Apple Tested Hundreds of Designs for AirPods Max, Designed Case for Storage Efficiency [Interview]

The design team behind Apple's new AirPods Max offered some insight into the new over-ear headphones in a new interview with Casa BRUTUS.

According to industrial designer Evans Hanky, Apple took a long time to develop the new headphones, creating hundreds of prototypes.

"We only have one chance to enter a product category, so we wanted to make it the best."


"Two pods (pods) and a sturdy, flexible band that connects them. This was our goal, and from there we started looking at the final shape and material."



Designer Eugune Whang notes that Apple chose materials that are comfortable to wear.

"The inside of the ear cup has a soft cushion that can be attached and detached with a magnet. When choosing materials, we chose materials that we are accustomed to wearing and materials that we prefer to wear. We choose genuine soft fabrics that are made to be worn, rather than fake materials such as vinyl or artificial leather."


Wang, who was in charge of the case design, says it provides storage efficiency for those who travel a lot.

"Today, most headphones come with large, cumbersome cases, but we travel a lot, so we know how important it is to fit in a bag. So it's extremely storage efficient. I wanted to make a good case. Our case has a structure in which one sheet is cut out and fastened in several places so that it becomes three-dimensional. When the ear cup is rotated and inserted here, the headband is exposed. Although it is still in the state, it is judged that it is not necessary to cover it because it is made strong in the first place. Also, thanks to the exposed band, it is possible to have a function that you can easily grasp it with your hand and take it out of the bag"

You can purchase AirPods Max for $549 here but there is a 12-14 week shipping delay. You can check Amazon's stock here.

More details in the full interview linked below...

Read More [via Macotakara]