It’s been over five years since Apple first introduced the original AirPods Max, a premium over-ear headphone that redefined expectations for Apple audio products. Following that initial launch, the journey to a true successor has been punctuated by incremental updates rather than revolutionary leaps. A minor hardware revision in 2024 brought welcome changes like new color options and the long-awaited switch from a Lightning port to USB-C, primarily driven by EU regulations. Last year also saw a significant software update that unlocked lossless audio capabilities and ultra-low latency, features that enhanced the listening experience for existing users. Yet, despite these improvements, the anticipation for a comprehensively new version had reached a fever pitch.
Now, with the arrival of the $549 AirPods Max 2, Apple has delivered a product that, on paper, addresses many performance aspects. The sound quality is nothing short of incredible, largely thanks to a new, more powerful built-in amplifier. The internal processing has seen an upgrade from the venerable H1 chip to the more advanced H2, and its noise-canceling performance stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best offerings from industry leaders like Sony and Bose. These are undoubtedly significant enhancements that elevate the listening experience.
However, the AirPods Max 2 are best described as an evolution, a refinement, rather than a radical reimagining. They retain the exact same iconic, albeit divisive, design as their first-generation predecessors, and crucially, they inherit many of the same criticisms and inherent design flaws. While the H2 chip, which first made its debut with the AirPods Pro 2 in 2022, introduces a suite of cutting-edge features to the Max 2—such as adaptive audio, conversation awareness, and live translation—the headphones remain heavy, they still lack a dedicated power button, and their much-maligned Smart Case continues to offer minimal protection, drawing widespread frustration. This dichotomy forms the core of the AirPods Max 2 experience: exceptional performance encased in a familiar, yet flawed, design.
The audio experience is where the AirPods Max 2 truly shine, cementing their position as a high-fidelity listening device. While the 40-millimeter drivers remain consistent with the original AirPods Max, their potential is now fully unleashed by an improved high dynamic range amplifier. This crucial upgrade transforms the sound profile, delivering an auditory richness and precision that is genuinely captivating. The bass, for instance, is not just powerful but exquisitely controlled, boasting a fullness and definition that allows individual low-frequency notes to articulate themselves clearly. When listening to tracks that delve into deep sub-bass frequencies, such as Billie Eilish’s “bury a friend,” the AirPods Max 2 render the intricate tonality of those notes with remarkable clarity, avoiding the boomy or muddy distortion often found in lesser headphones. While some listeners might find the low-end a touch pronounced, for genres like pop, rock, and even orchestral pieces, this added “oomph” provides a satisfying foundation without ever overwhelming the delicate balance of the upper frequencies. Instead, the bass acts as a supportive, grounding element, enhancing the overall sonic landscape.
Midrange vocals and instruments are presented with an admirable sense of presence and separation. Each element is easily delineated within the soundstage, without any particular frequency range unduly sticking out. This allows for a natural and engaging presentation. A prime example is the opening French horn in Brahms’s “Piano Concerto No. 2” featuring Emil Gilels. The instrument’s timbre is rendered with a rich, warm resonance, setting the stage perfectly for Gilels’s subsequent piano response. As the orchestra swells to its main theme, the Max 2 masterfully handles the complexity, allowing the strings, woodwinds, brass, and timpani to wash over the listener in a cohesive yet detailed wave. This immersive quality is so profound that it can momentarily transport you, making you forget you’re critically reviewing a product and simply allowing you to get lost in the music. Furthermore, the Max 2 now support lossless audio at 24-bit / 48kHz when connected via a USB-C-to-USB-C cable. This was a critical feature introduced in a 2025 software update for the AirPods Max line, but it was not accessible on the older Lightning port version, making the USB-C inclusion a pivotal step for audiophiles.
Beyond pure sound, the AirPods Max 2 integrate seamlessly into the expansive Apple ecosystem, a hallmark of all Apple products. This integration manifests in a suite of user-friendly features: lightning-fast pairing with Apple devices, intuitive Siri interactions that can be triggered by head gestures, automatic switching between various Apple devices, and the immersive experience of spatial audio. The H2 chip, initially ahead of its time when it debuted, has enabled Apple to roll out a wealth of advanced functionalities to compatible earbuds and headphones, including the AirPods Pro 3. These sophisticated features are now fully leveraged by the Max 2, significantly enhancing their utility. They include adaptive audio, conversation awareness, personalized volume control, voice isolation for calls, and even live translation capabilities.
Adaptive audio stands out as a particularly compelling feature, masterfully blending active noise cancellation (ANC) with transparency mode to intelligently adjust to ambient sounds while maintaining a crucial degree of environmental awareness. This dynamic balance makes it my preferred listening mode across Apple’s range of headphones and earbuds. Apple’s implementation of this ANC/transparency hybrid is, in my opinion, unparalleled. While rival products from Sony might offer granular manual control over intensity, I’ve found no compelling need for such adjustments with Apple’s adaptive system; it simply works effectively. The live translation feature also proves highly beneficial for many users, particularly friends who rely on it for daily interactions in diverse linguistic environments. Conversation awareness, while conceptually valuable, occasionally suffers from a slight delay in activation. Personally, I still prefer the courtesy of removing my headphones when engaging in direct conversation. Meanwhile, voice isolation, designed to enhance call clarity, performs commendably, although in my testing, the clarity of my voice during phone calls wasn’t quite as pristine as what I experience with Sony’s premium headphones.
It is imperative to note, however, that connecting the AirPods Max 2 to a non-Apple device significantly curtails their advanced functionality. While basic noise cancellation can still be toggled via the listening mode button, the rich suite of ecosystem-dependent features—such as automatic device switching, Siri gestures, fast pairing, spatial audio, and adaptive audio—becomes entirely inaccessible. This reinforces the notion that the Max 2 are optimized for, and perhaps best enjoyed within, the Apple ecosystem, serving as a powerful incentive for users deeply embedded in that environment.
Beyond the H2 chip and the resultant improvements in sound quality and ANC, the AirPods Max 2 remain largely identical to the original model, which regrettably means retaining many of its inherent flaws. The build quality, undoubtedly, is exceptional. With a stainless steel headband, telescoping arms, elegantly crafted aluminum ear cups, a breathable knit mesh canopy headband, and plush memory foam ear cushions, they exude a premium feel that often surpasses the predominantly plastic construction of headphones from Sony and Bose. However, this robust construction comes at a significant cost: weight. At 385 grams, the AirPods Max 2 are notably heavy, dwarfing competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM6 and the Bose Ultra Headphones, both of which typically weigh around 254 grams. This considerable weight, coupled with a clamping force that can be quite firm, proves problematic for some users. During my testing, I could comfortably wear them for a couple of hours before beginning to feel pressure on the crown of my head and in front of my ears. However, a friend found them uncomfortable after barely half an hour, highlighting the subjective nature of comfort, especially with such a substantial design.
Another persistent issue that Apple conspicuously chose not to address, and which has been a recurrent complaint since the original Max’s release, is the utterly inadequate excuse for a carrying case. This “Smart Case” is, in essence, merely a flexible wrap designed to cover the ear cups, simultaneously placing the headphones into a deep sleep state to conserve battery. It offers virtually no substantive protection for the headphones, particularly leaving the delicate mesh headband entirely exposed and vulnerable. I personally could never feel at ease placing the Max 2 in this case and then carelessly tossing them into a bag or luggage, constantly fearing potential damage or scratches. In stark contrast, nearly all competitors—including Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, and Bowers & Wilkins—provide some form of structured, protective hard case with their multi-hundred-dollar headphones. It is perplexing that Apple, known for its meticulous attention to design and user experience, has not, in the six years since the original’s launch, offered a separate (albeit likely expensive) hard case. At this juncture, it seems unlikely they ever will.
Furthermore, the absence of a true power off button remains a point of contention for many users. While I appreciate the elegant simplicity offered by the combination of the listening mode button and the digital crown, I genuinely wish for a physical toggle to completely power down the headphones. Is this a critical omission? Perhaps not for everyone. The headphones do enter a deep sleep when placed within their “case,” and a fully charged battery can endure for months in this state. Therefore, it’s not a major functional drawback in terms of battery life. However, for my own peace of mind, the option to definitively switch them off would be a welcome addition.
Then there is the price. Even considering the general upward trend in headphone pricing over the past year, Apple’s AirPods Max 2, at $549, still command a premium of approximately $100 over the regular prices of direct competitors like the Sony XM6 and Bose Ultra Headphones. This premium places them firmly in the luxury segment, making the aforementioned design compromises even more glaring.
Undoubtedly, the AirPods Max 2 are exceptional headphones. They deliver an incredible sound profile, offer robust support for spatial audio (a feature deeply appreciated by its proponents), and boast top-tier active noise cancellation. Their integration within the Apple ecosystem is remarkably smooth and intuitive, characterized by fast pairing and seamless iCloud device switching. For owners of the first-generation Max—especially those with the Lightning port version—the AirPods Max 2 represent a substantial, albeit expensive, upgrade that significantly enhances audio performance and introduces valuable smart features.
However, I maintain that they are not the ideal headphones for the majority of consumers. Both the Sony XM6 and Bose Ultra Headphones present more compelling options, particularly for users outside of the Apple ecosystem, where the Max 2 lose access to many of their most distinguishing features. While the Max 2 undoubtedly offer a slightly superior sound quality, both Sony and Bose deliver excellent audio and equally effective noise cancellation. Crucially, they also provide more robust multipoint connection capabilities, a significant advantage if you are not exclusively committed to Apple devices. Moreover, these alternatives are more affordably priced, considerably lighter, and, perhaps most importantly, come bundled with practical and protective travel cases.
This situation is genuinely frustrating. With just a few thoughtful design adjustments—such as a reduced weight, a proper power button, and a carrying case that actually fulfills its protective purpose—the AirPods Max 2 could have easily become the perfect Apple headphones that many of us have yearned for over the years. Instead, we are left to anticipate and hope that Apple will address these fundamental design shortcomings with the eventual release of the AirPods Max 3.
Photography by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
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