Apple launches AirPods Max headphones and they are not cheap

The rumors were true: Apple has launched its first ever Apple-branded, over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max.

They're wireless, powered by Apple's H1 chips, and come with features such as active noise cancellation, spatial audio, and transparency mode.

Credit: Apple

Their design is a typical example of Apple's minimalism, with some clever solutions such as a headband with a knit-mesh canopy on top and a mechanism that "balances and distributes ear cup pressure," as well as detachable memory foam cushions.

Credit: apple

The headphones have 40-mm, Apple-designed ceramic drivers and a dual neodymium ring magnet motor. Apple claims that due to these traits, the AirPods Max have a total harmonic distortion of less than 1 percent "across the entire audible range, even at maximum volume."

Credit: apple

Computational audio is also heavily used to improve the listening experience — the two H1 chips included have 10 audio cores, capable of 9 billion operations per second.

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Built-in sensors detect when the headphones are on the user's head, playing and pausing audio as needed. And of course, Siri-powered voice commands are a feature as well.

The headphones are controlled with a Digital Crown — a feature first seen on Apple Watch — enabling the user to control volume, play, pause, skip tracks, answer calls, and activate Siri.

Apple claims battery life is up to 20 hours of audio, talk time or movie playback, with active noise cancellation and spatial audio enabled.

Credit: apple

Also notable is the somewhat odd-looking, soft Smart Case for the AirPods Max, which automatically puts the headphones in an "ultralow power state" when placed inside.

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AirPods Max have been long in the making; we've heard rumors about them as early as March 2018, followed by numerous launch reports, indicating delays.

AirPods Max cost $549 and come in five colors: silver, space gray, sky blue, pink, and green. Apple will start shipping the headphones on Dec. 15.