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Sorry, Apple. You won’t get my money for the new AirPods Max headphones. Instead, I’ll buy the Powerbeats Pro headphones from last year, so congratulations … Apple?
Yes, the Cupertino-based company will get my money in the end, but not 3.6 times what it asks for when it comes to the new AirPods Max. For me someone who is usually an early adopter of all things tech, the best deal is for Apple’s true wireless headphones from last year under the Beats umbrella.
This is not to say that I am not intrigued by over-ear AirPods Max. Apple promises spatial audio with ‘unrivaled’ active noise cancellation, intuitive controls (Digital Crown), fast connectivity (H1 chip) and comfortable mesh material damping throughout.
But this is why I am putting off the Max version of the AirPods and opting for the Pro version of the PowerBeats instead. For now.
1. AirPods Max is 3.6 times more expensive in 2020
The launch price for the AirPods Max earbuds is $ 549 / £ 549 / AU $ 899. In the US, that’s 3.6 times more expensive than the best price I can find on the Powerbeats Pro.
The Powerbeats Pro is now $ 149 / £ 159 / AU $ 225, depending on where you buy and what color you choose (I go for the Lava Red introduced mid-2020). That’s a big deal when they originally launched at $ 249 / £ 219 / AU $ 349 in June 2019.
In a year and a half, the Powerbeats Pro price dropped 40%, so my mission on Black Friday or Cyber Monday 2021 will be to find the AirPods Max for sale for a more reasonable price. When I do, I look forward to seeing the offer information here.
2. The availability of AirPods Max is extremely limited
Am I the only early adopter who didn’t jump into buying the AirPods Max without a second thought? Right now, most AirPods Max colors from the Apple Store are 12-14 weeks old, which means you won’t be able to get a pair until March (if that delivery estimate is true).
Now yesterday we noticed where to buy AirPods Max if you want them sooner – some third-party retailers seem to have them in stock, but my options are being limited by the hour. This is not a purchase that I plan to rush until I see an independent analysis on how they feel and sound, which brings me to my next reason not to use the AirPods Max.
3. I’m waiting for AirPods Max reviews
Why are the AirPods Max $ 270? plus than the Sony WH-100XM4, what are our current best headphones of 2020? That remains to be seen (or heard).
Between now and Tuesday, December 15 (AirPods Max release date), I’m excited to see what the reviewers determine. Are Apple’s versions of on-ear headphones better? If so, for how much? Does that funny-looking case really make sense after some practical time? Do the telescopic arms hold for a long period of time?
So many questions about the AirPods Max. By contrast, the Powerbeats Pro headphones are fully tested, with over 500 days of testing by reviewers, including our own senior editor Nick Pino. They don’t have all the bells and whistles of the noise-canceling AirPods Max, but I know what I’m getting into.
4. AirPods Max overlap with my AirPods Pro
The AirPods Max look extremely comfortable and I like a good pair of over-ear cans, but their noise-canceling benefits overlap with what I currently get from my AirPods Pro. I would find it difficult to determine which one to take out of my bag in a subway or on a plane (you know, when can I do those things again).
The Powerbeats Pro, on the other hand, serve a completely different purpose, offering something I don’t get with the AirPods Pro: security. I’ve already lost and somehow miraculously regained my AirPods more than once, and I don’t trust them to always be in my ears when I’m not sitting still.
If I plan to run more outdoors in 2021 (which I guess I just committed to doing in writing), I want easy-to-use instant-pair headphones in the morning (the H1 chip is also in the Powerbeats Pro, thankfully), with the assurance that they’ll stay in my ears (their around-the-ear clip design is something I don’t get from the AirPods Pro).
Indeed, the Powerbeats Pro offer something completely different from the AirPods Pro, something that I would use in a different and more active way of my life. I can’t say about the AirPods Max ready to chill and recline when the AirPods Pro would be used for that mode.
Warning: what if the Powerbeats Pro 2 comes out?
There’s a good chance Apple will release Powerbeats Pro 2 next year, and I will regret my purchase of older hardware (which is why I am an early adopter). The current version lacks noise cancellation and the charging case is not pocket friendly.
Apple also has two big reasons to launch new Powerbeats Pro headphones. The Apple Fitness Plus launch date is December 14, and New Year’s resolutions often start an exercise equipment buying frenzy. It is not unreasonable to think that Apple will power its new service software with new hardware.
Wouldn’t it be wiser to invest in the AirPods Max, which won’t be replaced anytime soon? I keep saying no. The inevitable Powerbeats Pro 2 won’t be that 40% off, and the expected benefits are unlikely to make up the difference for me.
