Woolnut AirPods Max case review: Functional but pricey

The dust has settled on the uproar that emanated from the questionably-designed cover that Apple shipped with AirPods Max, but it hasn't taken away the need for more a more protective option. That's why we're reviewing the new Woolnut AirPods Max case.

Coming in at the high end of the category price range, Woolnut offers a premium solution made of quality leather that is thoughtfully designed to cradle Apple's most expensive headphones.

Design and quality

Here's what we're working with. Just like Woolnut's iPhone cases and the recent Tech Organizer we reviewed, the AirPods Max case is made of rich Scandinavian leather in one of three colorways. You can choose between Cognac, black, or green.

We've chosen Cognac to pair with our Space Gray AirPods Max.

Woolnut's logo is stamped into the leather on the top, but otherwise the exterior is left to highlight the leather. It's a pebbled texture on the leather which aids just a bit in removing the case from our bag -- especially if we pack things a bit too tight.

The case seals with a genuine YKK Excella zipper which YKK says is its high-quality metal zipper and features individually polished components for a smooth pull when opening or closing. It feels very precise as you drag it along its path and is much nicer than your average zipper.

We're loving the cable management on this case as well. Don't worry, you don't need to just route the cable through a partially unzipped zipper.

Instead Woolnut has put a small cutout in the bottom of the case which allows it to easily slide in and connect directly to your AirPods Max. We do have one worry about that though when it comes to longevity.

This small hole would be hard to burnish with wax -- and more time consuming to manufacture -- so Woolnut is using a leather edge sealer. Something like Fiebing's Duracoat that is painted on to protect the leather edge.

As we've seen with some wallets and other leather goods, this edge can peel off with use. With the cable sliding in and out of the case, we wonder if that ending will start to peel off at some point. The rest of the product is very high quality so we anticipate equal care was given here too and it won't be breaking down anytime soon, but the thought crossed our minds.

Inside we have a small leather wall that, when your headphones are placed inside, is situated between the ear cups. This mimics Apple's other origami-style case as it has a magnet inside to put the AirPods Max into ultra low power mode. This can help conserve battery while they're in the case.

Other aspects of note with the interior, it is ultra-padded and soft to ensure nothing should ever damage your luxe Apple headphones. It's a suede-like material and feels nicer than your average microfiber.

The top cover has two sewn-in pads that cushion your ear cups which seem most likely the be scratched since they are made of softer anodized aluminum. It also has a small elastic band which is perfect for sliding your power cable.

Another elastic strap is on the bottom to hold a small USB charger. That way you can grab your AirPods Max case and have a charger, cable, and the headphones ready to go.

Should you buy the Woolnut AirPods Max case?

Sometimes pitching a high-end cover for AirPods is a hard sell as they're relatively cheap compared to other Apple products and they don't do much other than add some style.

With AirPods Max, the cover not only protects your headphones but functionally helps by placing them into the low power mode. Apple also didn't do us any favors with its less-than-ideal bundled cover. With such an expensive set of headphones, a premium case is almost a no-brainer.

What gives us pause with this is that while it isn't huge by any means, it isn't small either. It is a little more blockier and takes up more space in our bag than just dropping in the AirPods Max or even Apple's own cover.

Assuming you have space and want an equally-premium cover for your premium Apple headphones, Woolnut has your back.

Pros

• High quality leather
• Strong polished metal YKK zipper
• Easy-access charging port
• Internal magnet for sleep mode
• Elastic holders for charger and cable
• Great colors

Cons

• Expensive
• On the large side

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Where to buy

Pick up the Woolnut AirPods Max leather case on Amazon for $139 in black, cognac, or green.