Price: Maximum Dollars
Apple kept the price at $549 generation over generation. It’s nice that the headphones aren’t more expensive, given that Bose and Sony have raised the prices of their most recent premium headphones. However, both Bose and Sony’s flagship headphones are still about $100 cheaper than the AirPods Max 2.
Moving forward, the original AirPods Max may be available at a discount until inventory runs out. If you can find a great deal on them, they might be worth checking out.
Winner: Tie
Design: No Significant Upgrade
The Max 2s look identical to the originals. That’s not a bad thing, though. The headphones are still a more premium pair than anything else on the market. The metal earcups exude quality, and the Digital Crown remains one of the best and most intuitive control mechanisms for headphones available. Both pairs feature removable earcups with generous padding and a gentle clamping force.
While the metal build looks great, it's heavy. In fact, the old and new AirPods Max weigh the same at 13 ounces—far heavier than competitors from Bose or Sony. The saving grace is that the headband helps distribute the weight, and you do get used to the feel over time.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)Then there’s the case, which (unfortunately) carries over to the second-gen headphones. It’s more of a sleeve than a case, and it doesn’t really protect the headphones much at all. The Max and Max 2 include a USB-C cable for wired listening. As before, if you want to listen via analog, you’ll have to buy a separate USB-C-to-3.5mm cable.
Winner: Tie
Bluetooth and Connectivity: They Speak Fluent Apple
The AirPods Max connect via Bluetooth 5.0, while the Max 2 upgrade a few versions to Bluetooth 5.3. Both support just the AAC and SBC codecs. There’s no AptX Adaptive, no L3C, no LDAC, nothing beyond the basics, at least for wireless listening. Android users looking for higher-quality Bluetooth streaming will find better codec options from Bose and Sony.
Thankfully, there is still a way to get high-resolution audio with a wired connection. With USB-C audio, both pairs support audio at up to 24-bit/48kHz via an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Neither generation supports standard Bluetooth multipoint, which allows pairing with two devices at once. Instead, both use Apple's automatic switching, which seamlessly switches the headphones between any Apple device signed in to the same iCloud account, including an iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, this is more versatile than multipoint, since you're not capped at two devices. If you're not an Apple user, though, that advantage disappears entirely, and the missing multipoint becomes a limitation.
Winner: Tie
Battery: Unfortunately the Same
Unfortunately, Apple hasn’t improved battery life between generations. Both models offer 20 hours of battery life with noise cancellation on, and both charge over USB-C. The original AirPods Max launched with Lightning but got a mid-cycle USB-C refresh, so if you already have the USB-C version, even the charging port is unchanged.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)Twenty hours isn’t terrible, but it’s not impressive either. The Bose QuietComfort Ultras deliver 24 hours, while the Sony WH-1000XM6 can stretch to 30. Sony's headphones also charge dramatically faster, pulling three hours of listening from just three minutes on the charger. In practice, if you tend to leave the AirPods Max outside their case, you'll find yourself reaching for the charger more than you'd like. Still, with no changes between the two, this category is a tie.
Winner: Tie
App Experience: Deep Ecosystem Integration
From a software standpoint, the experience of using the Max and Max 2 is the same for a simple reason: There isn't really an app. Apple builds the settings directly into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Your device's Settings and Control Center are where you'll find all the necessary tools, rather than a standalone companion app. Head to your Bluetooth settings, tap the AirPods, and you'll find noise mode options, automatic head detection, spatial audio toggles, and a handful of other controls. It's clean and simple, and it avoids the need for a separate app.
(Credit: Apple/PCMag)The biggest gap in the software experience is the absence of an equalizer. Neither generation offers EQ controls, so you're stuck with Apple's default tuning, which feels restrictive. However, if you just want headphones that sound great out of the box without messing with settings, the missing EQ may not matter to you at all.
The AirPods Max 2 do have some software features that the originals do not. For example, Live Translation, previously only available on the AirPods Pro 3, is on board for real-time translations during calls. The Max 2's also add Personalized Volume, which can adapt the audio level to your preferences over time.
Winner: AirPods Max 2
Noise Cancellation: The Sound of Silence is Deafening
This is the biggest leap the AirPods Max 2 make over the original, and it's a meaningful one. Apple says active noise cancellation (ANC) effectiveness is up to 1.5x better thanks to the H2 chip's improved processing, and while that’s a hard claim to verify, the new headphones are certainly better. The original AirPods Max had capable noise cancellation, but competitors caught up and blew past them. The Max 2s reclaim that territory. They handle everything from the steady drone of an airplane cabin to chaotic, unpredictable street noise with impressive effectiveness. At this point, the AirPods Max 2 aren’t just better than the original—they’re the best headphones for ANC.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)Transparency mode was already a standout feature of the original AirPods Max, and the Max 2 keeps that lead. The Max 2s also add Adaptive Audio, a feature previously limited to the AirPods Pro, that intelligently blends ANC and Transparency based on your environment. It works well, though if you prefer manually controlling your noise modes, you probably won't reach for it much. The original AirPods Max don't have this feature. The new model also has Conversation Awareness, which can detect when you’re speaking, lower the volume, and activate Transparency Mode. This is a cool feature—though if you often sing along with your music, you’ll probably want to keep it disabled.
Winner: AirPods Max 2
Sound Quality: Clarity, Thy Name Is Max 2
Both generations sound excellent, but the AirPods Max 2 pull ahead. Apple added a new high-dynamic-range amplifier and updated the digital signal processing, delivering better instrument separation, a wider soundstage, and cleaner output at higher volumes. The overall character of the sound stays true to the original, with crisp highs, slightly boosted bass, and clear, well-defined mids—and yet everything sounds a bit more refined and spacious on the Max 2.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)Neither is trying to be a flat, reference-grade audiophile headphone. Consumer headphones often have a deliberate tuning philosophy, and most people will find the sound signature engaging and detailed. The AirPods Max 2 just do it a little better. Both versions support 24-bit/48kHz lossless playback over a wired USB-C connection, enabling ultra-low latency audio if you find yourself mixing music.
Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos remains a standout on both. Apple's implementation is still the best available because it supports actual Dolby Atmos surround-sound mixes rather than spatializing stereo source material algorithmically. Where Spatial Audio really shines is when watching movies and TV on Apple TV; The AirPods Max 2 make an already great experience that much better.
Winner: AirPods Max 2