December 15, 2020: Apple releases AirPods Max, its first over-ear headphones, touting the device’s pristine design and advanced computational audio.
The pricey cans with the sleek aluminum ear cups retail for a wallet-thrashing $549. But they supersize the magical AirPods experience, and deliver Apple’s best audio experience yet.
AirPods Max release: Apple’s over-ear headphones
After the unmitigated success of the original AirPods, which Apple unveiled in 2016, it was only natural that Cupertino would expand the lineup. Subsequent models of the wireless earbuds added features — and the high-end AirPods Pro upped the ante even further in 2019, adding active noise cancellation to the mix.
AirPods Max took things to the next level. Like their earbud cousins, the over-ear headphones looked a bit bizarre at first glance. Their solid aluminum ear cups — available in five muted colors (space gray, silver, green, sky blue and pink) — immediately set them apart in a sea of competing products.
Apple also loaded them with sensors to produce some audio magic.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
“AirPods are the most popular headphones in the world, beloved for their effortless setup, incredible sound quality, and iconic design,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, in a press release announcing the headphones a week prior to their release. “With AirPods Max, we are bringing that magical AirPods experience to a stunning over-ear design with high-fidelity audio. The custom acoustic design, combined with powerful H1 chips, and advanced software enable AirPods Max to use computational audio to wirelessly deliver the ultimate personal listening experience.”
A teardown by iFixit soon after the AirPods Max release explained one reason for the headphones’ heady price tag: excellent hardware engineering.
“And after tearing down some of the competition, we’re more understanding of that $550 price tag,” said iFixit. “Sony and Bose both charge less, but internally, the AirPods Max’s obsessive craftsmanship makes those other extremely capable devices look like toys by comparison.”
AirPods Max tech specs
Photo: Apple
Inside, the AirPods Max were bristling with tech. Inside each ear cup, Apple embedded an accelerometer as well as optical, position and case-detection sensors. A gyroscope came tucked inside the left ear cup.
The headphones also packed nine microphones — eight for active noise cancellation and three for voice pickup. (Two mics did double duty.)
On the outside, the AirPods Max featured a headband consisting of a stainless steel frame with telescoping arms for an easily customizable fit. The frame came wrapped in a breathable knit mesh designed to evenly distribute he headphones’ not-inconsiderable weight (13.6 ounces).
Each ear cup, made of memory foam to create an effective and comfortable seal, attached to the frame using “a revolutionary mechanism” to distribute pressure, Apple said.
At the top of one ear cup, Apple placed a Digital Crown nicked from the Apple Watch. This unusual dial made it easy to adjust volume, control playback and summon Siri. On the other side of the stem, a noise control button let users quickly switch between active noise cancellation and Transparency mode.
Nobody loved the Smart Case (except for Apple)
Photo: Apple
AirPods Max came with a Smart Case that drew instant ridicule because it basically looked like a cross between a purse and a bra.
Still, reviewers and early adopters loved the sound of AirPods Max, especially when paired with Apple Music’s high-fidelity tracks. (Read our review: AirPods Max will excite your ears, dazzle your eyes and empty your wallet.)
A firmware update in 2025 brought lossless audio to AirPods Max for the first time.
Condensation problems for some
Aside from the fat price tag (which bummed out early buyers) and the ridiculous Smart Case (which Apple vehemently defended), the only real criticism of AirPods Max came from users who complained of condensation inside the headphones’ ear cups.
AirPods Max weren’t the first headphones to experience condensation after long hours of use. However, some speculated that the unique design of the aluminum ear cups exacerbated the problem in certain circumstances.
Since the original AirPods Max release on this day in 2020, Apple seems not to have devoted much time to the headphones (aside from the aforementioned firmware updates). A second-gen version, released in 2024, switched from a Lightning connector to USB-C and refreshed the color lineup (starlight, midnight, purple, orange and blue). The updated headphones brought few other changes.
Also on this day in Apple history: ‘Let It Snow!’ becomes iTunes’ 25 millionth download
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
December 15, 2003: Almost eight months after launching the iTunes Music Store, Apple celebrates its 25 millionth download.
The song in question? Appropriately enough for this time of year, a Frank Sinatra cover of the Christmas classic “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!”
Lewis Wallace is the managing editor of Cult of Mac and author of our weekly newsletter, The Weekender.
He’s a San Francisco-based writer and editor specializing in technology and culture. He loves his iPhone, hates Siri, and appreciates any hardware that combines form and function.
Prior to Cult of Mac, he juggled words and ideas as culture editor at Wired.com, homepage editor at TechTV, news product manager at NBCi, copy editor at PC World, reporter at The (Hayward) Daily Review and editor in chief of EveryBody’s News in Cincinnati.
He earned a bachelor of general studies degree with a journalism certificate from the University of Cincinnati. While in school, he worked as the entertainment editor of The News Record and as editor in chief of Clifton Magazine.
He’s also a bass player, who’s recorded and performed around the United States with Those Darn Accordions, The Electric Boogie Dawgz and The Mad Maggies. When not writing, editing or laying down bass lines, he plays darts and serves on the board of the San Francisco Darts League.
