121205-airpods-max

AirPods Max with USB-C - Tech Specs

Year introduced: 2024

Color

  • Midnight

  • Starlight

  • Blue

  • Purple

  • Orange

Audio Technology

  • Apple-designed dynamic driver

  • Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation1

  • Transparency mode

  • Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking2

  • Adaptive EQ

Sensors

  • Optical sensor (each ear cup)

  • Position sensor (each ear cup)

  • Case-detect sensor (each ear cup)

  • Accelerometer (each ear cup)

  • Gyroscope (left ear cup)

Microphones

Nine microphones total:

  • Eight microphones for Active Noise Cancellation

  • Three microphones for voice pickup (two shared with Active Noise Cancellation and one additional microphone)

Chip

Apple H1 headphone chip (each ear cup)

Controls

Digital Crown

  • Turn for volume control

  • Press once to play or pause media

  • Press once to answer a call or mute or unmute3

  • Press twice to end a call

  • Press twice to skip forward

  • Press three times to skip back

  • Press and hold for Siri

Noise control button

  • Press to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode

Hey Siri

  • Say “Hey Siri”4 to do things like play a song, make a call, or get directions

Size and Weight5

AirPods Max, including cushions

  • Width: 6.64 inches (168.6 mm)

  • Depth: 3.28 inches (83.4 mm)

  • Height: 7.37 inches (187.3 mm)

  • Weight: 13.6 ounces (386.2 grams)

Smart Case

  • Weight: 4.74 ounces (134.5 grams)

Battery

AirPods Max

  • Up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge with pro-level Active Noise Cancellation enabled6

  • Up to 20 hours of movie playback on a single charge with pro-level Active Noise Cancellation and Spatial Audio on7

  • Up to 20 hours of talk time on a single charge8

  • 5 minutes of charge time provides around 1.5 hours of listening time9

AirPods Max with Smart Case

  • Storage in the Smart Case preserves battery charge in ultra-low-power state

  • Charging via USB‑C

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology

In the Box

  • AirPods Max

  • Smart Case

  • USB‑C Charge Cable

Accessibility10

Accessibility features help people with disabilities get the most out of their new AirPods Max.

Features include:

  • Live Listen audio

  • Headphone levels

  • Headphone Accommodations

System Requirements

  • iPhone models with the latest version of iOS

  • iPad models with the latest version of iPadOS

  • Apple Watch models with the latest version of watchOS

  • Mac models with the latest version of macOS

  • Apple TV models with the latest version of tvOS

  • Apple Vision Pro with the latest version of visionOS

  • AirPods can be used as wireless Bluetooth headphones with Apple devices using earlier software and with non-Apple devices, but functionality may be limited.

AirPods Max and the Environment

AirPods Max is designed to reduce environmental impact:11

Materials

  • 100% recycled tin in the solder of multiple printed circuit boards

  • 100% recycled gold in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards

  • 100% recycled copper plating salts on multiple printed circuit boards

  • More than 90% post-consumer recycled polyester in the canopy yarn and ear cushion yarn

  • 100% fiber-based packaging12

  • 40% recycled content in fiber packaging

Energy

  • Meets U.S. Department of Energy requirements for battery charger systems13

Waste

  • No established final assembly sites generate waste sent to landfill as part of Apple’s Zero Waste Program

Smarter chemistry14

  • Mercury-, BFR-, and PVC-free

  1. Up to 2x more Active Noise Cancellation compared with AirPods Pro (1st generation) and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation.

  2. Compatible hardware and software required. Works with compatible content in supported apps. Not all content available in Dolby Atmos. iPhone with TrueDepth camera required to create a personal profile for Spatial Audio, which will sync across Apple devices running the latest operating system software, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS.

  3. Available in compatible applications with the latest firmware.

  4. Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Compatible device and internet access required. Cellular data charges may apply.

  5. Size and weight vary by configuration and manufacturing process.

  6. Testing conducted by Apple in July and August 2024 using preproduction AirPods Max paired with preproduction iPhone 16 Pro Max units, all with prerelease software. The playlist consisted of 358 unique audio tracks purchased from the iTunes Store (256-Kbps AAC encoding). Volume was set to 50%, Active Noise Cancellation on, and Spatial Audio set to fixed. Testing consisted of full AirPods Max battery discharge while playing audio until the AirPods Max stopped playback. Battery life depends on device settings, environment, usage, and many other factors.

  7. Testing conducted by Apple in July and August 2024 using preproduction AirPods Max paired with preproduction iPhone 16 Pro Max units, all with prerelease software. Volume was set to 50%, Active Noise Cancellation on, and Spatial Audio set to head tracking. Testing consisted of full AirPods Max battery discharge while repeating playback of a 2-hour 23-minute movie purchased from the iTunes Store. Battery life depends on device settings, environment, usage, and many other factors.

  8. Testing conducted by Apple in July and August 2024 using preproduction AirPods Max paired with preproduction iPhone 16 Pro Max units, all with prerelease software. Volume was set to 50%, Active Noise Cancellation on, and Spatial Audio set to fixed. Testing consisted of full AirPods Max battery discharge with a cellular phone call until AirPods Max stopped playing call audio. Battery life depends on device settings, environment, usage, and many other factors.

  9. Testing conducted by Apple in July and August 2024 using preproduction AirPods Max paired with preproduction iPhone 16 Pro Max units, all with prerelease software. The playlist consisted of 358 unique audio tracks purchased from the iTunes Store (256-Kbps AAC encoding). Volume was set to 50%, Active Noise Cancellation on, and Spatial Audio set to fixed. 5-Minute charge testing conducted with drained AirPods Max that were charged for 5 minutes, then audio playback was started until the AirPods Max stopped playback. Battery life depends on device settings, environment, usage, and many other factors.

  10. Requires the latest version of iOS or iPadOS.

  11. Data accurate as of product launch.

  12. Based on retail packaging as shipped by Apple. Breakdown of U.S. retail packaging by weight. Adhesives, inks, and coatings are excluded from our calculations of plastic content and packaging weight.

  13. Efficiency performance is based on the U.S. Department of Energy Federal Energy Conservation Standards for Battery Chargers.

  14. Apple’s Regulated Substances Specification describes Apple’s restrictions on the use of certain chemical substances in materials in Apple products, accessories, manufacturing processes, and packaging used for shipping products to Apple’s end-customers. Restrictions are derived from international laws or directives, regulatory agencies, eco-label requirements, environmental standards, and Apple policies. Every Apple product is free of PVC and phthalates except for AC power cords in India, Thailand (for two-prong AC power cords), and South Korea, where we continue to seek government approval for our PVC and phthalates replacement. Apple products comply with the European Union Directive 2011/65/EU and its amendments, including exemptions for the use of lead such as high-temperature solder. Apple is working to phase out the use of these exempted substances for new products where technically possible.