Odi Productions
In this article, I’m going to share my HONEST Apple AirPods Max 2 review for those who are wondering whether they are WORTH IT. I’ll also be comparing the Apple AirPods Max 2 vs AirPods Max 1, Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, AirPods Pro 3, Bowers and Wilkins, Sennheiser, and more!
I’m going to do my best to share whether these headphones are worth it, and ideally who these headphones are for. I’ve owned these headphones for a while now and have quite a few thoughts.
I’ll be sharing my critical opinion with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, audio engineer, and tech journalist.
Let’s dive right in!
Apple AirPods Max 2 Headphones review in short
The Apple AirPods Max 2 now has best-in-class noise cancelling performance to go along with its premium build quality and materials. The sound quality is slightly refined and improved, but I would’ve wished for longer battery life. Competes with the original Apple AirPods Max 1, Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2, AirPods Pro 3, Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S3, Sonos Ace, Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2, and Sennheiser HDB 630.
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Pros and Cons
- Best-in-class noise cancelling performance
- Premium build quality
- Very good sound quality
- Apple ecosystem connectivity
- 20 hour battery life
- There’s better sound quality
- No high-res codec support
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Disclosure: These affiliate links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to keep this website 100% independent to ensure honest unfiltered reviews 🙂
Sound Quality
Initial listening impressions…
Let me start by saying that I never found the previous-generation AirPods Max 1 to sound “bad” like some people have opined online.
In fact, I actually found the original AirPods Max to sound fun, detailed, and with surprisingly decent separation and layering. Now, this is with high-res lossless source files and AAC via iPhone, which is highly optimized if you do your research.
That said, the competition has seriously heated up since the introduction of the AirPods Max 1 in December of 2020.
So with the announcement of the AirPods Max 2, I was genuinely curious how much of a step forward Apple could make with their flagship headphones.
Now I want to get one technical nitpick out of the way first: The Apple AirPods Max 2 currently does NOT support any hi-res Bluetooth codecs and is limited to AAC and SBC (16-bit / 44.1 kHz). However, it does go all the way up to Lossless Audio 24-bit / 48 kHz in Wired USB-C mode.
Also, the 40mm custom driver architecture is largely unchanged, in addition to the acoustic foam earpads and earcup dimensions in general. Essentially, the AirPods Max 2 is physically unchanged from the 1st gen.
Where the sound differences are expected to come from are a newly upgraded headphone amp and Apple’s H2 Chip, responsible for sound and noise cancelling processing.
So… what was my first impression?
I’ll be honest, I thought that the AirPods Max 2 sounded nearly identical to the Max 1, at least initially.
But over time, I started to hear some clear nuances which I’ll detail below, starting with a slightly refined sound profile…
Sound Profile
Let me be clear, the AirPods Max 2 does sound quite similar in sound profile and tuning to the original 1st gen, but it has been subtly refined in a positive way.
I would describe the AirPods Max 2’s sound profile as neutral bright, “clean”, detailed, exciting, balanced, open soundstage, vocal-forward, with tight bass.
The reason why I would say this is “refined” in a positive way from the 1st gen is due to sounding more neutral and accurate, especially due to the cleaner bass response, allowing the mids to be less muddy and more realistic in timbre.
Overall, I enjoy the tonal balance of the AirPods Max 2, it’s quite mature and surprisingly clinical.
If I had to critique it, the APM2 can sometimes sound “thin” and a bit too sterile when it comes to warmth and musicality, in exchange for sounding quite detailed and open.
Full Sound Test
I am hearing a slightly improved sound from the 1st gen, both in technical sound quality and tonal balance.
This improvement is very much in line with an improved headphone amp first and foremost, translating to a very “clean” sound that scales well with volume and has minimal distorition.
I’m actually a bit surprised by how clinical and measured the AirPods Max 2 sounds, almost more like a studio tool than a consumer headphone.
Start with the bass, this has been most noticeably improved over the 1st gen.
The bass is clean, tight, controlled, and reaches down to the sub-bass frequencies. I think the bass response being tightened up actually results in a more “tactile” impact, although not a ton of slam.
I like the bass quality but I think it can be a bit lean for my tastes, even moreso if you’re a basshead.
The mids have been improved and are quite detailed with a fairly realistic timbre, although at times doesn’t sound “full” or warm.
Thanks to this, the vocals are pretty forward which I do prefer.
The treble is very detailed, and there is pretty good separation and layering thanks to the new headphone amp.
I find these to be more treble-forward and airy, hence the “neutral bright” sound profile, but it never really gets sibilant or harsh which I enjoy.
Overall, the AirPods Max 2 is a very “clean” headphone that is nicely balanced and surprisingly detailed. It doesn’t have any glaring flaws, but it also doesn’t sound that “emotional” or “special”.
It’s a bit of a shame because when listening in Wired USB-C mode that unlocks Lossless Audio, I hear the AirPods Max 2’s full potential and it gives it just the edge to compete on a slightly higher level.
In wired mode, the APM2’s clinical sound is enhanced even further to be impressively resolving with slightly better dynamics. It becomes a really enjoyable experience for critical listening.
So without support for a high-res codec or custom EQ, the AirPods Max 2 ends up sounding very good, but not truly “audiophile” to my ears.
vs Apple AirPods Max (1st Gen)
I would say the AirPods Max 1 sounds 90-95% similar to the AirPods Max 2, in terms of both sound profile and sound quality.
It wasn’t an immediately noticeably improvement, but over time, the subtle differences became more and more clearer with the 2nd Gen.
Let me be clear, the AirPods Max 2’s sound quality is improved over the 1st gen, but how noticeable that is will depend on whether one is an audiophile or casual listener.
The tightened up bass, more detailed mids, improved separation, layering, soundstage, and headroom are all in line with a headphone amp upgrade.
I’d say that the differences start to compound when you add everything up, to about a 10% improvement in overall sound quality.
This is most notably heard in Lossless Audio wired USB-C mode for both headphones back to back. The 1st gen sounds grainier, with a boomier bass and more recessed mids.
vs Sony WH-1000XM6
This one is quite close, but out of the box, I slightly prefer the the AirPods Max 2.
The Sony XM6 is also neutral in tuning, but a bit darker and warmer compared to the “neutral bright” of the AirPods Max 2.
I think this plays in the AirPods Max 2’s favor which sounds more open, exciting, and musical.
By contrast, the Sony XM6 is smoother and more relaxed in its presentation.
The XM6 is more “accurate”, but comes across sounding a bit flat in terms of both dynamics and soundstage.
Now, where the XM6 evens things out is its high-res LDAC support and custom 10-band EQ.
With both of those activated, I find both headphones to be on par with each other.
But in stock form, the AirPods Max 2 wins. Especially because the XM6 needs more EQ than I’d like to be truly enjoyable.
vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2
Out of the box, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 is warmer, more bass-heavy, and more musical than the AirPods Max 2.
I was just praising the AirPods Max 2’s separation and layering, but surprisingly, the Bose QCU2 matches it and then some perhaps.
It does help that the Bose supports aptX Adaptive, a high-res codec similar to the Sony XM6’s LDAC.
Also similar to the Sony, the Bose has a simpler 3-band EQ that is surprisingly effective, and less of a hassle than the 10-band on the Sony’s.
The AirPods Max 2 is more neutral and clinical than the Bose, but I find the Bose to just be more enjoyable from a music-listening standpoint, while also matching the level of detail in the treble and mids.
The APM2 has a cleaner and tighter bass response, but the Bose is much more impactful with more quantity and slam, although less focused.
Overall, I think the Bose has the slight edge in sound quality and musicality, because it can essentially do everything the AirPods Max 2 can, but with a more “fun” presentation.
Sound Quality Score: 8.8 out of 10
Comfort
The Apple AirPods Max 2 is one of the heaviest headphones we’ve tested:
- Bose QuietComfort (2023 model) – 236.1 grams
- Sony WH 1000XM5 – 245.9 grams
- Sony WH 1000XM4 – 251.6 grams
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (1st gen) – 254.4 grams
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) – 262.2 grams
- Beats Studio Pro – 268.6 grams
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 – 292.9 grams
- Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2e – 305.2 grams
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 – 312.0 grams
- Sennheiser HDB 630 – 313.4 grams
- Sonos Ace – 318.1 grams
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 – 320.1 grams
- Bang & Olufsen H95 – 323 grams
- Focal Bathys – 350 grams
- Focal Bathys MG – 365.5 grams
- Bang & Olufsen H100 – 375.6 grams
- Dali IO-12 – 379.4 grams
- Apple AirPods Max 2 – 384.4 grams
- Apple AirPods Max – 385.0 grams
The weight. The AirPods Max 1 and 2 are the heaviest wireless noise cancelling headphones we’ve tested for the class.
That said, you’d be surprised how Apple was able to mitigate the weight with the mesh headband design, resulting in virtually zero top-of-head pressure.
Now where you will feel that weight is in the earcups and with a slight clamping force, although it’s not too strong for my tastes, thankfully.
One thing I like about the AirPods Max 2 is it has large earcup interior space, so my ears are mostly free inside of there.
The “acoustic foam” earpad cushions are decently supportive, and doesn’t seem to get hot as quickly as typical leather. That said, I do prefer the feel of leather for earpads, as the foam is not as soft on the skin.
In contrast, my ears press against the shallower Sony WH-1000XM6 earcup’s fabric mesh.
All in all, I think the AirPods Max 2 is comfortable once you get used to the weight, but when tested back-to-back with an “elite” comfort headphone like Bose QC Ultra 2 that weighs 120 grams lighter, it’s clear that there’s levels to comfort.
Comfort Score: 8.0 out of 10
Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality
Features
The Apple AirPods Max 2 was released in April 2026 and has the typical modern wireless ANC headphone features:
- Apple H2 chip
- Bluetooth 5.3 (NO high-res codec)
- Lossless Audio (24-bit / 48 kHz) via Wired USB-C
- Multi-point connectivity
- Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and Head-Tracking
- “Live Translation”
- Head Gestures
- Digital Crown camera remote for iPhone/iPad
- Studio-quality microphone recording
- Multiple built-in microphones for taking calls
- Active Noise Cancelling
- “Adaptive” mode: Blend between Noise Cancelling and Transparency Mode in real-time
- Transparency Mode
- Includes Smart Case
Apple AirPods Max 2 Battery Life
The Apple AirPods Max 2 has 20 hours of battery life on a single charge.
- Marshall Monitor III – 70 hours (ANC on), 100 hours (ANC off)
- Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 SE – 60 hours (ANC on), 100 hours (ANC off)
- Audeze Maxwell – 80 hours (no ANC included)
- Sennheiser HDB 630 – 60 hours
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 – 60 hours
- Dali IO-12 – 35 hours (ANC on)
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 – 34 hours (ANC on)
- Focal Bathys MG – “Over 30 hours” (ANC on)
- Sony WH-1000XM6 – 40 hours (ANC off), 30 hours (ANC on)
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) – 30 hours
- Sony WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM4 – 30 hours
- Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Px8 – 30 hours
- Sonos Ace – 30 hours
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra (1st Gen) – 24 hours
- Apple AirPods Max 2 – 20 hours
- Apple AirPods Max – 20 hours
In my testing, I found this figure to be accurate.
Unfortunately, I would say that battery life is the weakest aspect for the AirPods Max 2, and was hoping it would have been improved from the 1st Gen.
At 20 hours, this is now at least 10 hours less than most of its competitors, and the lowest rating we’ve tested to date.
Add in that the AirPods Max 2 doesn’t have a dedicated OFF function, so it typically has to stay “awake” even in low-power mode, then the short battery life is shortened even more than it has to be.
Build Quality
One strong advantage of the AirPods Max 2 is premium build quality, especially against its plasticky competitors from Sony and Bose at its price range.
Featuring aluminum earcups and stainless steel hinges, the AirPods Max 2 is one of the more premium headphones tested, and we’ve tested luxury headphones in the $1,500 to $2,200 range.
Now there is a noticeable lack of leather, in favor of the “acoustic foam” earpads and soft TPU wrapping the stainless steel headband core.
Practicality
Unlike the luxury headphones in the $1,000+ range, the AirPods Max 2 is actually quite daily drivable.
Now although it doesn’t fold or collapse, the strong materials leave me with confidence of throwing the AirPods Max 2 into a bag in its smart case.
I would much prefer an actual hardshell case, but I haven’t noticed any wear for my original AirPods Max 1 that shares the same design and materials.
Also, the design is fairly sleek and fashionable, so they are easy to be worn out in public or in the gym without much issue. I can’t say the same for some bulkier and frankly, goofier-looking headphones in the class.
Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality Score: 8.0 out of 10
Apple AirPods Max 2 Noise Cancelling Performance
Apple claims a 50% improvement in noise cancelling for the AirPods Max 2 versus the original AirPods Max.
I had previously put the AirPods Max 1 in the “elite” tier of noise cancelling, but I had always noted that I found the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 to be stronger overall.
Add in the Sonos Ace which received a firmware update to further improve its ANC, and that rounds out the elite tier of noise cancelling.
When I heard of the 1.5x improvement in ANC for the AirPods Max 2, I was excited and felt that this should easily put it at best-in-class over the Sony, Bose, and Sonos.
So how does it really compare?
The AirPods Max 2 was immediately impressive in its noise cancelling capabilities, delivering nearly dead-silence with no noticeable hiss or white noise.
I think the 1.5x stronger noise cancelling claims are pretty believable.
Now, I will say that testing back-to-back with the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QC Ultra 2, that all 3 were quite competitive with one another.
If I had to rank it now, I’d say the AirPods Max 2 pulls ever so slightly ahead of the Sony XM6, with the Bose QC Ultra 2 and Sonos Ace tying for 3rd place.
As another Apple reference, the AirPods Pro 3 earbuds are one of the most impressive for noise cancelling, especially after a recent firmware update.
I’d put the AirPods Max 2 slightly above the AirPods Pro 3, but the earbuds are surprisingly competitive, all things considered.
Thanks to the H2 chip, both the noise cancelling and transparency mode has been improved, with the transparency mode being more natural-sounding now and arguably best-in-class.
Noise Cancelling Score: 10 out of 10
Value
The AirPods Max 2 retails at $549 USD, the same price as the original AirPods Max 1 when introduced in 2020.
Interestingly, the price is already down to $529 USD on Amazon, at least for its launch but perhaps will be on sale later in the year for Black Friday.
The AirPods Max 2’s direct competition hovers around $450 USD, consisting of the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2.
I will say, due to its improved noise cancelling, superior build quality, and Apple ecosystem connectivity, the AirPods Max 2 is a better value now than before.
That said, there is significantly better sound quality for the money, with the likes of the Sennheiser HDB 630 and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 being available for under $500 USD each.
One surprise Apple alternative to the AirPods Max 2 would be the AirPods Pro 3, that can frequently be found on sale for under $200 USD.
For half the price, you will get the same Apple connectivity, competitive noise cancelling, an arguably more comfortable form factor, and “good enough” sound quality.
Value Score: 7.5 out of 10
Is the Apple AirPods Max 2 Worth it?
Although the AirPods Max 2 did not take as much of a leap forward in sound quality and battery life as I would’ve liked, it’s surprisingly justifiable thanks to its best-in-class noise cancelling and premium build quality.
I’ve tested luxury headphones costing up to 4x the AirPods Max 2’s $549 USD retail price, and I’d rather have the AirPods Max 2 from a practicality and value standpoint.
Against its competition from Sony and Bose, the AirPods Max 2 wins on build quality, noise cancelling, and Apple connectivity.
I want to reiterate that there is noticeably better sound quality for the money, with the likes of the Sennheiser HDB 630 and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 being available for under $500 USD each.
If you can spend a little more, the Focal Bathys and Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are excellent choices for superior sound quality while matching the premium build quality.
Ironically, one interesting alternative is the AirPods Max 1, which can present a better value if it starts to dip into the $400 price range and below.
Lastly, I do think another great alternative is the $200-ish AirPods Pro 3 earbuds, with newly-improved noise cancelling, the same Apple connectivity, and decent sound quality.
Also, if you’d like to support 100% independent unbiased reviews, consider using my affiliate links to shop and even save money! Thank you.
Some very Strong Alternatives in this class of noise cancelling headphones are:
- Sony WH-1000XM6
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen
- Apple AirPods Max
- Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S3
- Sennheiser HDB 630
- Sonos Ace
- Sennheiser Momentum 4
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
- Focal Bathys MG
- Dali IO-12
- Focal Bathys
- Audeze Maxwell
Some Relevant Comparisons in this class of noise cancelling headphones are:
- Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra vs Apple AirPods Max
- Sonos Ace vs Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Overall Scoring Breakdown
Sound Quality (50% of score): 8.8 / 10
Comfort (10% of score): 8.0 / 10
Features / Battery Life / Build Quality / Practicality (10% of score): 8.0 / 10
Noise Cancelling (20% of score): 10 / 10
Value (10% of score): 7.5 / 10
Overall: 8.75 / 10
Order the LATEST VERSION for the LOWEST PRICE AVAILABLE (Do NOT pay retail):
Disclosure: These affiliate links may provide a discount and in return, give us a commission in order to keep this website 100% independent to ensure honest unfiltered reviews 🙂
How We Tested and Our Methodology
RecordingNOW.com is a 100% independent publisher with over 10 years of experience testing and reviewing consumer electronics and headphones.
We currently purchase all of the products we test with our own money, and are not paid by any company or manufacturer to influence our opinions or decisions.
After purchasing the product, we conduct up to hundreds of hours of detailed hands-on testing in a controlled, acoustically-treated environment. Noise cancelling performance is tested in the real-world, primarily on airplane flights, coffee shops, and walking around large metropolitan city environments.
ODi Productions is our resident expert and author of this article, with 10 years of experience as a professional music producer, tech journalist, and audiophile.
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