Let's get this out the way: if a product sells, it's a good product.

It's really that simple.

Marketing, promotions, ads, incentives, discounts - all of that can help, but if your product is s**t, it won't sell.

With that in mind, I want to take a moment to talk about one of Apple's most interesting products: AirPods Max.

AirPods Max was Apple's first (and so far only) attempt at making over-ear headphones, and it went well.

Unveiled in 2020 with a hefty price tag ($549) and a design language that was both minimalist and OTT, AirPods Max survived - unchanged - for four years.

But they 'survived' and thrived because sales never slowed down. Despite being very expensive, very heavy, and technically outdated - relatively speaking - AirPods Max with the old Lightning port were still flying off the shelves two years ago.

Then, in 2024, Apple updated the AirPods Max with USB-C, and new colour options.

That was it. Nothing else. No new chip. No AI. No upgraded ANC.

They also sold like hot cakes and now, finally, six years later after the first model, they've been updated again.

They still look identical, still with the same colour options, but now they've got a new chip, and a few new features.

But, broadly speaking and for a lot of customers, these are basically the same.

Still priced at $549, by the way.

It's fair to say no other brands would've pulled off.

So kudos to them.

But there are reasons for this.

AirPods Max are well-built. Like most if not all Apple products, the quality is there. It's tangible. Literally. They feel solid and well-constructed.

The ANC works a treat but, more importantly, they interact seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem, which ultimately is why people buy them.

They pair to your iPhone and Mac seamlessly and automatically. You don't have to switch between iPhone and Mac, as AirPods do that automatically.

Is that enough to make them better than equivalent headphones that cost 20-30-40% less? Clearly, considering how well they do in the market.

I wrote this article while listening to an AirPods Max review while wearing AirPods Max. LOL