Gamers are after a great pair of headphones that would ensure that the gaming experience is a grand one. But there is the concern that Bluetooth headphones might not be a great fit as they may be a delayed effect.
Headphones like the Apple Airpods Max might be a great option as they are known to have a fast and stable connection; however, the question still stands: Is Airpods Max good for gaming?
The short answer is: It really depends on the type of games you are playing. If you are playing fast-paced games that require quick reflexes, then I will suggest that you use a wired connection as there is no delay. If you are playing games that are not as fast-paced, then the Airpods Max might be a great option for you.
Overview
The Apple Airpods Max headphone was released in December 2020 and has since received lots of attention in the gaming world. The key features of the Apple Airpods Max are its noise cancellation capabilities, its long battery life, and its comfortable fit. These features make the Apple Airpods Max headphone a more sort after gaming headset; however, this headphone is not specifically designed for gaming.
In this article, I will go over the key features of the Apple Airpods Max and its functionality. I will also provide my opinion as to whether the Apple Airpods Max headphone is a great fit for gaming.
Is The Apple Airpods Max Headphone Good For Gaming?
The Apple Airpods Max headphones are not specifically designed for gaming, but they can be used for gaming purposes. They feature Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode, which can be beneficial for gaming as it can help to block out distractions and allow you to hear in-game audio more clearly.
However, they do not have a dedicated gaming mode like some other headphones on the market, so they may not be the best option for gamers who are looking for headphones specifically designed for gaming.
Related Posts:
Apple AirPods Max Review.
12 Best Headphones For Gaming.
Design
The design of the Apple Airpods Max is beautiful and well-built with its elegant design and high-quality materials. The headband is made of stainless steel and wrapped in soft material, while the top of the headband is made of mesh canopy, making the headphones light and comfortable to wear for long hours while gaming.
The ear cups of the Airpods Max are made from memory foam, with a mesh layer on the outside. This makes the headphones breathable – they would not result in hot ears. You are sure to enjoy gaming with them. The ear cups are also easy to detach, for you to clean any dust that may settle in them.
The Airpods Max headphones also have a digital crown that allows you to control volume and playback. There is also another button that is used to switch between noise cancelling and transparency modes.
The way the headphone works is quite fascinating. It powers on when placed on your head, and it automatically pauses when removed or when you lift one ear cup. When you take them off fully or you place them, the headphone goes into sleep mode,
The headphone is made to be portable.
Battery Life
You can use the Apple Airpods Max for up to 20 hours with a single charge. This is a great feature for gamers, and the headphone supports Lightning charging. And you are sure of the 20 hours of use on a single charge with all the features like noise cancellation.
Interestingly, when you are on a drained battery, a five minutes charge of the headphone will get you around 90 minutes of gaming time, and this is great stuff.
You have to bear in mind that the batteries in the Airpods Max are not easy to replace, so you have to take care of them as best as you can.
Sound Quality
The Apple Airpods Max boasts great sound quality. The headphone also has top-notch noise cancelling and a transparency mode that allows you to hear what is going on around you with the click of a button. The headphone’s frequency response (which is its ability to reproduce all tones so one can hear) is great, and this is great for gaming.
The spatial audio is another feature of the Airpods Max. Apple calls this – surround sound technology. The effect is that the sound seems to be coming from the direction you move your head towards. This is really cool for gaming and would make the gaming experience immersive. The sad thing is that you cannot benefit from this feature if you are not using an iOS device to play games. The headphone also boasts great connection strength with Bluetooth 5.0.
One thing you must bear in mind is that the Airpods Max does not have the typical 3.5mm headphone jack, but you can still use them wired. You would have to buy the Lightning-to-3.5mm audio cable from Apple, which currently sells for $35 USD.
Ear Comfort
The ear cup fabric of the headphone is super soft and gives great comfort. And the ear cups are also deep, giving your ears plenty of room. This does not allow the headphone to be heavy, and it makes noise isolation easier.
Interestingly, there are tiny sensors inside the ear-cup that auto-pause playback when you take off the headphones. To resume playback, you just have to put the headphones back on.
Durability
The build quality of the headphone is superb. The Airpods Max does not break easily as it has a stainless steel headband with aluminium ear cups, giving it a sturdy look. So this means it is quite heavy. Unfortunately, the Airpods Max is not waterproof and is not even water-resistant.
The headphone affords users long usage, with its great battery life. You can also get to replace the battery. And you can use the Airpods Max with a cable. The cushions (the first component to wear out) are also replaceable.
Pros
The headphone affords users great stuff. The primary is the high-luxury design mixed with great sound quality. You also enjoy the spatial audio feature for immersive entertainment and an effective noise cancellation feature.
The Airpods Max also has an excellent Bluetooth range; the connection does not falter till about 30 feet of distance. The microphones are also top-notch.
Cons
The Airpods Max is heavier than many of its competitors, and people do not like to carry heavy stuff these days.
Another disadvantage is that the Airpods Max does not have the typical 3.5mm headphone jack, but you can still use them wired. You would have to buy the Lightning-to-3.5mm audio cable from Apple, which currently sells for $35 USD.
Also, the included case for the headphone is not of much value, as it only covers the part of the Airpods Max that are least likely to break and not the headband, which is quite delicate. The headband is left completely exposed. The case is the only way to turn off the headphone, as it enters a low-power mode when kept in the case.
Another disadvantage is that the headphone is not waterproof or water-resistant. The high price of the Airpods Max can also count as a disadvantage, and there are cheaper alternatives.
In the context of gaming, the headphone is not compatible with the PlayStation and Xbox consoles. This is a big disadvantage.
Can Airpods Max Be Used For Gaming?
The answer is yes, but there are twists to it. The Airpods Max is not compatible with the PlayStation and Xbox consoles. But you can use them with Bluetooth-enabled PCs and laptops, though there might be suitability issues here.
You can also use the headphone for gaming with a device that allows for a wired connection. You get to enjoy the great features of the headphone with a compatible device. The fact that it is not compatible with the popular consoles of PlayStation and Xbox is a big turn-off and would most likely not attract gamers.
How Does Airpods Max Compare To Other Gaming Headphones?
In comparison with other competitors, the Airpods Max is more expensive than the noise-cancelling headphones of brands like Bose and Sony, and the truth is that it came late to the party.
It is also heavier than other headphones, as the headphone’s design is heavy on aluminium and steel, while competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM4 utilise plastic everywhere. Also, the majority of the other competitors come with the 3.5mm headphone jack. Also, the cases of other headphones do a whole lot more than what the case of the AirPods Max does. It is also not waterproof or resistant like the Bose or Sony noise-cancelling headphones.
The fact that it is not compatible with the popular gaming consoles – PlayStation and Xbox make it rank behind its competitors.
Final Thoughts – Is Airpods Max Good For Gaming?
Overall, the Airpods Max is a great headphone with features like spatial audio for immersive entertainment, auto-pause and transparency mode. The battery life is also top-notch. However, it is not the easiest to use, and it is a bit heavier than other competitors.
The absence of the headphone jack is also frustrating, with the smart case of the headphone not offering much value. For gamers, the Airpods Max might not be a great fit as you cannot use it with a PlayStation or Xbox console.
Image Gallery – Is Airpods Max Good For Gaming?
References: Apple Headphones.
