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Calling an English expert. Is “AirPods Max” singular or plural? Help. The AirPods Max is a headphone. AirPods Max are headphones. I saw two AirPods Maxes.

elicash 6y ago
Best question in this thread. With regular AirPods, they work individually. You don't have to use both. So it's helpful to think in terms of each one being its own thing, even though they're paired. Not the case here. I'd imagine Schiller would say that AirPods Max is both singular and plural, given this tweet on iPad Pro: https://twitter.com/pschiller/status/725791354769399808 https://twitter.com/pschiller/status/725791354769399808 I'd add that over-the-ear (so, one item) "headphones" have a similar issue as AirPods Max. I'd probably call two of these products "two pairs of AirPods Max." (Well, actually I'd probably just say 'two pairs of headphones' but that's a dodge.)
- TimTheTinker 6y ago
  I think “two sets of AirPods Max” communicates clearly without tongue-twisting. I know naming things is hard, but I think they’ve really painted themselves into a corner here, so to speak.
wmeredith 6y ago
I think “AirPods Max” would be singular. AirPods is the product line name. Max is the model. So you have AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. If you needed to buy 10 of these you would say your were buying 10 pairs of AirPods, AirPods Pros, or AirPods Maxes. Honestly though, it's English we're dealing with, so there are more exceptions than rules, anyway. Muddy the waters further with proper nouns and branding considerations and basically the only people who can tell you what is "right" would be Apple's marketing dept.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
twodave 6y ago
I feel like it's easier if you add an apostrophe: Airpods' Max
FroshKiller 6y ago
"Headphones" is plural. The "phone" bit refers to the actual drivers, of which there are at least two in a pair of stereo headphones. That's why we say a pair of headphones. AirPods Max are headphones.
gnopgnip 6y ago
In context they treat Airpods as plural, using "are" over "is". It makes sense because the originals were plural, separate objects. >I saw two AirPods Maxes It is a compound noun, the base word gets pluralized, so it would still be Airpods Max. Like the plural of cup of tea is cups of tea, or sergeants major, brothers-in-law, courts martial, passersby. Airpods would be the base word.
- ninkendo 6y ago
  Tacos Bell
chadlavi 6y ago
AirPods Max are headphones. Soon we will all see many pairs of AirPods Max.

elicash 6y ago

Best question in this thread. With regular AirPods, they work individually. You don't have to use both. So it's helpful to think in terms of each one being its own thing, even though they're paired. Not the case here. I'd imagine Schiller would say that AirPods Max is both singular and plural, given this tweet on iPad Pro: https://twitter.com/pschiller/status/725791354769399808 https://twitter.com/pschiller/status/725791354769399808 I'd add that over-the-ear (so, one item) "headphones" have a similar issue as AirPods Max. I'd probably call two of these products "two pairs of AirPods Max." (Well, actually I'd probably just say 'two pairs of headphones' but that's a dodge.)

TimTheTinker 6y ago
I think “two sets of AirPods Max” communicates clearly without tongue-twisting. I know naming things is hard, but I think they’ve really painted themselves into a corner here, so to speak.

wmeredith 6y ago

I think “AirPods Max” would be singular. AirPods is the product line name. Max is the model. So you have AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max. If you needed to buy 10 of these you would say your were buying 10 pairs of AirPods, AirPods Pros, or AirPods Maxes. Honestly though, it's English we're dealing with, so there are more exceptions than rules, anyway. Muddy the waters further with proper nouns and branding considerations and basically the only people who can tell you what is "right" would be Apple's marketing dept.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

twodave 6y ago

I feel like it's easier if you add an apostrophe: Airpods' Max

FroshKiller 6y ago

"Headphones" is plural. The "phone" bit refers to the actual drivers, of which there are at least two in a pair of stereo headphones. That's why we say a pair of headphones. AirPods Max are headphones.

gnopgnip 6y ago

In context they treat Airpods as plural, using "are" over "is". It makes sense because the originals were plural, separate objects. >I saw two AirPods Maxes It is a compound noun, the base word gets pluralized, so it would still be Airpods Max. Like the plural of cup of tea is cups of tea, or sergeants major, brothers-in-law, courts martial, passersby. Airpods would be the base word.

ninkendo 6y ago
Tacos Bell

chadlavi 6y ago

AirPods Max are headphones. Soon we will all see many pairs of AirPods Max.