With the soaring popularity of premium headphones like the Apple AirPods Max, it’s no surprise that clones and budget alternatives are flooding the market. Among them, a particular AirPods Max Clone priced around ₹2000 has been gaining attention. But can a product at one-tenth the price offer anything remotely close to the original experience?
Table of contents
- Unboxing and First Impressions
- Design and Build Quality
- Features Overview
- Comfort and Fit
- Audio Performance: What to Expect at ₹2000
- Gaming and Latency Test
- Battery Life and Charging
- Microphone Quality
- Ease of Use and Controls
- Connectivity and Compatibility
- No ANC, But Surprisingly Good Isolation
- Pros and Cons
- Who Should Buy This?
- Conclusion: Value Packed, Budget Friendly
Unboxing and First Impressions
The clone arrives in an elegant box that imitates the premium feel of Apple’s packaging. Inside, we find:
- The headphones
- A custom case
- Type-C charging cable
- A user manual
From the get-go, the clone impresses with its design presentation. The included case mimics the AirPods Max Smart Case, featuring a fabric-like texture, magnetic closure, and adequate build quality.
Design and Build Quality
At first glance, the AirPods Max Clone looks remarkably similar to the original. It sports a plastic build with metallic accents and earcups that have a soft matte finish. The headband uses mesh-like fabric for comfort, and the extendable arms feel smooth during adjustments.
While it doesn’t scream luxury, the overall build is decent for its price point. A few minor shortcomings include:
- Slightly loose magnetic earcups
- Lower grade headband material
- Average plastic finish
Still, it’s a solid presentation for a clone under ₹2000.
Features Overview
Despite the price, this clone doesn’t skimp entirely on features:
- Type-C Charging Port
- Rotating Dial for Volume Control (also acts as a clickable button)
- Power Button
- Built-in Microphone
- Bluetooth Connectivity
However, premium features like ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), Wear Detection, and Spatial Audio are missing, which is expected at this price level.
Comfort and Fit
The headphones sit comfortably on the head with well-padded earcups that provide passive noise isolation. Surprisingly, the fit mimics over-ear comfort, effectively sealing the ears, giving a feel similar to ANC.
For extended use, the headphones don’t cause noticeable discomfort or fatigue, making them good for watching movies, casual music listening, or light gaming.
Audio Performance: What to Expect at ₹2000
Let’s be clear—this is not high-fidelity audio. But for the price, the performance is acceptable.
On Android Devices:
- Bass: Overemphasized, which may appeal to casual listeners
- Treble & Mids: Flat and underwhelming
- Instrument Separation: Average
- Overall Sound Signature: V-shaped tuning with a focus on bass
On iPhone (iOS Devices):
Interestingly, the clone performs noticeably better with iPhones:
- Enhanced clarity
- Better soundstage and stereo output
- More balanced mids
This improvement is likely due to iOS’s optimized Bluetooth audio management.
Rating Summary:
- Android Performance: 3.7/5
- iOS Performance: 4.0/5
Gaming and Latency Test
While the clone lacks gaming-specific features like low-latency mode, it performs decently in casual gameplay:
- Latency on Android: Acceptable for non-competitive gaming
- Lag Issues: None observed during basic usage
This makes it usable for streaming or watching YouTube without noticeable audio delay.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery performance exceeds expectations:
- Playback Time: Up to 10–12 hours on moderate volume
- Charging Port: Type-C
- Charging Time: Around 2 hours for a full charge
For a clone headphone, this is commendable.
Microphone Quality
The onboard microphone is functional but not great:
- Voice Pickup: Slightly muffled
- Noise Cancellation: None
- Best Use Case: Short calls or voice notes
Don’t rely on it for meetings or professional audio recordings.
Ease of Use and Controls
The rotating crown dial lets users adjust volume and skip tracks. However, due to its design:
- Grip is tricky while wearing the headphones
- Requires two-finger support for precise control
There’s no touch control or gesture support.
Connectivity and Compatibility
- Bluetooth Pairing: Smooth on Android and iOS
- Auto Pairing with iPhone: Displays AirPods-style pop-up
- Range: Approximately 10 meters (standard)
The iOS pairing animation adds a psychological feel of owning a real AirPods Max, even if it’s a clone.
No ANC, But Surprisingly Good Isolation
While it lacks actual ANC hardware, the large earcups form a passive seal, reducing outside noise decently. It creates an illusion of noise cancellation, which many casual users might appreciate.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Premium look for a budget price
- Decent audio output, especially on iPhones
- Comfortable fit with passive isolation
- Type-C charging
- Functional controls
- Surprisingly solid battery life
Cons:
- No ANC or wear detection
- Average mic quality
- Plastic build with minor fit issues
- Bass-heavy audio tuning
Who Should Buy This?
If you’re an Android user on a tight budget or someone looking for a stylish secondary headphone, this ₹2000 AirPods Max Clone makes sense. It’s not an audiophile-grade product, but it’s more than sufficient for general use.
For iPhone users, this clone offers a surprisingly polished experience, thanks to smoother integration and enhanced audio rendering.
Conclusion: Value Packed, Budget Friendly
In a market where premium headphones cost upwards of ₹50,000, this clone makes a compelling case for budget-conscious users. While it can’t match the original AirPods Max in terms of performance or polish, it certainly nails the aesthetics and basic usability. At ₹2000, it’s hard to complain.
If you’re buying with tempered expectations and want AirPods Max looks on a budget, this clone might just be worth your money.