I Held a Fake Pair of AirPods Max, and the Difference Was Surprisingly Obvious—Here’s What I Discovered

When I got my hands on a fake pair of AirPods Max, I expected some differences, but the reality was more shocking than I imagined. From the moment I unboxed them, it became clear that these knockoffs were trying hard to look the part, but they couldn’t compete with Apple’s real deal. Here’s what stood out:

I Held a Fake Pair of AirPods Max, and the Difference Was Surprisingly Obvious

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the fake AirPods Max seemed convincing. They had the same sleek, over-ear design, with similarly shaped ear cups and headbands. However, once I took a closer look, it became clear that the materials were subpar. The genuine AirPods Max are crafted with high-end aluminum, stainless steel, and memory foam, offering a premium feel. In contrast, the fake pair felt flimsy and lightweight, as if made with cheaper plastic.

The ear cushions on the fake version were a major giveaway too. Unlike Apple’s soft memory foam, which comfortably forms around your ears, the fakes were stiffer and less comfortable for long listening sessions. It wasn’t just the comfort that suffered—the fake ones didn’t create the same sound-isolating seal, which impacted their overall performance.

Sound Quality: A Huge Letdown

This is where the gap between real and fake became painfully obvious. The real AirPods Max are renowned for their balanced, immersive sound profile, with deep bass, crisp mids, and clear highs. Apple’s spatial audio technology creates an almost cinematic experience.

But the fakes? The sound was flat, muddied, and completely lacked the bass that makes the AirPods Max so enjoyable. I noticed a lot of distortion when the volume was high, and any attempt at noise cancellation was practically nonexistent. While the real AirPods Max actively block out background noise, the fakes barely reduced the hum of nearby chatter.

Noise Cancellation: Apple vs. Cheap Imitations

The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is one of the AirPods Max’s standout features, offering a serene listening experience. With the real AirPods Max, the ANC is near-perfect—it cuts out city noises, coffee shop chatter, and airplane engines. You’re cocooned in sound.

The fake pair, however, seemed to have ANC in name only. I could still hear surrounding noises clearly, and instead of smooth noise cancellation, there was an odd, faint static sound in the background. It was far from the immersive experience Apple promises.

Features: Fake Shortcuts

The Digital Crown on the real AirPods Max is a handy control tool for adjusting volume, skipping tracks, and activating Siri. On the fake ones, the Digital Crown felt sluggish and unresponsive, lacking the smooth precision of Apple’s engineering. Siri, or any voice assistant for that matter, was non-functional.

The Transparency Mode, which allows outside sound in when needed, was also a failure in the fake pair. While Apple’s version transitions seamlessly between noise cancellation and ambient sound, the fake AirPods Max simply didn’t have this capability, further reinforcing their inferiority.

Battery Life and Charging

Genuine AirPods Max boast an impressive battery life of up to 20 hours with ANC on. However, the fake version died after only a few hours, even with minimal usage. The charging case also felt cheaper, and I wasn’t confident that it would last over time without breaking or malfunctioning.

Conclusion: The Real vs. Fake Experience

The differences between real and fake AirPods Max were glaring, from design flaws to audio quality. The fakes may look similar at first glance, but when it comes to performance and quality, they’re miles behind. For anyone considering buying AirPods Max, my advice is to steer clear of imitations. If you want the genuine experience of immersive sound and top-tier noise cancellation, it’s worth investing in the real deal.

Also Check: