I did. I didn't own the Lightning rev, so not a huge deal. Was I bummed? Yep, 100% But, I decided that waiting another 1-2 years was out. I sucked it up, and I love them. Yeah, lame "update" but I love the Apple ecosystem - these are a perfect example of why. Seemless handoffs, etc. make them worth the $$$ And, I've been an Apple/Mac guy since 1985...so I have enough money spent/experience to poop on the guys in Cupertino!
I bought the AirPods Pro 2 in September and they’re amazing. I just purchased the AirPods Max in December. I like them, the comfort level and the sound still coming out of the H1 chip is impressive four years later. Great video!
Mark first off thanks again for another great video. I’m 100% with you on the fit for those of us with nothing on top… I’m teetering on going back to them now they have USB-C but the lack of a chip update is super frustrating. My AirPods Pro 2 seem to get better and better every update and the AirPods Max can’t do any of the new things! It’s nuts! I also am with you on the “something better coming” and that’s why I’m hovering… because part of me thinks there has to be a big update next year. Right? RIGHT?!
Agreed! I was worried I made a mistake buying the old ones to save the hundred bucks, but I’m glad I didn't. I still love the new airpods max and with my new Mac mini, they’re even better! They worked on my Linux PC before I got the new Mac mini. The only reason I got them was because I was looking forward to getting the new Mac mini.
Because of my moderate hearing loss, I've been using Airpods Pro with hearing accommodation's for years, based on my audiogram and now they are approved as an OTC hearing aid. I stopped using my over-ear headphones, because even with equalization, they did not provide a quality listening experience. For me, Airpods Max have brought back the enjoyment of listening to music with the added benefit of transparency mode corrected for my hearing loss. Even the most expensive hearing aids that have bluetooth, do not work very well with a phone or computer.
I am still using my three years old blue AirPods Max, I've recently changed Ear Cushions to red ones. AirPods Max are not perfect, and never were, but it is by far my favourite device at home. I dont use them outside of home, because they are quite heavy and not foldable, but as WFH device and as Apple TV headphones (mainly NBA League pass games) they provide a lot of comfort.
I spent months researching headphones. I love your reviews. Factual and fun. Your latest reviews helped me justify the AirPod Max. I got the lightning version for 170 dollars off. I love them! After testing many many headphones, the Max won because they sound fine/great AND live so well in the Apple ecosystem at my house. Thanks again for your great reviews! I spent 50 years in media. You make performing look easy. It ain’t.
I took your advise and purchase the lightning ones refurbished and am loving it. I wish the battery lasted longer and Apple made a better case, but am in the Apple eco-system and it works smartly.
The "case" is the most useful and convenient of all my headphone cases as I rarely need the added protection of a hard case and this is so easy to get on and off and I have had zero issues with them not being protective enough. The Apple "case" or I should say sleeve fits nicely in my backpack. Now I bought a premium leather Waterfield case but I rarely "if ever" use it compared to the Apple AirPods case / sleeve. I love this case! I am happy I bought the USBC AirPods Max to refresh my Lightning ones and not having to lug around a second cable is great. Really trying to ditch Lightning cables. The Airpods Max USBC are really excellent headphones. Just wish they had put the H2 chip in these as I like my new AirPods 4 NC with the H2 and the Max should have been upgraded to H2. I think Apple will upgrade these in several ways in the future as this is the most seen over the ear headphone I see on the street.
I bought the new AirPods Max on release. I didn’t have the originals so these are new to me. I’m glad you said the case is convenient, even if it’s said with a cringe. I felt the same. Not a fan of the looks but they work. Protective enough in my view and ensures low power consumption mode. Also no power button is fine. They don’t need one. Best thing of all is the eco system. Seamless. ANC also is great, as is the sound quality. I am happy even if the price is maybe £100 too high. Good work Mark!
I love your honesty on why you bought them! I also purchaed the Starlight one a week ago and they’re amazing! I sold my XM5 for the APM and I did not regret. They’re so amazing but would be so much better if they had the H2 chip and all the APP2 capabilities like conversation awareness and adaptive audio. The lack of power button didn’t bother me surprisingly and I loved how they’re already turned on once I use them 😊
I’ve watched multiple videos about air pods max and none of them mention that their are people like myself who have damage to the ear drums and are not able to insert the in ear air pods, the air pods max have been so nice to not have discomfort within my ear drums
As to the iPad Mini 7, it's a perfect unit for doing IT work. We are building MDM solutions, so we need units to build/test and the Mini 7 is great. I have a Pro 12" that I gave to my granddaughter since she's in film school. I like the Mini more.
For me it makes sense that they didn’t upgrade these yet. The audio team has done massive work to get the in-ear headphones to where they are now. No wonder they had no time for these. I don’t think there is separate APM team, that some people are calling out for not doing anything. Hopefully the next project for the audio team is to perfect next version of APM. I was shopping for my first bluetooth over-ear headphones and chose these. Fingers crossed they don’t cause pain with glasses. Thanks for the reviews
People really love just making excuses for these companies :) The reality is that it has been years, and this latest release was extremely underwhelming. At the very least they should have added the newer chip, resolved the sagging headband issue, and done a better job at dealing with the power on/off that doesn't rely on their awkward case. Instead they chose to solve absolutely nothing. I really don't understand why they bothered to release this at all. This is something Steve Jobs would have never done, it really underscores how far the company has drifted away from his core vision.
I think they only reason this update got released was due to the EU law about consolidating cable standards. Aside from that, this release should have never happened.
This was my first pair of AirPods Max, and I also own the AirPods Pro 2. I was waiting for a usb c over ear from apple for a while. And although $550 is a lot for a pair, I love them. They sound great, look great, pair great across almost 5 apple devices I use daily. I do wish they had the conversation awareness , so that is where it really is frustrating that apple left out the h2 chip.
Thanks for the video always great to watch. I have owned my apm for 2 years now. I really have enjoyed everything that you have mentioned about them. The issue which would be great if someone could get into is how many apm are no longer working for people as mine aren’t for me. If you look online there are so many people with connection issues which has meant their £500 apm are no longer in use. It would be interesting to know why no one has really brought this major issue to the main stream. Would be wonderful if you could make a video which highlights this issue. Keep up the great work.❤️
I bought the original Airpods Max Pro. After a few months, they had connectivity problems. It would show as "connected" on my iPhone, but wouldn't play. Resetting didn't work. I sent them in for repair. Apple replaced one whole side free of charge. That worked for a month, then it happened again. By that time the warranty had expired. Now I have a $500 useless lump. It seems that Apple have not addressed this issue. It's extremely frustrating. Old chip, crap case, unreliable. Won't buy the USB-C version. If Apple don't put in any effort, I won't put in any money.
Calling them new is a bit of a stretch tbh. I refuse to use that barbaric “case” on its own, I’m using one of WaterfField Design’s cases alongside the Smart Case. The lack of a wired option for the USB C pair sucks. At least the lightning pair have the option of a lightning-3.5 cable
my old AirPods Max just broke the other day…can`t seem to get them to work again. Now i don`t know what to do 😫 Cannot decide if I: try to let them repair them, buy new ones, buy Beats Studio Pro? Any advice?
Hey Mark, Are you going to review the new Bang and Olufsen Beoplay H100 headphones? I would be very interested to hear what you think about them, especially in the highlight of their very steep price tag.
I’m sticking with my tiny AirPods Pro v2 and buying some Bose Ultra direct from Bose with a voucher my son gave me. £232 v £499! No contest and far better ANC, travel comfort and much lighter too. Like you I’m a baldy. The Max feel like they are about to drop off on my more spherical head😮
Got mine four years ago, now they just don't connect to my devices. I was hoping to do trade-in when Apple released new AirPods Max, but they basically did nothing to the headphone in four years...
In a way it is frustrating that they have not gone for the upgrade to the H2 chip, on the other hand - there is also no real reason for those that have one to go and buy another one.. these are built like a tank (mine are bought nearly at launch and still look and feel new and the sound quality remains very competitive with the best out there. Going forth, I think this decision makes clear that they’ll skip the H2 and introduce a new model together with the introduction of the next gen Airpods Pro and the H3… Airpods Pro had a similar change, just changing the case from lightning to USB-C. With AirPods, Apple seems to be doing something interesting by not going after a yearly major upgrade cycle. In the case of the Airpods Pro, there is now also a considerable history of adding additional features during the products life cycle. Giving the headphones a longer life cycle is an interesting and - consumer friendly move and Apple should be applauded for it. Other products are also not in a yearly product renewal (iPad Mini, Apple TV,…)
I kind of think they have some sort of return on investment formula that basically says less popular products get a longer refresh cycle before changing a design and tooling etc. And if they can keep interest going with some minor internal upgrades and colours before needing to create whole new production lines, they will.
Did your old max had condensation issue and any effects?? Pleae reply I recently bought new max and i am frightened to lose my new headphones due to this
I have always agreed with what you are now saying - that the lack of a power button and a bra as a case are actually brilliant ideas. I have other headphones with bulky cases, and I stopped using them because they are so bulky - I do like that I can just put them on and they start working. Also, I love the original Lightning version, just because I can use my expensive Lightning to mini plug on a plane, or with my audio interface.
I bought USB-C APMs two days ago as a companion for my set of AirPods Pro 2. Immediately disliked the weight, the awkward grasp (so slippery), the slightly less effective passive NC, the not really any better active NC. Next morning I decided I was going to return them and get Bose QC Ultras instead. And yet. The amazing wide and rich soundstage. The unexpectedly engaging Atmos experience watching movies. And the...I mean honestly...miraculous Transparency mode, as if you have no headphones on at all. I did NOT buy my APMs for those three things. But those three things, as it turns out, are why I'm keeping them. I didn't expect that result at all. And if I had to pick my absolutely favorite thing about them, it would be that knockout Transparency mode--a delightfully useful experience My AirPod Pro 2s have never given me. Still far too expensive. But two days later, I'm not giving them up.
I just bought the first generation and I'm glad that I did! It was at a discount + I intended to use with lightning + 3.5mm cable for video editing because of latency, but I'm very surprised that I can do it via Bluetooth! I cannot say the same about editing with my AirPods Pro 2, there's still a medium latency that drives me crazy! So far I'm loving it!!! 399.00 USD + taxes. Do you think I did good? New subscriber from Brazil! :D
No, i did not bother. I have the lightning version and use them rarely as I also own two AirPods Pro 2 and use them 24/7. I also got the PX7 before the Max and I am in love with them, even though I feel the Max are delivering better bass and more crisp sound. Thanks for the reviews, you are my reference whenever i want to get info on my Apple products. Cheers.
I’m planning on buying one version if I can find a good enough deal to warrant one over the other during the coming holiday discounts. All I have for now are the AirPods Pro 2 and I’m looking for something I can wear longer and more comfortable that should hopefully block more noise as it can occasionally get loud at work.
Hey ! I'm an android user and I'd like to buy myself a pair of headphones. I'm not really an audiophile but (as a musician) I'd like to buy myself a really good sounding headphone. Right now I think the Sonos Ace are perfect for me but do you have other/better recommendations : maybe the Airpods max idk(ANC is important as well) or do you think the Ace is the best choice for me (and I do have the budget to go for - for example - the Focal Bathys but I don't think I really need such an audiophile designated product : I use a lot my current headphones (Major IV) to listen to music; - watch videos & movies - and I really want to upgrade to something high-end and impressive. Thanks !!
Hello Mark, I am watching you vide thrugh 1st gen AirPods Max and a on a MBP 2019. Still amazing products in spite of their age. For me the best feature I get from this pods is the Spatial Audio on Apple Music. Truly fantastic! Best regards.
I have watched so many reviews, and, I very nearly bought the airpods max but ended up going wthe bose qc ultras. they're friggin sweet. i like your videos. this is really all i have to share.
I enjoyed this video and had a quick question if you had the time. The way you shoot this video is amazing and around the 2:40 mark your camera changes and show the setup of the Ipad and other camera..I say that to ask this for your straight-on talking videos. Was that recorded directly with the iPad front camera?? if so, that is amazing! Did you have to do any camera adjustments in post to make it look so clear? thank you for any assistance you can provide and amazing video!
iPad mini is for kids; adults use the iPads Air and Pros. My kid loves it! About the AirPods Maxes, I only have the 1st gen in orange. I got new cushions to refresh them, but that's it. As far as innovation, I think Apple will work on portability, maybe adding folding angles and a charging case. The chip is older but integrates well with the Apple ecosystem as is.
Hello Mark! You really make a good job and dont feel ashamed that you cant resist your airpods max. I have the same problem. Theres something about them. For me who is blind fro since i was a baby audio has become my intrest and i have tried many headphones for fun I havent still found the perfect ones. But Airpods max comes close. Would be intresting to have a chat with you on headphones as you might know more than me about such things.
I just order mine on Black color. 1. I collect headphones (from Focal to Sony to Sennheiser to Master and Dynamics and many more) 2. I recently bought the Iphone 16 PM so i want to get into the whole ecosystem. (But im buying on discount everything) So thats my reason haha
I have had the original pair on day one in black and the battery died on me last year so i brought a used pair from someone on facebook and once this pair dies im going to get the new orange pair. I love airpod max i use them for 8hours a day between phone calls and listening to cont while i work .
I still cant decide wether to get the Airpods Max or the iPad Air for school. I already have a school laptop from my school, which is not my private one and I already have Airpods Pro 2. But heres the thing. I have thought about getting the Airpods Max for 4 years now and since I see iPads at school, I suddenly also want one but should I really break my dream for an iPad?
i bought one, first waiting for another year is too much since i don’t own the one with lightning, i compared it to PX7, Marshal Monitor 3, and AirPods Max blow all this out of the water when it comes to sounds, the only drawback is it is heavy and big.
To answer your question, I was having this discussion with my friend, and he was saying that he thinks they will because of how big of a seller these are. He travels a lot, pretty much every month and sometimes multiple times, and he said the amount of people you see an airport with AirPods Max shows you that the demand is high. That being the case, it would only be logical they would utilize that hype.
I have the original (Silver) but this is not really the color that I want. I just bought it before coz I want to have one and the only available at that time, but now I'm going to buy the Midnight color and of course USB C
My only major complaint about these is that the insides press against the tops of my ears and so they're painful after wearing for a while. I had to sell them for that reason. I'll definitely revisit them if they ever do a redesign, but the AirPods Pro serve me quite while in most situations (and are obviously far more portable).
06:54 To clean things like this use a bit of Elbow Grease cleaner on a clean cloth. It works perfectly as it also does on white trainers. Try if you don’t believe me!
You said no other brand has come close to transparency mode but in your review of the bose quietcomfort ultra headphones you said they had matched apple with aware mode. Have you changed your mind on that and think the airpods max are considerably better? I recently got a good deal selling my airpods max I had bought second hand with no warranty and used them for a year because I loved the design. But as none apple user and someone worried about the head band starting to sag I sold them and got the bose quietcomfort ultra headphones new with a 5 year warranty for pretty much the trade plus 20quid. I do miss the build quality of the airpods a lot but it made sense for me to switch. One of the reasons I made the switch was your review about the transparcy mode being just as good because it is important to me. From using them a week I think they are neck and neck in transparency but maybe I slightly prefer the airpods (but it could just be because I got so used to them).
I’m choosing between the AirPods Max and the QC Ultra too! Where I live it’s not easy to test out demo headphones. Would you mind sharing your thoughts on how these two compare sounds quality wise?
@Sparky_oto they both sound really good to me, I'd be happy with either. But sound quality is really subjective. Because of codex and feature locks I'd say it comes down to if you use apple stuff get the airpods max. If you don't get the Bose. Both are great in a lot of similar ways and they both have other things they are better at.
Owning a pair of regular AirPods 3 I enjoy the seamless switching between Apple devices, and that feature even has improved over the past few years. I really would like to get the AirPods Max. I could if I wanted to, but I can not get it over my heart to buy a pair. They are just too expensive compared to equally good (or almost as good) headphones from other brands. Paying double as much or more, just to have the easy switching feature just isn't worth it.
Perfect video again and so engaging. I have to say I don’t think I have heard a better ANC on a headphone than these. Do you know of any others Mark? I agree the Apple ecosystem where they shine is incredible and I have never minded the fact that they did not switch off I loved it. I took a telephone call recently with them on while using my Apple Watch and I could not believe how clear and perfect the sound was. I listen to my audible through my Apple Watch and it is seamless in connection. They are so iconic and yet they are so young to be called that. With regard to adding a cable, I wouldn’t want that - they are Bluetooth headphones. The only thing I would like is if the could make them more premium with leather earcups. I have a pair of Mark Levinsons and they are beautiful with luxurious leather cups, the sound is better but the ANC/and transparency is just a little below the Max. Thanks again
I’m thinking at this moment whether I should buy it or not... is it good enough to use outside the Apple ecosystem as well? Example, use for games connected via Bluetooth on a television? Go to the gym? I liked it for the fact that it’s not inside the ear because it bothers me and because it’s not on top of the ear, is that worth the cost?
I really do hope they make another proper set of AirPods Max. I love them and I know a lot of people wear them. Even being overseas in the military, I’m always shocked by how many people I see wearing them!
they conveniently store great in a trash bag too XD. we have the lightning version, everyone in the family who has a pair of these loves them. noise cancellation is great. I have older bose QC headphones and have just been waiting for them to fail so I can eventually buy some AirPod Max :D
Did you try to exchange their speakers? To see if they are inter-compatible? If so I’ll just buy one side of speaker that has usb-c to put on my old Max instead of buying a whole new pair
I bought the new AirPods Max too. I compared them to the Sonos Ace and decided to pay a bit more for the AirPods Max. Are the Sonos Ace objectively better? Yes definitely. But I always wanted the AirPods Max as as I'm deeply in the Apple Eco System (but also using them with Windows). Sound quality is superior imo and I like the non leather earpads. But that's about it, Sonos Ace is better in almost all other categories.
I really enjoy my lightning AirPods Max. But not much chance I'll upgrade unless they become damaged. Not for USB-C and new colours. Although I do wish I could replace the headband.
I enjoy your video's because you know your business and you are sincere. So why am I writing you now? Because I am interested in buying my first pair of AirPods Max. I've had the original AirPods and have had AirPods Pro 1 and, now, 2. I do have hearing loss and find the AirPods 2 really improve my listening enjoyment. But I want to try the Max. I agree with your assessment of the Max 2. It is frustrating to understand what Apple was thinking. Why didn't they at least put an H2 chip in them. Great mystery. That being said I will buy them and give you an update after about a month on what I think. Thanks for your time and keep up the good work. I am a subscriber and an Apple fanboy too.
I got them on release day, I was holding out for usb-c and to my surprise they released them in my favorite color purple, I had to order immediately. I think apple is treating these like the HomePod, it quietly faded away and then came back with some minor tweaks and a lower price, it’s just there if consumers want it 🤷🏾♂️
Great video Mark…I don’t have a pair as I’m happy with my Bose Ultra QuietComfort and AirPods Pro 2 but your review does make me wonder whether if it still might be worth the investment, especially as I’m so entrenched in the Apple ecosystem. In terms of the future plans for the AirPods Max, I’m more of the belief that they probably will not worry so much as they are so committed to Apple Intelligence and the AirPods Max may offer minimal impact, especially if they keep investing in AirPods Pro…time will tell…thanks again and take care
The main problems with the APM is you cant turn them off, which means the battery will degade much, much faster, and they're too damn heavy -- they're uncomfortable compared to Sonys. My Sony's XM3 are 6 years old and still have better battery life than the Airpods Max and are more comfortable.
AirPods Max are like the one Apple product I have had my eye on but have never bought. I have nearly everything else from an iPhone, iPad Pro, Mac Mini, Apple Watch, TV, and 3 HomePod minis throughout my house. Oh and AirPods Pro. But I've just never been able to justify the price for these, as appealing as they are. I listen to a lot of music but mostly in my car or through my Sonos system. I don't know that I would use these enough to spend the money.
Thanks for your video and I understand the contradiction in the head. The combination of Airpod max isolation and H1 is probably a justification as H2 will not bring any huge performance improvement in the anc/transparency mode (but no “high” fidelity…). But the fact that there is no DAC!!! If there was one on the previous version (which I didn’t check) and they removed it but kept on the box the same name this can be opportunities for consumers to officially complained. Hope there will be a new version with a DAC and the capability to charge and use at the same time including anc and microphone as strangely a very small of headset can do that in this category.
I like the Airpods Max for my ears not touching the inside while the cups somehow appear rather flat. And they sound good for a pair of Blutooth headphones. Innovation? These don't really need a lot of innovation for this. Just a working, seamless integrating pair of Airphones.
Ooh, those B&W are the ones that hang within reach at my desk at home as well. I have work headphones that are only connected to my work laptop to make my life easier ( Bose anc in ears) and then airpods for my life. I feel so disgusting typing this xd xd
Hi Mark, I enjoy watching your content, thanks and keep up good work. I have a mission for you. LOL. I really concidering to buy these AirPods Max but apart of casual bluetooth listening I want to use them for amplifier when I play guitar… NOW… does the wire connection actually work??? Not just with amplifier. I mean GENERAL wired connection… or is it just first generation on Max that can be used with audio cable. I believe that you have plenty wires and cables also devises lying around your studio that you can try. Do you think that you can take up this mission and shine some light into this. Thanks
I want to ask you advice it’s Black Friday the AirPod max lighting is $399 plus tax the AirPod Max USB-C is $549 should I get the lighting to save money? Please advise. Thanks
What’d you go with? The Pro 2 are 154 on Amazon and the Max 2 are 499. The Max 1 with lightning at 399 didn’t tempt me though? I just can’t stand the thought of years more with lightning.
@I know anyone is different. I’m still using iPhone 14 Pro Max it’s lighting & I want to get AirPod Max but do not want to spend a lot. In Facebook marketplace sell for $250 to $350 but I don’t want to go that route because too many fake out there. I guess I just want to save little money so I bought the Max 1 couple days and received it been using it and love it. Thanks for your comment and happy thanksgiving. 🦃
I bought my OG airpods max about a month after they came out. To this day I still really enjoy listening to them and they get used most days. If they broke I'd consider getting a new pair but as for a simple upgrade just to get USB-C? Nope, not in this universe.
I like mine but see no reason to buy another pair now. I think something new will come along next year, maybe something that will work in an expansive way with Apple TV. Or, maybe a new sport version.
The comfort is unmatched in my opinion. Many other headphones with leather pads are claustrophobic and sweaty compared to the breezy AirPods. I see them as an Apple fluke actually, they waited so long entering this particular market and they seem not convinced it was a great move.
I bought the Lightning version recently, within the ecosystem, the convenience is great. It gets out of the way and just works which is an understatement for those productivity minded people. Expensive? Absolutely! Buyer’s remorse? Nope
Come on… own up… who else bought the new AirPods Max?
Me!
yep I just bought one. I had Bose Ultra and returned that one got Airpods Max. I am happy
I found the dial and button slightly less premium. Curious if you agree? Might just be me.
I did. I didn't own the Lightning rev, so not a huge deal.
Was I bummed? Yep, 100%
But, I decided that waiting another 1-2 years was out.
I sucked it up, and I love them.
Yeah, lame "update" but I love the Apple ecosystem - these are a perfect example of why.
Seemless handoffs, etc. make them worth the $$$
And, I've been an Apple/Mac guy since 1985...so I have enough money spent/experience to poop on the guys in Cupertino!
I did. I prefer the new colors actually.
I bought the AirPods Pro 2 in September and they’re amazing. I just purchased the AirPods Max in December. I like them, the comfort level and the sound still coming out of the H1 chip is impressive four years later. Great video!
Mark first off thanks again for another great video. I’m 100% with you on the fit for those of us with nothing on top… I’m teetering on going back to them now they have USB-C but the lack of a chip update is super frustrating. My AirPods Pro 2 seem to get better and better every update and the AirPods Max can’t do any of the new things! It’s nuts! I also am with you on the “something better coming” and that’s why I’m hovering… because part of me thinks there has to be a big update next year. Right? RIGHT?!
Agreed! I was worried I made a mistake buying the old ones to save the hundred bucks, but I’m glad I didn't. I still love the new airpods max and with my new Mac mini, they’re even better! They worked on my Linux PC before I got the new Mac mini. The only reason I got them was because I was looking forward to getting the new Mac mini.
Because of my moderate hearing loss, I've been using Airpods Pro with hearing accommodation's for years, based on my audiogram and now they are approved as an OTC hearing aid. I stopped using my over-ear headphones, because even with equalization, they did not provide a quality listening experience. For me, Airpods Max have brought back the enjoyment of listening to music with the added benefit of transparency mode corrected for my hearing loss. Even the most expensive hearing aids that have bluetooth, do not work very well with a phone or computer.
I am still using my three years old blue AirPods Max, I've recently changed Ear Cushions to red ones. AirPods Max are not perfect, and never were, but it is by far my favourite device at home. I dont use them outside of home, because they are quite heavy and not foldable, but as WFH device and as Apple TV headphones (mainly NBA League pass games) they provide a lot of comfort.
I spent months researching headphones. I love your reviews. Factual and fun. Your latest reviews helped me justify the AirPod Max. I got the lightning version for 170 dollars off. I love them! After testing many many headphones, the Max won because they sound fine/great AND live so well in the Apple ecosystem at my house. Thanks again for your great reviews! I spent 50 years in media. You make performing look easy. It ain’t.
This is such a lovely comment - thank you.
Good video.
The whole reason why I haven't bought AirPods Max is... they're outdated.
Will purchase after real upgrade, for sure.
I took your advise and purchase the lightning ones refurbished and am loving it. I wish the battery lasted longer and Apple made a better case, but am in the Apple eco-system and it works smartly.
Nice!
The "case" is the most useful and convenient of all my headphone cases as I rarely need the added protection of a hard case and this is so easy to get on and off and I have had zero issues with them not being protective enough. The Apple "case" or I should say sleeve fits nicely in my backpack. Now I bought a premium leather Waterfield case but I rarely "if ever" use it compared to the Apple AirPods case / sleeve. I love this case!
I am happy I bought the USBC AirPods Max to refresh my Lightning ones and not having to lug around a second cable is great. Really trying to ditch Lightning cables. The Airpods Max USBC are really excellent headphones. Just wish they had put the H2 chip in these as I like my new AirPods 4 NC with the H2 and the Max should have been upgraded to H2. I think Apple will upgrade these in several ways in the future as this is the most seen over the ear headphone I see on the street.
Mark you explain things so well. That is why I love listening to your take on an old product!
Thank you!
I bought the new AirPods Max on release. I didn’t have the originals so these are new to me. I’m glad you said the case is convenient, even if it’s said with a cringe. I felt the same. Not a fan of the looks but they work. Protective enough in my view and ensures low power consumption mode. Also no power button is fine. They don’t need one. Best thing of all is the eco system. Seamless. ANC also is great, as is the sound quality. I am happy even if the price is maybe £100 too high. Good work Mark!
Yes but... which color did you pick?
Cope
how much has your battery degraded?
I love your honesty on why you bought them!
I also purchaed the Starlight one a week ago and they’re amazing! I sold my XM5 for the APM and I did not regret. They’re so amazing but would be so much better if they had the H2 chip and all the APP2 capabilities like conversation awareness and adaptive audio. The lack of power button didn’t bother me surprisingly and I loved how they’re already turned on once I use them 😊
I’ve watched multiple videos about air pods max and none of them mention that their are people like myself who have damage to the ear drums and are not able to insert the in ear air pods, the air pods max have been so nice to not have discomfort within my ear drums
Are you aware that there are other brands selling over ear headphones with better sound and way cheaper?
@ I’m aware, but I received these as a gift, so why would I buy others?
As to the iPad Mini 7, it's a perfect unit for doing IT work. We are building MDM solutions, so we need units to build/test and the Mini 7 is great.
I have a Pro 12" that I gave to my granddaughter since she's in film school. I like the Mini more.
they sound really good how could they make them sound better
For me it makes sense that they didn’t upgrade these yet. The audio team has done massive work to get the in-ear headphones to where they are now. No wonder they had no time for these. I don’t think there is separate APM team, that some people are calling out for not doing anything. Hopefully the next project for the audio team is to perfect next version of APM. I was shopping for my first bluetooth over-ear headphones and chose these. Fingers crossed they don’t cause pain with glasses. Thanks for the reviews
And since there is still new customers, it shows that this is still a relevant product.
People really love just making excuses for these companies :) The reality is that it has been years, and this latest release was extremely underwhelming. At the very least they should have added the newer chip, resolved the sagging headband issue, and done a better job at dealing with the power on/off that doesn't rely on their awkward case. Instead they chose to solve absolutely nothing. I really don't understand why they bothered to release this at all. This is something Steve Jobs would have never done, it really underscores how far the company has drifted away from his core vision.
Please explain to me why USB-C is better than Lightning. I have both charging cables and I haven’t found a problem with using them both.
I think they only reason this update got released was due to the EU law about consolidating cable standards. Aside from that, this release should have never happened.
Haven’t compared speeds for charging or anything it I think it’s just about having something universal
Your reviews help massively, I was one of the people hoping Apple tweaked the Airpod Maxes, maybe next generation?
Glad to be of service!
What‘s your opinion of the Sound quality between the BW Px7s2e and the Pro Max ?
This was my first pair of AirPods Max, and I also own the AirPods Pro 2. I was waiting for a usb c over ear from apple for a while. And although $550 is a lot for a pair, I love them. They sound great, look great, pair great across almost 5 apple devices I use daily. I do wish they had the conversation awareness , so that is where it really is frustrating that apple left out the h2 chip.
With what camera do you recorded the video?
Am stuck between the air pod max and the Bose qc ultra in your opinion which is the better headphone
Great video I brought my first ever pair two days ago, never owned them before and I’ve got to say I’m well happy with them
Great video mark , I like them but I hear they are heavy and they are expensive but like you said I’m always looking at videos about them .🙌
Okay, i think I will buy it next Monday. I thought about it long enough, and your video helped me to decide.
Enjoy!
Thank you for being up the no sound via USB-C Mark, no one was talking about it before.
something they should update is the background when on a call so people can hear you better in loud environments and the mesh top.
Thanks for the video always great to watch. I have owned my apm for 2 years now. I really have enjoyed everything that you have mentioned about them. The issue which would be great if someone could get into is how many apm are no longer working for people as mine aren’t for me. If you look online there are so many people with connection issues which has meant their £500 apm are no longer in use. It would be interesting to know why no one has really brought this major issue to the main stream. Would be wonderful if you could make a video which highlights this issue. Keep up the great work.❤️
I bought the original Airpods Max Pro. After a few months, they had connectivity problems. It would show as "connected" on my iPhone, but wouldn't play. Resetting didn't work. I sent them in for repair. Apple replaced one whole side free of charge. That worked for a month, then it happened again. By that time the warranty had expired. Now I have a $500 useless lump. It seems that Apple have not addressed this issue. It's extremely frustrating. Old chip, crap case, unreliable. Won't buy the USB-C version. If Apple don't put in any effort, I won't put in any money.
Calling them new is a bit of a stretch tbh. I refuse to use that barbaric “case” on its own, I’m using one of WaterfField Design’s cases alongside the Smart Case. The lack of a wired option for the USB C pair sucks. At least the lightning pair have the option of a lightning-3.5 cable
my old AirPods Max just broke the other day…can`t seem to get them to work again. Now i don`t know what to do 😫 Cannot decide if I: try to let them repair them, buy new ones, buy Beats Studio Pro?
Any advice?
Hey Mark,
Are you going to review the new Bang and Olufsen Beoplay H100 headphones?
I would be very interested to hear what you think about them, especially in the highlight of their very steep price tag.
I’m sticking with my tiny AirPods Pro v2 and buying some Bose Ultra direct from Bose with a voucher my son gave me. £232 v £499! No contest and far better ANC, travel comfort and much lighter too. Like you I’m a baldy. The Max feel like they are about to drop off on my more spherical head😮
Got mine four years ago, now they just don't connect to my devices. I was hoping to do trade-in when Apple released new AirPods Max, but they basically did nothing to the headphone in four years...
Very good video ! Thanks to have indicated that we can’t connect AirPods Max2 with cable to listen… so for me the first version is the best 😊
In a way it is frustrating that they have not gone for the upgrade to the H2 chip, on the other hand - there is also no real reason for those that have one to go and buy another one.. these are built like a tank (mine are bought nearly at launch and still look and feel new and the sound quality remains very competitive with the best out there. Going forth, I think this decision makes clear that they’ll skip the H2 and introduce a new model together with the introduction of the next gen Airpods Pro and the H3… Airpods Pro had a similar change, just changing the case from lightning to USB-C. With AirPods, Apple seems to be doing something interesting by not going after a yearly major upgrade cycle. In the case of the Airpods Pro, there is now also a considerable history of adding additional features during the products life cycle. Giving the headphones a longer life cycle is an interesting and - consumer friendly move and Apple should be applauded for it. Other products are also not in a yearly product renewal (iPad Mini, Apple TV,…)
I kind of think they have some sort of return on investment formula that basically says less popular products get a longer refresh cycle before changing a design and tooling etc. And if they can keep interest going with some minor internal upgrades and colours before needing to create whole new production lines, they will.
Did your old max had condensation issue and any effects??
Pleae reply I recently bought new max and i am frightened to lose my new headphones due to this
I have always agreed with what you are now saying - that the lack of a power button and a bra as a case are actually brilliant ideas. I have other headphones with bulky cases, and I stopped using them because they are so bulky - I do like that I can just put them on and they start working. Also, I love the original Lightning version, just because I can use my expensive Lightning to mini plug on a plane, or with my audio interface.
I bought USB-C APMs two days ago as a companion for my set of AirPods Pro 2. Immediately disliked the weight, the awkward grasp (so slippery), the slightly less effective passive NC, the not really any better active NC. Next morning I decided I was going to return them and get Bose QC Ultras instead. And yet. The amazing wide and rich soundstage. The unexpectedly engaging Atmos experience watching movies. And the...I mean honestly...miraculous Transparency mode, as if you have no headphones on at all. I did NOT buy my APMs for those three things. But those three things, as it turns out, are why I'm keeping them. I didn't expect that result at all. And if I had to pick my absolutely favorite thing about them, it would be that knockout Transparency mode--a delightfully useful experience My AirPod Pro 2s have never given me. Still far too expensive. But two days later, I'm not giving them up.
I just bought the first generation and I'm glad that I did! It was at a discount + I intended to use with lightning + 3.5mm cable for video editing because of latency, but I'm very surprised that I can do it via Bluetooth! I cannot say the same about editing with my AirPods Pro 2, there's still a medium latency that drives me crazy! So far I'm loving it!!! 399.00 USD + taxes. Do you think I did good?
New subscriber from Brazil! :D
No, i did not bother. I have the lightning version and use them rarely as I also own two AirPods Pro 2 and use them 24/7. I also got the PX7 before the Max and I am in love with them, even though I feel the Max are delivering better bass and more crisp sound. Thanks for the reviews, you are my reference whenever i want to get info on my Apple products. Cheers.
I’m planning on buying one version if I can find a good enough deal to warrant one over the other during the coming holiday discounts. All I have for now are the AirPods Pro 2 and I’m looking for something I can wear longer and more comfortable that should hopefully block more noise as it can occasionally get loud at work.
Hey ! I'm an android user and I'd like to buy myself a pair of headphones. I'm not really an audiophile but (as a musician) I'd like to buy myself a really good sounding headphone. Right now I think the Sonos Ace are perfect for me but do you have other/better recommendations : maybe the Airpods max idk(ANC is important as well) or do you think the Ace is the best choice for me (and I do have the budget to go for - for example - the Focal Bathys but I don't think I really need such an audiophile designated product : I use a lot my current headphones (Major IV) to listen to music; - watch videos & movies - and I really want to upgrade to something high-end and impressive.
Thanks !!
I'm well behind, I've just bought air pods! To go with my ipad mini A17. Really enjoying the combination.
Hello Mark, I am watching you vide thrugh 1st gen AirPods Max and a on a MBP 2019. Still amazing products in spite of their age. For me the best feature I get from this pods is the Spatial Audio on Apple Music. Truly fantastic! Best regards.
Do a comparison between them and the Beats Studio pros!
you are fabulous...thank you for all your time. I went with the Sony's again due to your last video!
Glad I could help!
I have watched so many reviews, and, I very nearly bought the airpods max but ended up going wthe bose qc ultras. they're friggin sweet. i like your videos. this is really all i have to share.
Good choice!
I enjoyed this video and had a quick question if you had the time. The way you shoot this video is amazing and around the 2:40 mark your camera changes and show the setup of the Ipad and other camera..I say that to ask this for your straight-on talking videos. Was that recorded directly with the iPad front camera?? if so, that is amazing! Did you have to do any camera adjustments in post to make it look so clear? thank you for any assistance you can provide and amazing video!
iPad mini is for kids; adults use the iPads Air and Pros. My kid loves it! About the AirPods Maxes, I only have the 1st gen in orange. I got new cushions to refresh them, but that's it. As far as innovation, I think Apple will work on portability, maybe adding folding angles and a charging case. The chip is older but integrates well with the Apple ecosystem as is.
I'm not convinced that many kids fly planes.
That’s ridiculous
Hello Mark! You really make a good job and dont feel ashamed that you cant resist your airpods max. I have the same problem. Theres something about them. For me who is blind fro since i was a baby audio has become my intrest and i have tried many headphones for fun I havent still found the perfect ones. But Airpods max comes close. Would be intresting to have a chat with you on headphones as you might know more than me about such things.
Totally agree on the ease of use benefit the case provides. Works well for me!!!
am happy about my airpods max's they are not that loud as i imagined but still happy that i got one
I’m no genius but wouldn’t the Max’s single Bluetooth receiver require less processing power than two separate receivers syncing on the AirPod pros?
I just order mine on Black color.
1. I collect headphones (from Focal to Sony to Sennheiser to Master and Dynamics and many more)
2. I recently bought the Iphone 16 PM so i want to get into the whole ecosystem. (But im buying on discount everything)
So thats my reason haha
I have had the original pair on day one in black and the battery died on me last year so i brought a used pair from someone on facebook and once this pair dies im going to get the new orange pair. I love airpod max i use them for 8hours a day between phone calls and listening to cont while i work .
I love your reviews but more I use them as more of my sleep music , it’s the voice is so soothing 😅
I _think_ that’s a compliment.
@@MarkEllisReviews😂
I still cant decide wether to get the Airpods Max or the iPad Air for school. I already have a school laptop from my school, which is not my private one and I already have Airpods Pro 2. But heres the thing. I have thought about getting the Airpods Max for 4 years now and since I see iPads at school, I suddenly also want one but should I really break my dream for an iPad?
Don’t break your dream, you can always get an iPad later down the line
@@LawNeu Thanks you so much for that! :)
i bought one, first waiting for another year is too much since i don’t own the one with lightning, i compared it to PX7, Marshal Monitor 3, and AirPods Max blow all this out of the water when it comes to sounds, the only drawback is it is heavy and big.
To answer your question, I was having this discussion with my friend, and he was saying that he thinks they will because of how big of a seller these are. He travels a lot, pretty much every month and sometimes multiple times, and he said the amount of people you see an airport with AirPods Max shows you that the demand is high. That being the case, it would only be logical they would utilize that hype.
I have the original (Silver) but this is not really the color that I want. I just bought it before coz I want to have one and the only available at that time, but now I'm going to buy the Midnight color and of course USB C
My only major complaint about these is that the insides press against the tops of my ears and so they're painful after wearing for a while. I had to sell them for that reason. I'll definitely revisit them if they ever do a redesign, but the AirPods Pro serve me quite while in most situations (and are obviously far more portable).
You can stretch them by putting them onto a thick sofa back or a basketball or somesuch for a couple of hours. That solves the problem.
06:54 To clean things like this use a bit of Elbow Grease cleaner on a clean cloth. It works perfectly as it also does on white trainers. Try if you don’t believe me!
as a AirPods Max owner I completely agree with pretty much everything in this video
I just purchased my first AirPod Max I got the midnight joints
You said no other brand has come close to transparency mode but in your review of the bose quietcomfort ultra headphones you said they had matched apple with aware mode. Have you changed your mind on that and think the airpods max are considerably better?
I recently got a good deal selling my airpods max I had bought second hand with no warranty and used them for a year because I loved the design. But as none apple user and someone worried about the head band starting to sag I sold them and got the bose quietcomfort ultra headphones new with a 5 year warranty for pretty much the trade plus 20quid.
I do miss the build quality of the airpods a lot but it made sense for me to switch. One of the reasons I made the switch was your review about the transparcy mode being just as good because it is important to me. From using them a week I think they are neck and neck in transparency but maybe I slightly prefer the airpods (but it could just be because I got so used to them).
I’m choosing between the AirPods Max and the QC Ultra too! Where I live it’s not easy to test out demo headphones. Would you mind sharing your thoughts on how these two compare sounds quality wise?
@Sparky_oto they both sound really good to me, I'd be happy with either. But sound quality is really subjective. Because of codex and feature locks I'd say it comes down to if you use apple stuff get the airpods max. If you don't get the Bose. Both are great in a lot of similar ways and they both have other things they are better at.
Owning a pair of regular AirPods 3 I enjoy the seamless switching between Apple devices, and that feature even has improved over the past few years. I really would like to get the AirPods Max. I could if I wanted to, but I can not get it over my heart to buy a pair. They are just too expensive compared to equally good (or almost as good) headphones from other brands. Paying double as much or more, just to have the easy switching feature just isn't worth it.
Perfect video again and so engaging. I have to say I don’t think I have heard a better ANC on a headphone than these. Do you know of any others Mark? I agree the Apple ecosystem where they shine is incredible and I have never minded the fact that they did not switch off I loved it. I took a telephone call recently with them on while using my Apple Watch and I could not believe how clear and perfect the sound was. I listen to my audible through my Apple Watch and it is seamless in connection. They are so iconic and yet they are so young to be called that. With regard to adding a cable, I wouldn’t want that - they are Bluetooth headphones. The only thing I would like is if the could make them more premium with leather earcups. I have a pair of Mark Levinsons and they are beautiful with luxurious leather cups, the sound is better but the ANC/and transparency is just a little below the Max. Thanks again
Means a lot - thanks!
Yes you can plug your cable to the usb c and still listens to music. I am currently doing it now while watching this video.
Thanks for the video's Mark. How makes your twin headphone stand please?
Thanks! It's a random Amazon brand bought a long time ago!
I’m thinking at this moment whether I should buy it or not... is it good enough to use outside the Apple ecosystem as well? Example, use for games connected via Bluetooth on a television? Go to the gym? I liked it for the fact that it’s not inside the ear because it bothers me and because it’s not on top of the ear, is that worth the cost?
I really do hope they make another proper set of AirPods Max. I love them and I know a lot of people wear them. Even being overseas in the military, I’m always shocked by how many people I see wearing them!
I’ve been thinking of getting one but I can’t swallow paying $600 so should I go with the first version or go with the usbc?
they conveniently store great in a trash bag too XD. we have the lightning version, everyone in the family who has a pair of these loves them. noise cancellation is great. I have older bose QC headphones and have just been waiting for them to fail so I can eventually buy some AirPod Max :D
Did you try to exchange their speakers? To see if they are inter-compatible? If so I’ll just buy one side of speaker that has usb-c to put on my old Max instead of buying a whole new pair
My word, that sounds like a hell of a DIY job, mate!
@ it really isn’t, if you remove the ear cushion you see a pin hole to poke your SIM card pin inside. The ear cup will pop right off.
@ also when I said “speaker” I meant the entire cup. Just to avoid confusion with ear cushion haha
I bought the new AirPods Max too. I compared them to the Sonos Ace and decided to pay a bit more for the AirPods Max. Are the Sonos Ace objectively better? Yes definitely. But I always wanted the AirPods Max as as I'm deeply in the Apple Eco System (but also using them with Windows). Sound quality is superior imo and I like the non leather earpads. But that's about it, Sonos Ace is better in almost all other categories.
I really enjoy my lightning AirPods Max. But not much chance I'll upgrade unless they become damaged. Not for USB-C and new colours. Although I do wish I could replace the headband.
I enjoy your video's because you know your business and you are sincere. So why am I writing you now? Because I am interested in buying my first pair of AirPods Max. I've had the original AirPods and have had AirPods Pro 1 and, now, 2. I do have hearing loss and find the AirPods 2 really improve my listening enjoyment. But I want to try the Max. I agree with your assessment of the Max 2. It is frustrating to understand what Apple was thinking. Why didn't they at least put an H2 chip in them. Great mystery. That being said I will buy them and give you an update after about a month on what I think. Thanks for your time and keep up the good work. I am a subscriber and an Apple fanboy too.
I got them on release day, I was holding out for usb-c and to my surprise they released them in my favorite color purple, I had to order immediately. I think apple is treating these like the HomePod, it quietly faded away and then came back with some minor tweaks and a lower price, it’s just there if consumers want it 🤷🏾♂️
Great video Mark…I don’t have a pair as I’m happy with my Bose Ultra QuietComfort and AirPods Pro 2 but your review does make me wonder whether if it still might be worth the investment, especially as I’m so entrenched in the Apple ecosystem. In terms of the future plans for the AirPods Max, I’m more of the belief that they probably will not worry so much as they are so committed to Apple Intelligence and the AirPods Max may offer minimal impact, especially if they keep investing in AirPods Pro…time will tell…thanks again and take care
I just want the blue one because the last blue wasn’t as pretty! 🤷🏾♀️ I have the olive green ones for my older pair. Barely had it a year, love it!
The main problems with the APM is you cant turn them off, which means the battery will degade much, much faster, and they're too damn heavy -- they're uncomfortable compared to Sonys. My Sony's XM3 are 6 years old and still have better battery life than the Airpods Max and are more comfortable.
I’m British and live in Germany. AirPods Max are very popular here. You see them everywhere
AirPods Max are like the one Apple product I have had my eye on but have never bought. I have nearly everything else from an iPhone, iPad Pro, Mac Mini, Apple Watch, TV, and 3 HomePod minis throughout my house. Oh and AirPods Pro. But I've just never been able to justify the price for these, as appealing as they are. I listen to a lot of music but mostly in my car or through my Sonos system. I don't know that I would use these enough to spend the money.
Thanks for your video and I understand the contradiction in the head. The combination of Airpod max isolation and H1 is probably a justification as H2 will not bring any huge performance improvement in the anc/transparency mode (but no “high” fidelity…). But the fact that there is no DAC!!! If there was one on the previous version (which I didn’t check) and they removed it but kept on the box the same name this can be opportunities for consumers to officially complained.
Hope there will be a new version with a DAC and the capability to charge and use at the same time including anc and microphone as strangely a very small of headset can do that in this category.
I like the Airpods Max for my ears not touching the inside while the cups somehow appear rather flat. And they sound good for a pair of Blutooth headphones. Innovation? These don't really need a lot of innovation for this. Just a working, seamless integrating pair of Airphones.
Ooh, those B&W are the ones that hang within reach at my desk at home as well.
I have work headphones that are only connected to my work laptop to make my life easier ( Bose anc in ears) and then airpods for my life.
I feel so disgusting typing this xd xd
About the wired for the type c are u able to let apple know so they can do the update
Are there any pouch like the airpods max case compatible with the sony xm5s ?
So your telling me, that there has to be an iPhone SE out this year? as that is now the only device without Type-C now.
Hi Mark, I enjoy watching your content, thanks and keep up good work. I have a mission for you. LOL. I really concidering to buy these AirPods Max but apart of casual bluetooth listening I want to use them for amplifier when I play guitar… NOW… does the wire connection actually work??? Not just with amplifier. I mean GENERAL wired connection… or is it just first generation on Max that can be used with audio cable. I believe that you have plenty wires and cables also devises lying around your studio that you can try. Do you think that you can take up this mission and shine some light into this. Thanks
10:40
I want to ask you advice it’s Black Friday the AirPod max lighting is $399 plus tax the AirPod Max USB-C is $549 should I get the lighting to save money? Please advise. Thanks
What’d you go with? The Pro 2 are 154 on Amazon and the Max 2 are 499. The Max 1 with lightning at 399 didn’t tempt me though? I just can’t stand the thought of years more with lightning.
@I know anyone is different. I’m still using iPhone 14 Pro Max it’s lighting & I want to get AirPod Max but do not want to spend a lot. In Facebook marketplace sell for $250 to $350 but I don’t want to go that route because too many fake out there. I guess I just want to save little money so I bought the Max 1 couple days and received it been using it and love it. Thanks for your comment and happy thanksgiving. 🦃
I bought my OG airpods max about a month after they came out. To this day I still really enjoy listening to them and they get used most days. If they broke I'd consider getting a new pair but as for a simple upgrade just to get USB-C? Nope, not in this universe.
Bose headphones for the win as I have a set of QC 25 and QC 45
I still love mine.I got them 3 years ago when Amazon knocked £100 off them and have no regrets.I don’t use them as much a my AirPods Pro 2 though.
haha just like me. I got the Max back in June 2021 and I am watching this video wearing them. They are just great
I like mine but see no reason to buy another pair now. I think something new will come along next year, maybe something that will work in an expansive way with Apple TV. Or, maybe a new sport version.
Those Beats Studio 3 sounds better to me. I had compared them both when I’ve purchased them on Black Friday
The comfort is unmatched in my opinion. Many other headphones with leather pads are claustrophobic and sweaty compared to the breezy AirPods. I see them as an Apple fluke actually, they waited so long entering this particular market and they seem not convinced it was a great move.
If Apple upgraded the internals of the APM I would have bought them instant. Now I’m doubting if I will cuz they might upgrade later..
I bought the Lightning version recently, within the ecosystem, the convenience is great. It gets out of the way and just works which is an understatement for those productivity minded people. Expensive? Absolutely! Buyer’s remorse? Nope