AirPods Max Shield Case
The AirPods Max sound good, look good, & they cost pretty good too! If you want to protect them beyond the included Smart Case, consider the AirPods Max Shield Case from WaterField Designs.
Released on December 25, 2020, The WaterField Design Shield Case is a $99 headphone case for the Apple AirPods Max. It was one of the first cases for the AirPods Max to make it to market, and the combination of high demand and built quality made it an instant hit! I'd gotten up at 08:00 sharp on Christmas Day to order this case and was stunned to see orders had already slipped into mid-January. By the end of the day, delivery dates would slip even further into the middle of February. Just about the only thing hotter than this case might've been the AirPods Max themselves (and maybe the PS5)!
Starting from the outside, the first thing that struck me about the Shield Case is its size. This is a big case, but the AirPods Max are big headphones; so a case that wraps around the headphones' perimeter needs to be big. That's not a criticism; that's how just how shapes work. The case measures 24cm (9.5") wide by 23cm (9" tall), with has a depth of 6cm (2.25").
Constructed out of either a black Ballistic Nylon (with your choice of Black, Red, or Blue leather accents) or a chocolate leather/waxed canvas combo (IMO: the better one), the Shield Case provides full-body protection for your AirPods Max. A front zippered pocket has a plush lining with enough space for cables like the Lightning to 3.5 mm Audio Cable & a USB-C to Lightning Cable to be stored inside.
The Shield Case - Olympic mascot figurine & iPad Classic not included.
Inside you'll find that the case is completely lined with soft plush and padded foam to keep your AirPods feeling very well protected. Although it is a soft-shell case, the padding, plush, and the materials used leave the design feels very durable & sturdy. I would have no concern travelling with my AirPods Max in this case once... you know... travel is a thing.
You can see the raised black flaps in this photo. These instantly put the AirPods Max into sleep mode and also prevents the ear cups from bumping into each other.
After Apple released the AirPods Max, an uproar surrounded the Smart Case and the headphones' timing of going into sleep mode inside versus outside the case. Eventually, we (i.e. the tech community, not me personally) figured out that placing magnets on two specific spots near the bottom of the ear cups triggers the AirPods to sleep instantly. WaterField has incorporated a little butterfly flap into this case with integrated magnets that, when raised, immediately places the AirPods into that sleep state otherwise enabled by that infamous Smart Case. Still, I prefer keeping my AirPods Max inside the Smart Case, so I've been delighted that this case also affords me that option.
Finally, there's a small pouch in the space between the headband and the ear-cups that can be used to store a USB adapter. You know, the one you bought begrudgingly because Apple doesn't include them anymore.
Storage is available in the case for all your requisite cables, all while keeping them safe from jostling around and scraping against your AirPods.
Final Impressions
WaterField did the smart thing by acting quickly to design a case for the AirPods Max. Entering the market early & capitalizing on the demand for a case that protects the entire headphones, WaterField Designed resolved many of the criticisms and concerns people had about using just the AirPods Max & the included Smart Case.
Over the past couple of weeks, several more cases are beginning to come to market that are far cheaper than WaterField's $99 offering. I imagine they'll also be reasonably good - this is just a headphone case, after all. But speaking to my experience with the brand, I've yet to be disappointed by a WaterField product. Having owned several of their bags for nearly a decade, I've never replaced a WaterField product because I needed to, only because I've wanted to! I love their style - particularly their use of leather with waxed canvas - but I can understand how someone who cares less for that aesthetic and is more focused on any utilitarian option may opt for an alternate case. I love the aesthetic, the protection provided in the case is fantastic, & knowing I'm getting a handmade leather good by a small outfit in the US that has earned my trust in the past is worth my investment in this product.
