Apple’s latest edition to their AirPods line has been completely maxed out, in every sense of the word. Their new line of wireless headphones has been set at a big mark-up price of $550 and offers new features such as; spatial audio. Some of the other features are not anything new, as their AirPods Pro line, also comes with these same features, but this is the first time Apple is introducing a line of over-ear headphones to match.[ leather mac case]
They officially debuted this December 2020, which means they will be ready for shipping this week and should be in a number of Apple user’s Christmas shopping carts already. However, before you go ahead and buy those headphones, we decided it would be helpful if we put together a buyer’s guide to help you determine whether or not they are worth the cost and how different they are from the AirPods Pro.
Price
It’s no secret that the price for these new headphones have completely left a lot of people in shock, as to whether or not they are actually worth such a steep price point. As mentioned before, these new audio accessories will set you back a whopping $550. In fact, this is a much higher markup than any of Apple’s more experienced headphone competitors such as Bose and Sony who usually sell their noise-canceling headphones for about $300 -$400. There are a few rumors swirling around that say Apple eventually plans to launch a more cheaper and affordable line of headphones. However, at this point in time, if you want a set of Apple headphones, you are just going to have to be willing to pay a hefty price for them.
Features
This new line comes with the same noise cancellation features that their current line of AirPods Pro offer. they also come with Apple’s new transparency mode. We can then only assume that these headsets will expand further on these features and offer a much better and richer audio experience in comparison to the earphones. The company also states that each ear cup comes loaded with one inward as well as three extra outward microphones to guarantee better sound management. Moreover, users can utilise the noise control button to easily swap between Noise Cancellation and the headset’s Transparency mode.[ sd to usb c adapter]
Design
As expected from anything made by Apple, this new line of headsets look incredibly stunning and remarkably sleek. They are also manufactured with a stainless steel frame, with ear-cups that a comprised of a special knit mesh material. This in turn creates an acoustic listening experience that can also be well regulated. Moreover, users can use the rotatable Digital Crown to smoothly increase or decrease the level of sound output from the headphones. The headphones also come in a smart case, which places the headphones in a low power mode when inside. The headphones also come in 5 different colors.
Spatial Audio
The new headphones also offer Spatial Audio which one of the highlights of Apple’s new over-the-ear headphone line. This feature allows both your earpiece and your eg. iPhone or Mac, to utilize gyroscopes and accelerometers which enable head movement tracking to adjust the quality of sound you receive accordingly. In other words, they are designed to provide a similar surround sound experience, that you would normally get sitting in a theatre. This seeks to improve any users movie or video watching experience significantly.
Compatibility
These new headsets are also universally compatible with all Apple devices, as well as non-Apple devices as they come Bluetooth 5.0 ready.
Battery Life
Apple states that their new line of headsets will offer up almost 20 hours of prime battery life, allowing users to spend almost a whole day watching Netflix or listening to songs on Apple Music, without having to charge their headphones repeatedly. The headset also comes with a lightning connector that should provide fast recharging cycles. However, it is important to note that, the headset box does not come inclusive of the regular lightning cable and charging brick.
In this regard, we recommend purchasing a usb c hub, as they will help you to extend the limit of your Mac’s set up and give you a wider range of connectivity ports to which you can connect your external devices at once. This means you can both connect your Mac to an external keyboard/monitor/mouse, charge any mobile or external devices – eg. AirPods Max, etc. Additionally, you can transfer data to an external storage drive, among many other things, all at the same time. It is a very convenient accessory that does well to provide your Mac with the necessary extra functionalities that you need to keep being productive.
Also for those who may prefer something that offers a bit more mobility, there is always the 10ft usb c to usb c cable alternative available, which greatly widens your workspace range significantly. This is because it will allow you to charge your AirPods Max or any of your mobile devices, eg. iPhone, even when you are a slight distance away from your MacBook. As such, even those who may be working on multiple projects – eg. music production or design illustrations – across different monitors in different parts of the room, this accessory will prove to be very handy indeed.[ micro sd usb 3.0 adapter]
Should I Buy The Headphones Or The Earphones?
The AirPods Pro line is Apple’s most expensive line of earphones and they essentially offer the same type of features that the Max headsets do. The only visible and clear difference being that one is an over-ear product and the other is in-ear. Moreover, the price difference is worth noting with the headsets set at $550 and the earphones set at $250. A such, the decision to pick one over the other lies solely on either budget or preference. If you’re looking for a line of solid audio devices that aren’t too expensive then the AirPods are a better bet. However, if your focus is on quality and a much longer wireless battery life – 4.5 hours for the Pro vs 20 hours for the Max – then the headphones are the better choice. Either way, whatever your decision will be, you can rest assured that your listening experience will be satisfactory.
