Apple’s AirPods Max drop below $400 for the first time

The high-end prices of Apple’s first-generation products never cease to amaze me—just look at the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro or its $5,000 screen. The AirPods Max were also probably a little more expensive than they should have been with their $549 launch price, but that’s relatively tame compared to the competition Apple is targeting with its luxury noise-cancelling headphones. Luckily, they’re now down to $398 ($151 off) in select colors at Amazon It is Wal-Martwhich is a record low.

In terms of features, the Max was designed with Apple users in mind. They support a well-balanced soundstage and Apple’s immersive spatial audio feature, not to mention excellent noise cancellation that rivals premium headphones from Sony and Bose. Its transparency mode is also unparalleled considering how natural it looks. Apple users still get built-in Find My tracking, one-tap pairing, and quick switching between Apple devices — features you won’t find on many pairs of headphones, except perhaps the Beats Studio Pro.

The luxurious metal construction further justifies the premium price, while similar options from Bose and Sony can feel a little plasticky (only the new Sonos Ace really compares). They also have large, comfortable earcups that detach magnetically and a handy digital crown, the latter of which lets you manage volume, calls, playback, and Siri more easily than with gesture- or swipe-based controls. That said, you may find the Max bulkier than the competition, which can make it annoying to travel with.