The AirPods Max first came out in 2020. For those that can't count (I had to use my fingers), that's five years ago. As a result, they're one of the longest-lasting Apple products — and I'm not entirely sure that's a good thing.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, we're likely not going to see an update to Apple's most premium cans until at least 2027. "They’re too popular for Apple to stop selling them," explains Gurman, "and they’re not popular enough for the company to invest a ton of time and money into creating a new version." That... sounds dumb.
An expensive pair of headphones
If you head over to Amazon right now you can pick up a pair of AirPods Max that'll cost you $549 or slightly less with a discount. That's for the USB-C variant, which Apple released last year so that it could comply with EU regulations.
No, I don't think you can really consider that a full upgrade. On the inside, the headphones remain exactly the same.
The AirPods Max are still some of the most expensive wireless headphones you can invest in during 2025. They're still very good, make no mistake — that aluminum build and excellent sound go a long way in making them feel very premium indeed. But over the last 5 years, the competition has closed in and made them feel old hat.
The competition is heating up
There are some excellent alternatives to the AirPods Max that you can buy today. The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3, for example, are our pick for the best headphones for a reason.
Their build and design, while different from the AirPods Max, are more than on par with the Apple headphones. They're far more comfortable, and I can see them lasting for much longer thanks to their superior protective case.
Then there's the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, which are more comfortable than the weighty AirPods. Their ANC is also much better than Apple's cans, and it means they're now the best noise-canceling headphones you can buy. The case, too, is much better than the Apple... thing.
Sony has caught up. The WH-1000XM6 feature a much better protective case, offer far more battery, and are more comfortable for long periods of time. Even worse for the Max, all of these headphones have taken them to school while costing $100 less.
The AirPods Max once stood at the top of the headphones tree — but now they're looking up at the top branches from the roots.
The Premium headphone space is heating up
The AirPods Max proved that you could make headphones that cost just over half a thousand dollars, and still make something that people will actually buy. Since then, loads of manufacturers have joined the fray, like Bowers & Wilkins, Bang & Olufsen, and even smaller brands like Dali and Noble.
As a result, there are more AirPods Max-priced headphones than ever. Apple needn't worry about nobody buying even a more expensive pair of headphones — look at how much some of the wireless competition cost. The $1,899 Dali IO-12, the $699 Bowers & Wilkins PX8; all more expensive than the AirPods Max.
Apple technically has its foot very firmly in the premium headphone race with the AirPods Max. But despite founding the race nearly 5 years ago, it's already on the back foot to far more accomplished competition.
They're just an old pair of headphones
If Bloomberg is correct, and Apple isn't upgrading the AirPods Max because it's in the "Goldilocks" phase of "just at the right point of popularity," there's still an aging elephant in the room. The AirPods Max are an old pair of headphones, with specs that just don't line up with what you'd expect from a pair of headphones you buy in 2025.
When I'm buying top-price noise-canceling headphones, there are a few things I'd be looking for. I want at least 30 hours of battery life, for one. Bluetooth 5.3 and above are welcome. A protective case that actually cares for the entire pair of headphones.
The AirPods Max are still a good pair of headphones in many ways, thanks to their sound and ANC — but they're no longer exemplary. And when you're spending as much as you do to get your hands on a pair, they're just not up to scratch.
To not update the AirPods Max for buyers today feels like a slap in the face for potential AirPods Max customers. Why should we buy five-year-old headphones when there are newer and much better models that cost less?
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