Apple Apple - AirPods Max 2 (USB-C) - Blue Review

The AirPods Max 2 are a luxury item for Apple die-hards. They offer seamless integration and cool features like Live Translation, but our data shows their sound and noise cancellation are just average, and they're heavy. Not worth the high price for most people.

The AirPods Max 2 are here, and they're a classic Apple move. They're a premium over-ear headphone that's deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, with new tricks like USB-C lossless audio and Live Translation. But they're also heavy, expensive, and our data shows they're not the top performers in key areas like sound and noise cancellation.

You're buying into a seamless experience with your iPhone, Mac, and iPad. Features like Personalized Spatial Audio and Conversation Awareness work brilliantly if you're all-in on Apple. But if you're looking for the absolute best sound or the most comfortable fit for the money, our numbers suggest you should look elsewhere.

Let's be real: the performance is a mixed bag. The H2 chip does deliver clean, balanced audio, but our benchmarks put the sound quality in the 36th percentile. That's middle of the pack, not best-in-class. The ANC is rated similarly, at 36th percentile. It's good, but not class-leading like Sony or Bose. The battery life is a real weak spot, ranking in the 14th percentile. Twenty hours is fine, but it's well behind many competitors. Where it shines is in the Apple-specific features—switching between devices is flawless, and the spatial audio with head tracking is genuinely immersive for movies.

At a price range of $549 to $799, the value proposition is tough to swallow. You're paying a massive premium for the Apple ecosystem and design. For that kind of money, you can get competing over-ear headphones from Sony or Bose that offer better sound, better noise cancellation, and better comfort according to our data. If you find them for $549, it's a slightly better deal, but the $799 price tag is hard to justify on performance alone. This is a luxury purchase, not a value one.

Stacked up against the competition, the AirPods Max 2 fall short on pure specs. The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones both offer superior ANC and sound quality in our tests, and they're often cheaper. Even within Apple's own lineup, the AirPods Pro 3 offer most of the same smart features in a more portable, comfortable form factor for half the price. The Max 2's only clear win is if you demand over-ear lossless audio via USB-C from an Apple product and you live entirely in their walled garden.

If you prioritize sound quality or noise cancellation above all else, skip these. Our data shows they lag behind leaders from Sony and Bose. Also, if you're on a budget, value comfort, or use Android devices, look elsewhere. You're paying for the Apple logo, not class-leading performance.

Buy these only if you are deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem and you absolutely must have over-ear headphones with features like Personalized Spatial Audio and Live Translation. For anyone else—especially Android users, frequent travelers, or audiophiles on a budget—there are better-performing and more comfortable options for less money.