Apple launches AirPods Max at $ 549

Apple launches AirPods Max at $ 549

Apple introduces its new AirPods Max on-ear headphones at $ 549 in the United States

Apple launched its first over-the-ear headphones , thus entering a competitive market with rivals such as Bose and Sony, expanding its drive towards accessories to supplement the revenue generated by the iPhone.

AirPods Max on- ear headphones include wireless pairing and noise cancellation, like many on the market. They will go on sale Tuesday and begin arriving on December 15 in the United States. The company touted superior audio quality and a 20-hour battery life.

The headphones work with Apple's voice-activated digital assistant Siri and have physical side controls for music playback. They come in multiple colors: space gray, silver, blue, green, and pink.

The apple company released its AirPods headphones in 2016, when it removed the headphone jack from the iPhone. The product drove the company's sales of wearable devices, giving it a key growth driver beyond the iPhone.

The AirPods were updated with a new version in 2019 and the updated AirPods Pro with noise cancellation launched in October of that year. Apple is also planning new AirPods for next year.

In its last fiscal year, the Californian firm generated sales of $ 31 billion in accessories, including AirPods and Beats headphones and Apple Watch. That's more than the Mac and the iPad.

The accessories business is critical to the company's drive to generate more revenue per user, as people keep their iPhones longer.

AirPods are part of a broader audio product strategy that also includes the HomePod speaker and Beats headphones . Apple acquired Beats Electronics in 2014 for $ 3 billion and has been updating its range of hardware, despite competing with Apple-branded accessories.