AirPods Max’s breakdown makes Sony and Bose headphones ‘like toys’

AirPods Max’s breakdown makes Sony and Bose headphones ‘like toys’

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iFixit has been breaking down AirPods Max for a long time finally completed, which gives a comprehensive look at the inside of Apple’s debut over-the-head headphones and an idea of ​​how easy it is to repair. iFixit even went so far as to break down Sony’s WH-1000XM4 and Bose’s NC 700 headphones for comparison. So far, iFixit has refused to give Apple a single recovery point for any of its AirPods, but the AirPods Max is achieving the trend with a surprisingly high score of six out of ten.

Why so high? Well, to begin with, its cushions are attached via magnets, making it easy to replace and replace if it inevitably wears out. There are also many internal components that are held in place with screws instead of messy glue, which the repairers can easily replace if they break.

The inside of what iFixit calls ‘perhaps the most extensive part’ of the headphones.
Image: iFixit

Unfortunately, there is a bit of adhesive that can cause repairs.
Image: iFixit

iFixit especially loves the head hinge mechanism found between the strap and the ear cups, which he says can be detached “with just a SIM card removal tool or paper clip without opening the head.” It calls it “perhaps the most extensive part of the AirPods Max” and notes that it is “complicated and built-in, and that it can make the price of the AirPods Max a little easier to swallow.”

The headphones can in no way be perfectly repaired. Opening the AirPods Max involves handling a messy adhesive, and while Apple has done a good job of using screws to hold their internal components together, iFixit points out that it’s a surprisingly different arrangement for the work use, which means you need to be well equipped with screwdriver heads to repair.

The AirPods Max (center) versus headphones from Sony (left) and Bose (right).
Image: iFixit

Compared to other popular over-the-ear headphones, however, the AirPods Max is good. As part of the deep dive into Apple’s headphones, iFixit also broke down the cheaper Sony WH-1000XM4 and Bose NC 700, which are among our favorite sound-suppressing headphones. But it is noted that compared to the ‘obsessive craftsmanship’ of Apple’s headphones, it ultimately looks like a toy.

Considering their striking $ 550 price tag, it’s reassuring to see that the AirPods Max will not be a complete nightmare to repair if their batteries and other components start to fail in a few years. Now Apple just needs to find a way to bring the same recoverability to its ridiculously popular true wireless AirPods.

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