the headphones is just for charging the AirPods Max and your other Apple mobile devices that have a Lightning port (you still need a power adapter but could also use a standard USB-A Lightning cable to charge the headphones). You can't plug that cable into the USB-C port on your computer and get any sound. Furthermore, you can't use the little Lightning headphone adapter that used to come with iPhones to connect a 3.5mm auxiliary cable and plug into an audio device's headphone port. You'll get no sound with that setup either.

The only way to go wired is to buy Apple's Lighting-to-3.5mm audio cable, which costs $35. I do suggest buying it. I'm using it more than I thought I would and the sound is slightly but noticeably better when going the wired route (and you can listen to lossless FLAC files on your computer if you have a stash of uncompressed digital music files).

Some people have complained that the AirPods Max can't be manually turned off. However, as Apple notes, if you set your AirPods Max down and leave them stationary for 5 minutes, they go into a low power mode to preserve battery charge. They do this immediately if you put them in their "Smart" case, which has elicited some rather negative comments (for its design), but I don't dislike it nearly as much as others.

Also, after 72 stationary hours out of the Smart Case or 18 hours in it, your AirPods Max go into a lower power mode that turns off Bluetooth andFind My to preserve battery charge further.

Apple didn't do a good job clarifying all this at launch. But after I posted my initial review, I was pointed to a web page that has detailed info on "How to charge your AirPods Max and learn about battery life." If Apple had communicated this information earlier, fewer people would have complained about not being able to manually turn them off.

While the AirPods Max feel snug on your head and have a good seal that helps with noise cancellation, if you play your music at higher volumes some sound will leak out, allowing people in close proximity to hear what you're listening to, which can be irritating for them.

The earpads are made of more breathable material than the type that are covered in real or faux leather, so that may be part of the reason some sound leaks out. If you wear glasses, the issue may be more pronounced.

The AirPods Max‌ includes a one-year limited warranty that allows you to get the hardware fixed for free if it malfunctions and isn't related to accidental damage -- like dropping it. You also get up to 90 days of complimentary tech support.

Optional ‌‌AppleCare‌‌ Plus coverage costs $59 and gets you two years of 24/7 priority access tech support via chat or phone and accidental damage coverage -- up to two incidents per 12 months, each subject to a $29 service fee -- from the date of purchase. Battery service coverage is included.