Apple finally lifts the lid on a pair of shockingly pricey over-ear cans

People have been in expectation of the first over-ear headphones from Apple. Now, they have been announced by the company as Apple Airpods Max . These are released after the well-known Airpods Pro .

Apple's AirPods Max headphones deliver excellent audio performance, top-notch noise cancellation, and a bevy of useful features in an absolutely gorgeous design for a bit too much money.

Excellent audio performance with rich lows and crisp; detailed highs; High-quality active noise cancellation; especially for low-frequency rumble; Stunning; unique design; Adaptive EQ and Spatial audio; Hands-free Siri access

Expensive; Sound signature and Adaptive EQ/spatial audio aren't for purists; No user-adjustable EQ; Button placement makes it easy to misfire when adjusting fit; Smart Case does little to protect the headphones

After a long lead-up of rumors, Apple managed to squeeze in the AirPods Max just under the wire as its last big hardware release of 2020. It wasn’t surprising to see the company launch its own over-ear, noise-canceling headphones after the meteoric rise and popularity of AirPods, which have come to...

High-luxury design; Terrific; balanced sound quality; Very effective noise cancellation; Dependable and foolproof controls; Spatial audio for immersive entertainment

Heavier than many competitors; No 3.5mm jack; Wired listening requires $35 cable; Case is an abomination; Apple Music can’t make the most of these headphones

Apple's first headphones Airpods Max are expensive, but amazingly good. On everything. Almost.

Perhaps the best noise reduction in the class. Large, rich, dynamic and open sound image with crystal clear reproduction. Comfortable despite the weight. The quality.

Neither splashproof nor waterproof. Half the case - and the price.

The Apple AirPods Max are among the best-sounding headphones we've ever tested, they're easy to use, and their noise cancellation can easily stand up to the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.

Unbelievable audio performance; Fantastic user experience; Brilliant extra features for iOS; Great noise cancellation

Very expensive; No 3.5mm audio port; Limited features for Android; Ineffective carrying case

Sonically speaking, the AirPods Max don’t put a foot wrong – these are hands-down the best wireless noise-cancellers you can buy

Superb sound and noise-cancelling; Cinematic spatial audio; Exceptional build quality

Near-pointless case; Audio cable not included; Practically Apple-only

AirPods Max are a premium headphone made for Apple users. The stainless steel and aluminum body is solidly built, but it also means that it's quite heavy, but the fabric headband is comfortable.

Premium look and feel with solid construction; Incredible sound quality with Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio; Top-notch Active Noise Cancellation with Transparency mode; Clear sounding microphones; Fabric headband relieves pressure; comfortable to wear; Easy to Handoff between multiple Apple devices

Very expensive; Heavy; not meant to be worn with a lot of movement; No real way to turn them off; shorter battery life than the competition; Smart Case is cumbersome; not protective

The Apple AirPods Max are big, expensive and flashy noise cancelling-headphones that manage to stand out in a crowded market. They sound fantastic with most genres of music, brilliant with movies including some fancy virtual surround tech, plus superb noise cancelling that matches the best in the...

fantastic music quality; super comfortable; brilliant movie sound; spatial audio; excellent seamless switching; instant pairing with Apple gear; excellent controls; solid battery life; premium build.

expensive; heavy; no headphone socket; no headphone cable included; no power button; weird case; no real protection included; only fold flat; bleed sound a little; need at least one Apple device for updates/settings.