The controversial Smart Case for AirPods Max has probably received more attention than the over-the-ear headphones themselves. The Smart Case has been criticized for not providing adequate protection for AirPods Max and its awkward design. WaterField Designs aims to solve the problems with its new AirPods Max Shield. Read on for a closer look at the first third-party AirPods Max case.
Design
At first glance, the WaterField Designs cover for AirPods Max looks like a normal headphone cover. It fully includes the AirPods Max and is made from whole grain leather. At the front is a small zippered pocket where you can store cables and accessories, such as a lightning cable or a 3.5mm audio cable. There is also a mesh compartment for more accessories, and another small pocket on the inside.
The Shield Case is available in four different colors: chocolate leather + waxy cloth, black leather + black ballistic, blue leather + black ballistic, and blood red leather + black ballistic. I chose the black leather case, and it is quite beautiful and the handmade touch is clear.
The other colors do have a bit more ‘pop’, though:
If I have one complaint about the AirPods Max Shield Case from WaterField, it’s that it’s a little bigger than I’d like. This is not necessarily WaterField’s fault, but rather a matter of the AirPods Max design itself. Unlike other pair of over-the-ear headphones, the AirPods Max does not fold up compactly.
This design choice from Apple inherently means that the covers should be large enough to accommodate the full size of AirPods Max. Here are the dimensions of the case:
- 9.50 ”(l) (at its widest point) x 2.25” (w) x 9 ”(h)
- 24 cm (l) (at the widest point) x 6 cm (b) x 23 cm (h)
The Shield Case contains a ‘Magnetic Leather Butterfly’, which will put the AirPods Max in a low power enhancement mode like Apple’s Smart Case. Although, we have since learned that it is not as important for battery life as we initially thought. WaterField also mentions that if you position the zippers correctly, you can charge the AirPods Max while that is the case.
Lastly, the case is also designed so that you can use it with Apple’s Smart Case if you want.
How will I use the AirPods Max Shield Case?
WaterField’s Shield Case will be used for me when I transport AirPods Max to and from different locations. I do not expect to place AirPods Max in the Shield Case every time I use the headphones, just as I do not put it back in the Smart Case every time I finish.
Finally, the WaterField Designs Shield Case offers enough protection when my AirPods Max is in my backpack, which is a major advantage over the Apple Smart Case. Stay tuned for a full review and a giveaway of the AirPods Max Shied case from 9to5Mac in January.
In the meantime, you can learn more about the AirPods Max Shield case on the WaterField website. The case costs $ 99 and orders placed today will be shipped in February, the company said. What do you think of the AirPods Max Shield Case from WaterField Designs? Is this the case that Apple should have included? Let us know in the comments!
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