Latest news with #AirPodsMax
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Gizmodo
Forget the Pixel Buds 3, Google Should Make an AirPods Max Killer
Google has a lot in store for us starting next month. I know this, not because of some insider knowledge or gadget-centric ESP, but because last week all of its upcoming announcements were leaked in succession, leaving precious little up to the imagination. Among the upcoming Google drops is a whole family of Pixel 10s, a Pixel Fold, another Pixel smartwatch, and a minor update to Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2, which are getting a new color. Some of those product drops may be exciting to someone, but I only want one thing from Google, and it's got nothing to do with phones or watches and everything to do with AirPods Max. In short, I want Google to make over-ear headphones, not just because I personally want more out of Pixel-branded audio, but because there's clearly space for headphones made by tech giants that aren't Apple. For proof of that, see Nothing's Headphone 1. I recently reviewed the Headphone 1, Nothing's first-ever pair of over-ear headphones, and it's abundantly clear (no pun intended) that Nothing made the right choice to push into audio cans. First, there's the price. Nothing's Headphone 1 are $299, which is still a lot of money for headphones, don't get me wrong, but well under the ridiculous $550 premium of Apple's AirPods Max. Yes, AirPods Max still have an edge when it comes to sound, but I found that Nothing's Headphone 1 still hit high marks both as a first-time entrant into the space and as an alternative to AirPods Max in terms of audio quality. And the thing is, if Nothing can do it, I think Google could too. I'm not the only one who thinks that, either. These renders of (albeit fake) Google Pixel headphones say it all. Damn these are fire. (Concept) If Google ever drop Over-ear headohones, this should be it. Grabbed these from Threads. Not my work. — Dalevon Digital (@dalevon_digital) July 26, 2025These concepts, even if they're just a fun exercise, look like something Google would/could actually make, and I'll be honest: if they did, I'd buy the shit out of these headphones. They're minimalist but still stylish, and that orange button on the white pair smacks of Teenage Engineering. Another thing that Google could bring to the over-ear headphone party is another design ethos worth buying. I don't love the look of the Pixel Buds, but a lot of people do, and if there's one thing we don't need more of in the space, it's AirPods Max dupes. Google could pivot its audio expertise to bring more design options to the space and, hopefully, more viable options for consumers looking to hit that sweet spot between minimalism and quality sound. Plus, let's be honest, the Pixel needs an ecosystem expansion. As nice as Pixel phones are, they've struggled to gain a foothold, especially in a U.S. market dominated so heavily by Apple. The thing is, headphones, unlike phones, don't have to be so ecosystem-dependent, which is an opportunity for Google, but also for consumers who often get locked into ecosystems that they sometimes want to expand outside of. In short, plenty of iPhone owners would appreciate having another option for over-ear headphones if they don't want to pull the trigger on a pair of AirPods Max for money or design reasons. So, this is my call to you, Google: give us a pair of over-ear Pixel headphones. They may not unseat AirPods Max, but they'd almost certainly make a compelling case for my over-ear headphones of choice.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Tom's Guide
5 things we want to see from the AirPods Max 2
Apple's annual September event is right around the corner, which means a couple of things. First, the iPhone 17 is on the way. Announcements for next-gen smartwatches — the Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 — are en route. Then there's the possible, but highly unlikely, debut of the next-gen AirPods, which may be the AirPods Max 2. We're not convinced that Apple will share a first look at its upcoming noise-canceling headphones. Recent updates from supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claim the new model may not enter mass production until 2027. Nonetheless, the consensus is that the AirPods Max 2 are in the works and coming soon. There has been some gossip surrounding upgrades, from a brand-new hard case to enhanced active noise cancellation to touch controls. Oh yeah, longer battery life too, something the series has desperately needed. All of these suggestions are cool, but let's be honest – they should have been included on the USB-C version of the AirPods Max that launched last fall. If Apple is going to remain a heavy hitter in the headphones market, it needs to get with the times, find inspiration from its competitors, and embrace popular features that consumers are currently enjoying on some of the best noise-canceling headphones out there. Here's what we recommend for the AirPods Max 2 before they ship. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Odds are the AirPods Max 2 will receive Apple's current H2 processor. The component brought stronger noise-canceling and processing power to the AirPods Pro 2, and should have been added to the re-released AirPods Max. Having this CPU would also grant access to some of Apple's newer features, including Adaptive Audio, Head Gestures to execute call management and Siri voice commands, and several health hearing modes. None of this moves the needle. The AirPods Max 2 need their own proprietary chipset. One that is twice as powerful as the H2 and supports exclusive features (ex. Spatial Audio for games). It's the one draw that may persuade shoppers to splurge on these luxury cans versus category leaders like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM6. All AirPods models are designed to seamlessly connect with Apple devices. They're also compatible with Android devices, though the pairing process is frustrating to say the least. The fact that Beats' audio products are optimized for both iOS and Android use makes this even more aggravating. So, why hasn't Apple employed Beats' proprietary technology to make the latest AirPods releases platform-neutral? That's a solid question – one that we're not holding our breath for Apple to answer. Beats' processor supports a few Android features (e.g., Fast Pair, Find My Device) and multipoint to pair to two Bluetooth audio sources simultaneously. Adopting this CPU's wireless capabilities would boost the AirPods Max 2's connectivity and make them the most versatile AirPods ever. Audio on the first-gen AirPods Max was fine. Could it have been better? Absolutely. Expectations are that Apple will refine its soundstage for the AirPods Max 2. What we really want is a brand-new driver system with a higher frequency range. Sonic improvements would be audible across all media formats (e.g., audiobooks, games, movies, music, podcasts). The AirPods Pro 2's latest sound features are a given, like Adaptive Audio, which blends ANC and Transparency modes together to deliver optimal performance. Both noise-canceling modes can be tweaked to complement Apple's other sound technologies (i.e., adaptive EQ, Personalized Spatial Audio). Next is lossless audio. Apple added this to the refreshed AirPods Max via USB-C connector. As surprisingly good as it performs, listeners don't want to be tethered to their iPhone to hear high-quality sound. Many of the best wireless earbuds and best wireless headphones support hi-res codecs that stream music at high bitrates over Bluetooth and reveal more nuance in recordings. Can we finally get ALAC over Bluetooth, Apple? The original AirPods Max are beautiful headphones that embody Apple's design ethos of simple, sleek, and stylish. If only they weren't so flawed structurally. Not crafting the earcups to fold inward for convenient storage was a huge mistake. Owners still complain about water condensation around the inner drivers. The mesh material sags over time, which decreases tension and causes the metal bands to rest unpleasantly on the skull. And don't get us started on the purse-inspired Smart Case that provides little-to-no protection. Apple doesn't need to redesign its flagship headphones from scratch. Much of their appearance can remain intact. However, all previously mentioned issues need be addressed on the AirPods Max 2. Apple should also allow for more personalization. We're not just talking engravings. Think swappable earcup shells and headbands to form cool two-tone colorways. A new carry case that resembles the iPhone's premium aesthetic and showcases the headphones handsomely on the inside would be greatly appreciated as well. Apple's 3D audio format has been a huge advancement in the wireless audio space and it has inspired several of the industry's top legacy brands to create their own versions. Well, the competition has caught up. Hence why Apple must make its spatial audio available across all platforms. The feature is practically a standard on today's wireless headphones. A handful of rivals, particularly Bose, have superior alternatives, and some of these formats work with all stereo content. Meanwhile, Apple's version is restricted to 5.1/7.1 surround sound and Dolby Atmos on Apple Music. First, get more non-Apple users familiar with Personalized Spatial Audio. Then figure out how to optimize the feature for all platforms and the best music streaming services. This will heighten the listening experience on the AirPods Max 2. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Apple M4 MacBook Pro now at lowest price ever, AirPods Max also $100 off and more — Power Picks
Right now, you can get a full Apple setup for less, just in time for college! The M4 MacBook Pro (my personal favorite) just returned to its lowest ever price, you can get $100 off AirPods Max for maximum focus on your work and I've just found the cheapest RTX 5070 Ti gaming laptop. As you know, I take time to select my Power Picks each day to find the best computing deals worth your hard-earned money. These are the savings that retailers are trying to keep quiet about, and today's bunch are some of the best I've seen. If you're getting into content creation — be it video, music, photo editing or all three (like me), the M4 MacBook Pro is a mighty system to get the job done with a zippy CPU and powerful GPU packed into that M4 chip, alongside that bright, vivid Liquid Retina XDR display, an upgraded 24GB RAM for multitasking, a spacious 1TB SSD, and a crazy-long 18+ hour battery life. And if you're hard at work and need to focus in on a particularly complex edit (or a more general task), zoning in with AirPods Max is unlike anything else. The drivers produce a gorgeous sound quality with plenty of immersive depth to whisk you away into a world of productivity. Plus, they're really comfortable to wear, and that noise cancellation is unmatched. Want to go the Windows route? Even better! Not only is this spec of Vector 16 HX a mighty one for creative work with an Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX, RTX 5070 Ti, 16GB DDR5 RAM and a 512GB SSD, it's also a gaming monster too. That way, you can work by day and play by night with no trouble whatsoever. The one I'd recommend from this list is the ABS Eurus Ruby with RTX 5070 Ti (my favorite GPU), which is a beast with AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, 32GB DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD, which is $570 off to boot! And you can get your pick of a whole bunch of the latest AAA titles and indie darlings to get free with it, too. If your content creation is steering into streaming, you need a good webcam, and the OBSBOT Tiny 2 Lite is one of the best with a 4K picture quality, 60 FPS support and HDR to add a nice dash of contrast to the picture. Now 20% off! P.S. Yesterday's Power Picks are still available! You can snag $100 off the M3 iPad Airand $400 off a monster RTX 5080 gaming PC. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
The Verge
6 days ago
- The Verge
Apple's latest AirPods Max for $100 off is a great back-to-school deal
It's annoying to think about school starting in the middle of summer, but we've already begun to see glimpses of back-to-school deals, including a discount on the AirPods Max (USB-C) that brings them down to $449.99 ($100 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Apple's AirPods Max feature exemplary build quality, sound phenomenal, and keep up with the best at noise cancellation. Read our review. Apple's latest over-ear headphones share many features with its earbuds, but have significantly longer battery life, better active noise cancellation, and higher audio quality. They're made from aluminum and memory foam, which are more premium materials than the plastic used on many other over-ear headphones. Each earcup has an Apple H1 chip, which processes and optimizes audio in real time, along with an accelerometer and optical, position, and case detect sensors. All of this hardware enables personalized Spatial Audio with accurate head tracking, so listening to audio mixed in Dolby Atmos sounds different than a stereo track. You can also listen to 24-bit 48 kHz lossless audio with no compression by plugging the AirPods Max (USB-C) into a device using Apple's USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable, which you can get for $39 at Amazon. The AirPods Max (USB-C) lasts up to 20 hours per charge with active noise cancellation enabled, so you won't have to worry about charging them every day. If their battery runs out, plugging them in for five minutes gets you 90 minutes of listening time. The headphones don't have a power button, but will enter a low power state if they're not used for five minutes or put into their included Smart Case. Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox weekly. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Brandt Ranj Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Amazon Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Apple Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Deals Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
Gizmodo
6 days ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
AirPods Pro 2 Might Be Apple's Quiet Clearance Before the AirPods Pro 3 Drop, Still Steady at a Low Price
You might be one of the many, many people clinging to your older-gen AirPods and holding out on upgrading to the AirPods Pro 2, waiting for the next gen to drop so the Pro 2s plummet in price. Bad news — there haven't been any signals from Cupertino that there's an AirPods Pro 3 on the way anytime soon. Take our word on this one — the AirPods Pro 2 are well worth upgrading to right now, especially while they're just $199 at Amazon. Normally priced at $249, the $50 Amazon discount is currently the best path to discovering just how good the active noise cancellation, transparency mode, personalized spatial audio, and other high-level features on the AirPods Pro 2 are. See at Amazon There might be a little pushback from the over-ear headphone enthusiasts who worship at the altar of the AirPods Max, but the general consensus from users and reviewers alike is that the AirPods Pro 2 are Apple's best AirPods yet. From the day the AirPods Pro 2 hit the market in April 2024, they've earned rave reviews for the great many upgrades Apple packed into them. Over 32,000 Amazon reviewers agree, giving the AirPods Pro 2 an average 4.6 out of 5 star review. What's so great? The Active Noise Cancellation got a huge upgrade from the original AirPods Pro, removing up to twice as much noise. The Transparency Mode that lets you still stay in touch with your surroundings is a great enhancement and also a big safety feature. Then there is the clinical-grade hearing protection and scientifically validated Hearing Test, both groundbreaking industry-first innovations. The mothership upgrade that made all the other great new AirPods Pro 2 enhancements possible is Apple's H2 processor chip, which really makes its presence felt with the custom-built drivers that bring incredible bass and high notes when you're listening to music, along with personalized Spatial Audio that will blow your mind. The H2 chip is also the driver behind the incredible sound quality the AirPods Pro 2 give you when you're using them for calls or video conferences. We get the temptation to keep holding out for a new AirPods release to drop so you can snag the AirPods Pro 2 for some obscenely low bargain-bin price, but that's no reason to stick with older-gen buds from Apple or any other manufacturer. Amazon's current 20% off deal that carves $50 from the price of the AirPods Pro 2 makes them a stellar buy at just $199, especially with no new releases on the way that would usurp their standing as Apple's best AirPods ever. See at Amazon
