Best AirPods Max accessories for 2021

David Carnoy/CNET

When Apple released the AirPods Max, it got a lot of grief about the headphones’ unusual protective covering, which drew its fair share of bra and purse comparisons and was criticized for not fully protecting the headphones. I wasn’t as down on it as others, but I knew we’d soon see a bunch of third-party cases, and several have already arrived, including Waterfield Design’s $89 Max Shield case.

Aside from its swanky design, what makes it different from all the $20 to $25 generic cases showing up on Amazon is that it has a “Magnetic Butterfly” that puts the AirPods Max in low-power mode just like the magnets on Apple’s cover do. With other cases, you stick the AirPods Max (with their cover on) in the case — they don’t have magnets. 

The Max Shield is designed to house the AirPods Max naked — or wearing their cover — and has an inner pouch to store the the included USB-C to Lightning charging cable or the optional Lightning to 3.5mm audio cable for wired listening. There’s also an exterior zippered pocket, as well as an exterior stretch mesh pocket for storing additional items. The Max Shield is available in eight color variations. 

David Carnoy/CNET

Apple doesn’t include a cable for wired listening with the AirPods Max, which is pretty irritating because the fact is the AirPods Max do sound better in wired mode and sometimes it’s easier to plug into a device than pair with it wirelessly, particularly if you’ve got non-Apple devices that aren’t on your iCloud account.  

The easiest way to listen to high-res audio is to plug into a Mac or Windows PC and load up some FLAC files, which I did. Obviously, you can also listen to streaming services this way (and any other audio). The volume levels were plenty high on the MacBook Pro I was using and I did experience a subtle but noticeable bump up in audio quality going the wired route.

Also the cable does eliminate any latency, which might be a factor while gaming or with music production. Note that the AirPods Max still needs battery power to deliver audio, even in wired mode; there’s no “passive mode” available. 

Apple’s cable lists for $35, but you can get it for $30. It’s available in black or white.

Best Buy

Anker’s Lightning to 3.5mm cable for wired listening costs $5 less than Apple’s cable.

Amazon

If you drop your AirPods Max headphones on the wrong surface, the aluminum earcups could get dinged up. That’s where a silicon ear cup protector could save the day. There are plenty of them available on Amazon in plenty of color options. The Seltureone model is currently rated most highly by users — and it’s priced around $12 — so that’s my current pick in this category. But it could change as new versions become available.  

Amazon

The AirPods Max mesh-infused headband is designed to be quiet sturdy, but this headband cushion serves three purposes: It offers some increased protection for the mesh, adds some extra cushion for the crown of your head and it customizes the look of the headphones.

It’s available in a few color options and can be easily removed and washed.

Amazon

You can find several AirPods Max hard carrying cases on Amazon ranging in price from around $17 to $30. This case doesn’t incorporate magnets to put the AirPods Max into their lower-power sleep state, but it has a plush interior, a slot for storing a power adapter and comes in multiple color options for $23.

Aukey

The AirPods Max include a USB-C to Lightning charging cable in the box, but no power adapter. This affordable Aukey Swift 30W 2-Port USB-C Charger allows you to charge your AirPods Max and iPhone (or another device) at the same time. It lists for $15 but there’s currently a 30% off instant coupon that brings the price to under $11.

Best phone and gadget chargers for 2021.

Amazon

This is your basic silicone rubber charging stand for the AirPods Max. Once you thread charging cable into the stand, you’re good to go (no cable is included). Hopefully this comes down in price. It should be closer to $10.