Pros & Cons
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- Class-leading noise cancellation
- Unbeatable transparency modes
- Excellent audio performance
- Deep ecosystem integration
- Useful advanced features like Live Translation
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- Expensive
- No user-adjustable EQ
- Only average battery life
Apple AirPods Max 2 Specs
| Active Noise Cancellation | |
| Connection Type | Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C |
| Type | Circumaural (over-ear) |
| Wireless |
Apple's $549 AirPods Max 2 arrive more than five years after the originals, and while they don’t reinvent the formula, they refine it in all the right ways. The headline upgrade is active noise cancellation (ANC), which now edges out top rivals from Bose and Sony, alongside smarter features like Conversation Awareness and Transparency that feel a step ahead of the competition. The sound is rich and immersive, if occasionally a bit bass-heavy, and the design remains one of the most elegant and intuitive in the over-ear headphone category. While Sony's $449.99 WH-1000XM6 is a strong alternative for audiophiles, the AirPods Max 2 deliver the most cohesive, feature-packed experience for Apple users, one that's well deserving of our Editors' Choice award.
Design: Still the Gold Standard in Comfort and Craftsmanship
The original AirPods Max, introduced in late 2020, are among the most attractive over-ear headphones on the market, so it's little surprise that Apple has kept the overall design and appearance unchanged in their second generation. That's OK with me, as they look superb, are simple to operate, and are comfortable to wear.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)Simplicity is the key to the design. Clean lines, basic shapes, fine materials, and a focus on usability lend the AirPods a cachet that other headphones simply haven't yet matched. They're available in the same colors as the originals, including Blue, Midnight, Orange, Purple, or Starlight. I received the Blue pair for review, an attractive hue with grays and a hint of green that I like. (I'm surprised the Orange AirPods don't match the iPhone 17 Pro's bright color.)
Comfort starts with the knit mesh canopy. The band that stretches across the top of your head is the most comfortable I've encountered in decades of wearing over-ear headphones. The key is how it spreads the pressure across a wide area of your skull, rather than focusing it on a smaller spot. The stainless steel headband gives the headphones greater strength than the plastic of many competitors. The telescoping arms are sturdy, move easily (but not too easily), and swivel when needed to conform to the shape of your head.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)Between the AirPods Max 2, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, and the Sony WH-1000XM6, the Max 2 earcups are the only ones that fully encompass my ears, cling to them gently, and provide a good passive seal against outside noise. The memory foam doesn't get sweaty or damp, even when I do. The matte-finished aluminum cups that form the outer shells enhance the visual appeal.
Some might consider the AirPods Max heavy (a common complaint about the originals). This is something I expected Apple to address with its second-generation product, but it didn't. The headphones weigh 13.6 ounces, the same as the first generation. The Bose and Sony models are noticeably lighter at 9.3 and 8.9 ounces, respectively. This matters most when you wear them for an extended period. Despite the Max 2's ability to spread the weight out, those 13.6 ounces add up over time. I can't wear Apple's headphones when moving vigorously; the weight is just too much, and they bounce around more than other over-ears, despite the gentle clamping force.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)The controls, all on the right earcup, are top-notch. A single button on the front of the right cup lets you cycle through listening modes, including Active Noise Cancellation and Adaptive Audio. Quickly press the button to jump from one to the next. A long press puts the headphones into Live Translation mode. The Digital Crown, carried over from the Apple Watch and the original AirPods Max, is one of the best on-device controls for headphones I’ve encountered. Rotate it left or right to adjust the volume, and press it to play/pause your music, or to answer/end calls. You can even use it to snap photos with your iPhone's camera. It’s dead simple and (ahem) just works. Most other headphones’ buttons aren’t as effective, except perhaps the multidirectional joystick on the Marshall Major V ($149.99).
You won't find a 3.5mm aux jack for unpowered playback, but the USB-C port supports advanced audio features. In fact, if you plug the supplied USB-C-to-USB-C cable into your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can get lossless playback at 24 bits and 48kHz when streaming from Apple Music. Apple says the headphones can be used for mixing in the studio, with "near real-time" latency (sub-15ms with iPad and Mac).
Apple says it redesigned the 40mm drivers in each earcup, as well as the high-dynamic-range amplifiers that power them. The company hasn't specified the driver's frequency range or the power they deliver. They rely on Bluetooth 5.3 to connect to your devices. While this is an improvement over the Bluetooth 5.0 radio in the originals, it's not the latest Bluetooth 6.0 spec. This means they won't be upgradable with features like channel sounding or high-data throughput.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)The headphones support the same codecs as the AirPods Pro 3, including AAC, AAC-ELD, and SBC. It would have been nice if Apple had added support for Bluetooth LE and LC3. Bose supports aptX Adaptive, and Sony supports LC3 and LDAC for high-quality audio.
Like all Apple AirPods, the Max 2 connect seamlessly with your Apple devices, including the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. After you pair them with your iPhone, they automatically connect to any device signed in to your Apple account. This functionality far surpasses the limits of Bluetooth multipoint.
The Max 2s don't feature the latest ultra-wideband chip found in the AirPods Pro 3, but they do upgrade from the H1 chip in the originals to the H2. Each earcup has its own H2 processor inside to manage the mics, amps, drivers, and more. These are what enable many of the advanced features, including Siri interactions. For example, when using Siri, you can shake your head "no" or nod your head "yes" to certain types of questions. I easily dismissed incoming calls with a shake of my head when Siri asked whether I wanted to answer them.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)The box doesn't include a protective case. Instead, the AirPods come with the same color-matched Smart Case as the originals. The Smart Case provides some protection for the earcups but none for the headband. The Bose and Sony headphones come with fully protective travel cases that hold extras, like charging cables and adapters.
The AirPods don't have an IP rating and aren't waterproof. Few over-ear headphones offer protection from dust and water, so this isn't surprising.
Battery: Reliable, But Falling Behind the Competition
The AirPods Max 2 have the same battery life as the originals, and I'm rather surprised. They last 20 hours with active noise cancellation (ANC) on. That was a good number in 2020, but it's not so much in 2026. Apple trails Bose and Sony by 10 hours here.
To achieve 20 hours, Apple says it tested the headphones streaming 256Kbps audio from an iPhone 17 Pro Max with the volume set to 50% and Spatial Audio set to Fixed. Your individual listening level will affect battery life. For example, louder listening chews through battery life quicker.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)Apple doesn't say how long it takes to fully recharge the headphones, but my observations suggest it takes at least two hours from 0% to 100%. The company says plugging in for five minutes should give you 1.5 hours of listening time.
One thing the AirPods Max 2 do well when compared with Bose and Sony is to retain their charge when not in use. The headphones enter a low-power mode when placed in the Smart Case, and the battery doesn't seem to deplete at all when stored this way. The Bose and Sony headphones tend to lose at least some charge over time when not in use.
App/Ecosystem: Seamless Apple Integration, Limited Elsewhere
Like Apple's other AirPods, the Max 2 rely on OS-level integration across Apple's ecosystem. There's no app to manage them; instead, you dive into your iPhone or iPad's settings menu to swap modes or make other adjustments. This has benefits and drawbacks.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)The primary benefit is that Apple's devices get top-level access to every potential feature. The drawback is that other devices (like Android phones) don't. Android users can still listen to the AirPods Max 2 and enjoy many of their features, but they won't be able to make the same degree of adjustments to their behavior as iPhone users.
Setup couldn't be easier. Simply bring the AirPods Max 2 near your iPhone, and they'll automatically start pairing. Once paired, the AirPods will automatically connect to any other Apple device you have that's signed into your account. This is a great advantage Apple holds over other headphones and earphones.
The initial pairing and setup process walks you through the basic features and gives you a chance to make a few selections along the way. You can enable Siri, Transparency mode, Conversation mode, download languages for Live Translations, and more. Once you get past this high-level tutorial, you'll need to return to your iPhone's settings menu when the AirPods are connected to make further adjustments.
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(Credit: Apple/PCMag)You can't tune your own EQ, but you can make use of the headphones' improved Adaptive EQ feature. Apple says the H2 chip powers its next-generation Adaptive EQ algorithm, which is better able to analyze how the headphones fit your ears and head and adjust audio on the fly to provide the best listening experience. This tool works fairly well and provides an improvement over a flat EQ to my ears, but I'd still like the opportunity to set my own EQ. AirPods have never supported a user-adjustable, multi-band EQ; you can only select from 22 preset EQ curves. Bose supports a three-band EQ, while Sony goes even further with nine bands.
Live Translation: A Standout Feature You Won’t Find on Rivals
The AirPods Max 2 carry over the Live Translation feature that first reached the AirPods Pro 3 last year. This helpful tool requires you to download language packs to your iPhone, which does the heavy lifting on-device rather than in the cloud, and together, they allow you to speak with someone in another language in real time during a voice call. It's pretty neat and works just as well on the Max 2 as it does on the Pro 3. Either long-press the Action Button or say, "Siri, start Live Translation," to get up and running. Google's in-ear Pixel Buds have a similar feature, but most other headphones and earphones do not.
Noise Cancellation: The New Benchmark for Silence
Apple's headphones are better than ever at cancelling noise and continue to go nose-to-nose with Bose and Sony in effectiveness and related features. Apple says the H2 chip, combined with a total of eight microphones, allows it to provide up to 1.5x more noise cancellation when compared with the original AirPods Max. Apple tuned the Max 2 to tackle repetitive, droning noises common in coffee shops and plane engines. Together with the passive noise isolation provided by the comfy earcups, the headphones do a great job of eliminating unwanted distractions from your surroundings.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)I tested them against airplane noise first. I played a recording of plane noise at high volume through the desktop speakers in my office, then put on the headphones. All but the lowest rumbles and loudest spikes were effectively cancelled out by Apple's algorithms. I moved on to coffee shop chatter with a similar recording that includes voices and dishes clattering in the background. The AirPods dialed the nearby voices back to a low din so that they were just barely audible. Only the highest-pitched conversations made their way past the ANC circuitry, and only then, just briefly. When set at about 50% volume, I effectively could not hear any normal sounds in the area around me. Only unexpected blasts, like a siren or car horn, managed to push through to my ears.
The second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a step behind. They're equally good at canceling out low frequencies, but higher frequencies, like voices, are more likely to get through. I think part of this is due to the design of Bose's earcups, which don't fully enclose and isolate your ears passively as the AirPods do. Sony's XM6 headphones are also a bit less effective than the AirPods. They handle lows just as well; it's the high frequencies that sneak past Sony's ANC. Ranking the three, I'd call Apple the best, with Sony next, and then Bose. But it's really, really close between them.
In addition to re-tuning the ANC, Apple improved the related features, including Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Volume, and Voice Isolation.
Adaptive Audio, available on some in-ear AirPods, is now available on the over-ear AirPods Max for the first time. This tool merges ANC with Transparency and dynamically adjusts the noise cancellation level to match the surrounding noise. It works well, though I find it distracting. I prefer my audio to remain at the same level without any changes. With Adaptive Audio, the level of ANC strength can adjust unexpectedly to compensate for external sounds, and this can change the relative volume that you hear.
Conversation Awareness works surprisingly well. With this mode enabled, the AirPods know when you begin speaking to someone else and will automatically lower the volume of your music or podcast so you can finish the conversation. The volume returns to normal when you're done speaking.
With Personalized Volume, the AirPods will learn your listening preferences over time and eventually adjust automatically to match your preferred setting and environment. This is a feature you can turn on or off in the settings.
Voice Isolation functions during phone calls. It relies on the H2 chip, mics, and machine learning algorithms to assess background noise and isolate your voice so callers hear just you and not the background noise. This feature works really well.
Bose and Sony offer some of these features, and they generally work fine, but Apple's AirPods manage them more seamlessly and effectively.
Sound: Powerful and Immersive, With a Bass-Heavy Lean
Apple says the H2 chip, high-dynamic-range amplifier, digital signal processing, and new EQ algorithms give the AirPods Max 2 improved sound over the originals. I'd liken the improvement to what my ears heard when testing the AirPods Pro 3 versus the Pro 2: The sound is definitely better, but the jump here isn't quite as large.
(Credit: Eric Zeman)There are so many ways to listen to the AirPods Max 3 and even more factors, internal and external, that will impact your listening experience. These include your source device, the codecs it supports, the file quality and EQ settings you choose, and whether you're streaming local files from your device to the headphones or tracks via the internet to your device. For the purposes of this review, I tested every manner there is, but focused on lossless files stored locally with all EQs set to off.
Going through our test tracks, the AirPods hit all the high notes (pun intended). Beginning with The Knife's "Silent Shout," the 40mm drivers easily pound out the driving bass notes throughout the track. They are clear, defined, and have a satisfying amount of thump. The disjointed melody that jumps up and down is clean, crisp, and punchy. The intoned vocals that come and go are effective and strike the right balance in the mix. I appreciate the feel of this track—as it's meant to be felt.
Kendrick Lamar's "Loyalty." showcases the AirPods strengths. The song has low, mid, and high frequencies that demand careful attention to their placement in the mix, and the AirPods get them exactly right. The string of sub-bass notes at the song's 34-second mark all thrum with deep resonance, a feat few headphones can match. Lamar and Rihanna's vocals are clear, and the cymbal tick-tick-ticks have a nice crisp attack. The sub-bass at the song's 2:35 mark is the best I've heard from headphones.
Bill Callahan's "Drover," a track that relies almost entirely on acoustic instruments, is in many ways the opposite of "Loyalty." and yet the headphones do a great job here, too. Callahan's vocals are deep and rich, the driving drums keep time in a tight fashion, the strumming guitar has a clean timbre, and the violin licks dance through with presence. The stereo soundstage allows each instrument to find its own space in the mix without getting lost.
John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary could have more depth to my ears, but it mostly succeeds. This orchestral track features many voices and instruments, all of which somehow find a way to be heard. This track is mid-heavy, yet the lows and highs come through with presence and clarity, giving them the right amount of weight.
I tested the headphones with many more songs than these, and if one thing is clear to me, it's that the AirPods ignore strict accuracy and dial up the bass a bit. I often found them overly boomy, even when listening with the EQ off. I was only able to get rid of the effect by selecting the Reduce Bass EQ option in Apple Music, which goes too far in the other direction. Of course, a user-adjustable EQ would let me fine-tune the sound to my exact preference. In the end, the boominess detracts slightly from the overall clarity.
Bose and Sony employ more natural-sounding EQs. To my ears, the Sony outmatches Apple thanks to its more accurate, balanced tuning, which isn't boomy. Bose adds a bit more bass to the mix than Sony, for that signature Bose sound many find appealing.
In the end, I can only speak for myself, and I prefer a more neutral tuning for headphones. Sony offers the most natural sound to my ears, followed by Bose and then Apple. However, you may love the extra kick of bass provided by the AirPods Max 2.
Mics: Class-Leading Clarity for Calls and Recording
The AirPods Max 2 have nine total microphones to assist with your voice calls and ANC. As mentioned, the Voice Isolation tool ensures that your voice calls are crystal clear. I have not experienced clearer calls on any other pair of headphones. This applies to FaceTime, Google Meet, and Zoom calls, too.
Together with tools available in iOS 26, the Max 2 microphones let you record "studio-quality" audio. Apple says the mics support beamforming, which captures more natural-sounding voices. This gives creators who record on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac the ability to achieve higher-quality audio from the headphones directly when they need to wear them while recording.