If you were waiting for an agreement on Apple Flagship AirPods Maxnow is the time to buy a pair. Amazon has marked down the USB-C model to $449, or 18% off its suggested price of $549. Since we first published this story, most of the colors have sold out, but the starlight color is still available at the time of this update.
The AirPods Max need no introduction, but it’s worth taking a moment to consider whether they make sense to buy in 2025. Without a doubt, they sound great and offer tight integration with other Apple devices, but if you don’t count Apple’s minor refresh made last SeptemberAirPods Max are now over four years old. Since then, competition has only gotten better; in fact, the AirPods Max aren’t even on Engadget’s list of best noise canceling headphones you will be able to purchase in 2025. Even considering their current $100 discount, there are options like the Sony WH-1000XM5 which are better and cheaper.
Apple
At $100 off, Apple’s flagship AirPods offer more value than they usually do at their usual price of $549.
Still, there are arguments to be made in favor of AirPods Max, especially for someone deeply invested in Apple’s ecosystem. As simple as Sony’s app makes pairing, the process is still nowhere near as simple and seamless as Apple’s native integration. If you’re a frequent Siri user, AirPods Max also wins. Just keep in mind that Apple will likely release a proper AirPods Max update later this year.
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Updated, January 19, 2025, 6:55 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to reflect that fewer colors remain in stock at the reduced price.
