Apple just revealed AirPods Max, a $549 pair of over-the-ear headphones

• Apple unveiled its first Apple-branded, over-the-ear headphones on Tuesday: The Apple AirPods Max.
• Despite carrying the same branding as its earbud-style headphones, the AirPods Max are intended as premium headphones — and they come with a premium price of $549.
• The headphones are scheduled to launch on December 15.

Apple unveiled the AirPods Max on Tuesday: its first-ever set of over-the-ear headphones and a higher-end version of the popular AirPods line.

The new headphones are scheduled to launch on December 15, and cost $549.

AirPods Max are a major design departure from Apple's earbud-style wireless AirPods, but they function similarly: They are wireless, and communicate with Apple devices. Apple says the new headphones have up to 20 hours of battery life, feature "Active Noise Cancellation," and have a feature that enables hearing the world around you more clearly.

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The design appears to take cues from the Apple Watch, with a "digital crown" and a small, Tic-Tac-shaped button:

Rather than a strap that goes over your head, the AirPods Max feature a "breathable knit mesh canopy."

Apple senior vice president of worldwide marketing, Greg Joswiak, said the intention with the new AirPods Max is to evoke "that magical AirPods experience" in an over-the-ear headset.

In terms of sound, Apple says the new headphones feature "an Apple-designed H1 chip in each ear cup, a custom acoustic design, and advanced software" in order to create "the highest quality listening experience possible."

Beyond the headphones themselves, for $549 buyers will also get a new "soft, slim Smart Case" that Apple says will activate an "ultralow power state" to help preserve battery.

Here's a look at the new case:

Pre-orders for the new headphones are available starting now through Apple's website, and the AirPods Max are scheduled to launch on December 10.

The AirPods Max are Apple's first-ever over-the-ear headphones that don't carry the Beats branding - Apple has owned the Beats brand since 2014, when it purchased the company for $3 billion from Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. The company has continued selling Beats-branded items for years while also creating its own competing items.

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