AirPods Max Comfort?

Before you return them, if you really wanna keep them. Try this, put them two or three days on a good set of books, little bit more than the wide of your head to stretch them, then try them again and if it does not work then return them. Cheers!

That worked for me!

I'm on day 2 of extended wear/usage on my AirPod Max. I love the sound quality, ease of use, noise cancelling, etc... Wearing headphones throughout the day is a requirement based on a noisy home/work environment.

End of day 1 (8+ hours), I experienced both a headache and soreness around back of my ears and temple based on the pressure of the ear cups on the side of my head. I read something somewhere about ANC causing initial problems then going away but I'm not sure how that would contribute to a headache.

Today, day 2, I'm halfway through the day and have already had to remove them twice to relieve the pressure of the ear cups on the side of the head and behind the ears. The headache is slowly beginning to come back. It seems like a combination of the weight and the pressure is contributing to long-term wearing discomfort. Will give it a few more days to see if this is a breaking them in issue or not.

Same boat here. Bought them yesterday and while having lunch I tried them for about an hour and a headache just came within the first 15 min. My problem wasn't the clamp pressure but the headband's pressing the top of my head, even having them full extended. They are heavy.

I really wanted to love them because the sound is astonishing taking into account that I have a pair of Fostex TH900 mk2 almost $2k worth.

So disappointed, hope a second generation comes soon with a larger headband and 20-30% less weight at least, for now I just returned them.

I’ve owned my AirPods Mac for a few weeks now, and find that that they start to hurt after about 30 minutes. After about two hours, the pain becomes quite intense and I am forced to take them off

I am experiencing slight headaches and teeth aches (which are never present unless I am wearing the AirPods Max) , but the ears cups also feel like my head is in a vice. I am, from the very first second of usage, aware that the ear cups are digging into my head.

The ear cups also feel a bit too small for my ears (which are larger than average)

I have put them over some old paperbacks and left them like that for 24 hours, and whilst this has helped a bit, they still cause very significant discomfort, which at times becomes outright pain.

I am frequently switching back to my old Beats Studio3’s (despite the plastic around the headbands cracking and falling off all on the Beats) mainly because the AirPods Max are, by a wide margin, the least comfortable pair of headphones I have ever owned.

It is such a shame. I want so much to love them, and they sound absolutely amazing, but I should not have to put up with actual pain, not just mild discomfort, for a pair of luxury headphones

Hello tecsi12,

Thanks for being a part of Apple Support Communities. We know it's important to have your AirPods Max fitting correctly so you can wear them without any issues. We'll be glad to assist.

For help with the fit of your AirPods Max, check out the guidance here: Wearing your AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, EarPods, or Beats devices

If you need more help, please reach out to us directly: Get Support

Best regards!

I just got a pair two days ago, and I'm experiencing discomfort around my ears, especially behind my ears and below my earlobes. I too get headaches from wearing these. Plus the way they shift when you ever so slightly move your head is really beginning to bug me.

I already scheduled an appointment tomorrow at the Apple Store to return these. A shame really, because they do sound great and the feature set they have are quite impressive. But these are so uncomfortable for me, that no matter how much I try to justify these headphones, the pain around my ears and the headaches beg to differ.

Apple, please make a lighter pair of these that don't clamp so hard on your head. If you do, I'll buy them Day 1.

The clamping force is just too much, it gives me horrible headaches after 1 hour use. I have used, Bose, B&O, Sony, Harman Kardon, all sort of this type of over ear noise cancelling headphones... DISAPPOINTING.... sound quality is amazing but if you cant use them for an extended period of time like I do, then better I keep using the Bose 700.

Hope apple is reading this and learn for 2nd generation..

In the meantime I have the headphones stacked in a good stack of old books and see if the clamp force reduces...

I'll second the sound quality - these sound amazing, HOWEVER, from an ergonomics point of view I believe the AirPods Max is а health hazard! The weight presses down on your neck so hard, that it hurts after an hour. Real pain!

When you lean back on a couch or chair, they start sliding off your ears, hence I can only use them upright!

I have exactly the same two issues described in the original post (clamping pressure + weight).

I have short hair, but quite a big head, so maybe this makes those issues worse.

I love everything else about the Airpods Max, but I promise I feel real discomfort after wearing them for 20-30 min.

And if I keep wearing them the discomfort becomes pain.

AirPod Max. Best wireless cans ever. Even say it is worth the price, but not the headaches. Had to return them after two times suffering severe headaches. Seldom get headaches but these were real. Perhaps since I wear glasses the extra pressure on the frames were contributing to the headaches.

The quality built and sound performance is second to none, but Houston I think we may have a problem, or is it Cupertino. I truly love you guys. Been with you since the first 500 song IPod. Sound engineers five stars, design engineers need to talk with the comfort guys and gals.

I had the headache problem with the Max on pair one. Returned them, I missed the quality of Max so much, I thought I would have to give them another try. Again, the headaches returned, crazy... never experienced this with any other cans. As much as I hate to do this, I will have to return them again. Just hope Apple comes out with a little lighter, less pressured pair, with the same incredible quality of sound. I also have a pair of Sennheiser D600 with Dragonfly DAC. Sounds as good as the Max, but corded and bulky, plus no noise suppression. Come on Apple, I know you can do this with Max 2.0. Please, I'll will be waiting, and don't take too long, I am an old man that loves music, but not a whole lot of time left! LOL

As hard as I try to love them, I hate them because they give a lot of pain around temples and behind my ears.

I've never ever had such uncomfortable headphone. Seems at Apple nobody used them during development or how comes they not experience this issue?

I also have the Bose QC20 and Bose 700 and can wear them all day. But I can't wear the Airpods Max for anything more than 10 minutes. Considering the price, this is a huge disappointment.

I also fee they are ways too heavy. Sometimes maybe, just sometimes, Apple should put comfort over aesthetics.

Same problem here. We have bought a pair of AirPods Max as a gift for our daughter. She started to have headache after 30 minutes of using. Sound quality is excellent but something is wrong about the comfort. Had to return the purchase

I've noticed I get a pretty bad headache after having these on for more than an hour or two. Even with ANC off, after a bit of time, I have to take them off, and have a lingering headache for the next couple of hours. Pretty disappointing, and I love everything else about these...but I'm not sure I'm going to keep them if this keeps up... (Haven't had issues with the bars on the headband digging into my head, though...)