Just weeks after revealing the new budget MacBook Neo, Apple has surprised its fans with the launch of its latest over–ear headphones.
The AirPods Max 2 feature improved Active Noise Cancellation, upgraded audio quality, and lossless streaming when connected with a USB–C cable.
However, these upgrades come at the steep price of £499 in the UK ($549 in the US).
Tech enthusiasts on social media have blasted Apple over the hefty price tag, with one writing: ‘AirPods Max being this expensive is ridic’.
Another chimed in: ‘Apple really testing our loyalty here.’
Meanwhile, other fans raised concerns about the apparent lack of design changes and the absence of some key upgrades.
In particular, some were disappointed that the hefty AirPods Max 2 still weigh the same as their predecessor at 386.2 grams.
‘They’re too heavy to wear and still too expensive for what they offer,’ one sceptic tweeted.
Apple surprised fans with the launch of the new AirPods Max 2 over–ear headphones, but tech enthusiasts are outraged about the £499 ($549 US) price tag
On X, commenters have slammed Apple over the headphone’s pricing, with one calling it ‘theft’
On X, dozens of social media users have torn into Apple over its pricing for the new headphones.
One commenter wrote: ‘LOL Apple and their innovative designs. And 549, damn that’s theft.’
‘550?! for that? Jeez. Y’all’s standards are low,’ added another.
As another added: ‘Absolutely overpriced product, should be $299.’
Even fans who otherwise liked the new flagship headphones were put off by the high price.
With one commenter suggesting: ‘Everything is great, except for the price.’
Compared to other flagship noise–cancelling headphones on the market, the Apple AirPods Max 2 are significantly more expensive.
They are £100 more expensive than Sony’s WH–1000XM6 and the excellent Sennheiser HDB 630, which currently retail at £399.
Fans also expressed frustration that the design remained nearly identical to the original AirPods Max. At 386.2 grams, the AirPods Max 2 also weighs the same as their predecessor
Some commenters pointed out that the new MacBook Neo is only slightly less expensive than the new headphones
However, keen–eyed social media users also spotted an interesting price comparison with one of Apple’s own products.
With an educational discount, Apple’s new MacBook Neo costs just £499 ($499 US), meaning students will be able to get an entire laptop for the same price as the AirPods Max 2.
One commenter wrote: ‘For $50 less than a pair of headphones, you get an entire 13–inch laptop with an A18 Pro chip, Liquid Retina display, and MacOS. The math isn’t mathing.’
Another added: ‘When you realise a MacBook is cheaper than a pair of headphones.’
‘You can get a whole MacBook Neo for $50 more,’ another social media user pointed out.
Apple’s new AirPods Max 2 keep the same design and shape as the original – with a few internal upgrades.
Importantly, the headphones remain the same weight, which was a significant complaint from some users.
At 386.2 grams, the AirPods Max 2 are over 100 grams heavier than the Sony WH–1000XM6.
With educational discounts, students in the US will actually be able to get a pair of headphones for less than the price of a MacBook Neo
The AirPods Max 2 also keep the much–maligned Smart Case, which users found to protect their headphones poorly during travel.
The biggest upgrade is the inclusion of the new H2 chip, which allows for better Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and more voice features.
Apple claims that the ANC on the new AirPods Max 2 is 1.5 times more effective than on the previous model.
The headphones also feature Adaptive Audio, which changes the level of ANC based on your surroundings, Conversation Awareness, which turns off ANC if people are talking to you, and Live Translation.
The company also says that the new model will have improved sound quality thanks to a new high dynamic range amplifier.
Eric Treski, Apple’s director of Audio Product Marketing, says: ‘The sound quality is remarkably clean, rich, and acoustically detailed — and when combined with capabilities like Personalised Spatial Audio, AirPods Max 2 deliver a profoundly immersive experience.’
The AirPods Max 2 are available in four colours – starlight, orange, purple, and blue – pre–orders open at midnight on March 25, with availability expected early next month.
The Daily Mail contacted Apple for additional comment.
THE TRILLION DOLLAR RISE OF APPLE
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1, 1976, as they set about selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market.
Steve Jobs unveils Apple Computer Corporation’s new Macintosh in California on February 6, 1984
1981: Jobs became chairman.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during an ad break for the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.
1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first colour Mac.
1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that involves Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took the role in 2000.
Steve Jobs, then-chief executive officer of Apple, with the iPhone
2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X and the first-generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino and was able to hold up to 1,000 songs.
2007: Apple unveils the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was unveiled.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October from pancreatic cancer.
2014: Apple unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones – the 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, involving the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who died in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California, with his wife. The court order was dropped on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone X, which removes the home button to make way for a futuristic edge-to-edge screen design and a new FaceID system that uses advanced sensors and lasers to unlock phones with just the owner’s face.
Jobs at an Apple event at the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California
2018: In a first for the company, Apple introduces new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was spawned by a strongly worded letter from shareholders that urged the firm to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among kids and teenagers.
2019: In January, Apple reports its first decline in revenues and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed steep declines in revenue from China.
2020: In March, Apple closes all its brick-and-mortar retail stores outside of China in response to coronavirus.
2021: In an online virtual event in April, CEO Tim Cook declares Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral for Earth Day. Later in the year, the iPhone 13 was announced.
2022: In September, the iPhone 14 was announced. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car crash, as well as an improved camera system.
2023: Apple brings back its ‘Home Pod’ after the first generation was discontinued. The ‘Home Pod’ can be seen as an alternative to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home, as it is powered by voice commands.
2024: Apple makes its first steps into artificial intelligence with the release of Apple Intelligence. The features are not all released at once, with many delayed until the following year.
