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Updated January 10, 2024·
Based on the overview, if price is a significant concern and you're seeking basic earbuds primarily for calls and listening to music casually, the Apple Earpods may be suitable as they are considerably more affordable. However, if you are looking for a high-quality audio experience for a variety of content like music, gaming, TV, and video and are prepared to invest more, the Audeze Maxwell headphones offer superior overall sound, build quality, and features such as active noise cancelling and a longer battery life. The Audeze Maxwell is also equipped with a planar driver and supports LDAC for high-resolution audio, which the Apple Earpods do not, but they are heavier and not as portable. Additionally, the Maxwell is optimized for both Android and Apple devices and includes app equalizer settings for a customized listening experience. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Earpods
The Apple Earpods has no clear advantages over the Audeze Maxwell.
Advantages of the Audeze Maxwell
Very good for music
Excellent for gaming
Very good for TV and video
Very good for air travel
Excellent for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.8/10
8.4/10
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for music, while the Apple Earpods is good.
Gaming
8.3/10
9.0/10
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for gaming, while the Apple Earpods is very good.
Phone Calls
8.0/10
8.7/10
The Audeze Maxwell and Apple Earpods are both very good for phone calls, though the Audeze Maxwell is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.4/10
9.4/10
The Audeze Maxwell is excellent for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Apple Earpods is good.
TV and Video
7.4/10
8.9/10
The Audeze Maxwell is very good for TV and video, while the Apple Earpods is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5/10
6.0/10
The Audeze Maxwell is only fair for noise reduction, while the Apple Earpods is poor.
Battery
N/A
78.0 Hours
The Apple Earpods does not have a battery. The Audeze Maxwell has 78 hours of battery life.
Cost
$20
$299
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Apple Earpods has a price of $20 and the Audeze Maxwell costs $299.
Build Quality
7.6/10
9.0/10
The Audeze Maxwell has excellent build quality, while the Apple Earpods has good build quality.
"Apple’s wired buds sound just fine for the price, and their handy inline controls and clear microphone give them an edge on wireless earbuds that are much more expensive. Plus, you never have to worry about running out of battery — or worse, a stray earbud going missing."
"Despite a few caveats, the Audeze Maxwell is one of the best-performing gaming headsets on the market and should top the ranks for a few buyers — provided the budget (and neck strength) is there. Gaming headsets have their work cut out for them, and their audience is historically unkind to performance flaws. If you’re an older gamer with some cash to blow, you should be pleased with the Audeze Maxwell."
Get a great deal on the Apple Earpods or the Audeze Maxwell
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
About Audeze
Audeze is an, award-winning, American premium headphone manufacturer based in California. Founded in 2008, their products are developed around aerospace materials technology first used by NASA and are widely used by enthusiasts and professionals alike, not only in the fields of music and sound engineering but also in e-sports and the health industry.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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