The $549 College Essential I’ve Used Every Single Day for 3 Years That’s *So* Worth It (And on Major Sale!)

Three Christmases ago, I only put one thing on my wishlist: a pair of Apple AirPods Max. I’d used the original AirPods for a while, but I wanted over-ear headphones because I would always misplace my AirPods case, and the noise-canceling feature was calling my name. I didn’t expect them to end up becoming my most relied-upon college essential, but that’s exactly what happened. They’re the one item I use every single day without thinking about it, and I’ve built my routines around them. If you’re on the fence about getting these headphones, or putting them on a wish list like I did, here’s what you need to know.  

The AirPods Max are Apple’s cordless, over-ear, noise-canceling headphones. The company debuted them in December 2020 (and launched an upgraded model in September 2024), and they’re the first and only over-ear headphone option from Apple. As much as I love them, let me address the elephant in the room: They retail for $549, which is definitely steep. Mine were a gift, which made it easier to justify the cost, but even if I’d bought them myself, I think I would’ve eventually accepted the price because they’ve held up beautifully. I’ve been using them every day for three years already (and tossing them in my bag for just as long), and their quality hasn’t diminished at all. 

It’s simple: They sound good, they’re comfortable to wear for hours on end, and they let me get my work done without interruption. 

The product description claims battery life is up to 20 hours on one charge when fully charged, and I’ve found that’s pretty accurate. I barely charge them, and I’ve never had them die on me in the middle of the day or during a workout. Unlike my AirPods earbuds, which charge inside of their case, the AirPods Max simply charge with a USB-C cord that plugs into the bottom of one of the headphones and then connects to a USB port. 

I also love that they also come in a bunch of colors; I have the silver pair, and part of the appeal is that they don’t look like every other set of headphones on campus. 

I use them at the gym because the noise cancellation blocks everything out, including the hype music they insist on blasting from the speakers at 9 a.m. I also use them in the library when it’s packed and everyone is talking even though they claim they’re “whispering.” I use them when I’m walking through the quad between classes and don’t feel like hearing every conversation happening around me. Not to mention, when I’m traveling over college breaks, they’re amazing for keeping out all of the ambient noise on a plane, helping me read my book or get some sleep. 

They also have a transparency mode, which lets outside noise in, so I can still listen to music without all background noise being totally silenced, which is nice if I am studying with friends or on a walk and want to pay attention to my surroundings. You can easily toggle between the two settings by pressing a noise control button on the side of the headphones while you’re still wearing them, so you can switch up the mode throughout your day depending on what kind of noise cancellation you’re looking for. 

They give me a level of focus I genuinely wouldn’t have otherwise, and switching from the in-ear AirPods to these was a massive upgrade in how comfortable they are for long stretches. I love the memory foam ear cushions and the ability of each cup to rotate individually, because I can wear them for hours on flights and long rides without ever irritating my ears. The headband, made of a lightweight mesh that doesn’t put pressure on your head, is also adjustable, so you can choose how loose or snug you want the headphones to sit. I wear them tighter when going running and looser for studying, for example.   

The one flag I have about these headphones is that the ear cushions get super discolored after a long period. I should probably wash them more often, as they are bound to be dirty after sweating, studying, and doing practically everything under the sun. Unlike regular in-ear earbuds though, they just look dirty and don’t collect physical gunk that can mess with the quality of the sound, so I don’t clean them as often as I should. 

To clean them, Apple’s official instructions have you remove the ear cushions and use a dish soap solution and cloth (you can find the full instructions here). I’ve taken care of them by using some dish soap and gently scrubbing the cushions with my hands or an extra toothbrush a couple of times. I air dry them, which does take a while, so I try to clean them later in the day so they can dry overnight. This method has worked so well for me that it always leaves them looking brand new! 

If you only use headphones occasionally, probably not. They’re not an impulse purchase; they’re an investment. But if you use them every day the way I do — for studying, commuting, working out, everything — then yes, they’re worth it. They’ve lasted three years with no issues. The noise cancellation really matters in places like the library or the gym where you don’t control your environment, and they’re reliable in a way that makes the investment feel reasonable over time.

They’ve been the most consistently useful thing I’ve brought to college, and I notice immediately when I don’t have them with me. I have gone back to my house multiple times after forgetting them because anything I do solo (think: studying, walking, the gym) just isn’t the same without them. I use them every day, they make my life easier, and they’ve earned a permanent place in my bag. A good pair of noise-canceling headphones is a staple for college students like me who just need actual quiet sometimes, and these have been the best version of that for me.