$550? There’s a Reason AirPods Max Cost So Much

When Apple released the over-ear AirPods Max in December, the headphones came with a staggering $550 price tag. According to iFixIt, there’s a good reason.

iFixIt is well known for its teardowns of popular tech. Whenever a device or gadget comes out, the site is quick to break it down to its component parts and give readers the low-down on what makes it tick

The AirPods Max didn’t disappoint, with iFixIt’s teardown showing the sophistication of Apple’s most recent headphones.

With all their intricate, precision-engineered parts, AirPods Max remind us more of a mechanical watch than of any pair of headphones

There was no comparison between the AirPods Max and competitors.

And after tearing down some of the competition, we’re more understanding of that $550 price tag. Sony and Bose both charge less, but internally, the AirPods Max’s obsessive craftsmanship makes those other extremely capable devices look like toys by comparison.