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ZDNET's key takeaways
Can switch quickly and seamlessly across an unlimited number of Apple devices.
The low-latency upgrade in iOS 18.4 makes the AirPods Max a lot more viable for pro multimedia producers (and gamers).
Comfort, battery life, and audio quality match high-end competitors from Sony, Bose, and others.
Even with their imperfections and elevated price tag ($549), I have to admit that the AirPods Max are a product that I love to use every day. What they do best -- pairing quickly and working seamlessly across my phone, laptop, desktop, and tablet -- is the thing that makes me prefer the AirPods Max to all other over-the-ear headphones.
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However, the AirPods Max could not traditionally be used for professional audio and video production because of Bluetooth's latency issues and the lack of an effective wired option. Apple fixed that in the spring of 2025 with the release of iOS 18.4, which brought a key software upgrade to the 2024 USB-C model of AirPods Max.
AirPods Max get pro audio
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