Way back at the end of March, I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to test the new AirPods Max 2. With an all-new H2 chip, improved ANC, and a more vibrant sound, they were (and still are) some of the best headphones I've ever had the pleasure of using.
But not everything came new and improved. Much to everyone's chagrin, Apple made zero upgrades to the design or battery on the AirPods Max 2. This decision was a little baffling, if you ask me. The most common complaints with the predecessor? Poor battery life and extremely heavy weight. So why didn't Apple fix these for the "upgraded" version?
Alas, this is still a mystery, but three months later, I've spent a lot of time with the new AirPods Max 2. I've been using them as I'd use my normal headphones — at work, on the bus, at the gym, out and about — and I'm intimately familiar with them now.
Sound quality? Connectivity? Style? Top marks all round
The AirPods Max 2 are the best-sounding headphones at this price point, and I'm sorry to say this, but there's very little competition. While the Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($449) have superior ANC and comfort, the sound is too bassy and muddy for my personal sonic palate. And while the Sony WH-1000XM6 ($459) are, again, much comfier and have better call quality, there's some vibrancy missing in the sound for me.
But the AirPods Max 2 sound perfect. I honestly could not improve them. They sound so good that I forget I'm wearing headphones and feel like the music is traveling directly from the artist's mouth into my brain. The treble is clear and vibrant, the mids are balanced, detailed, and expansive, and the bass is well-rounded and rich without overpowering soft details. Yep, I have nothing bad to say about the sound quality at all. It's my perfect signature.
Connectivity is another thing I take really seriously. I want my headphones to move with me, from my phone to my laptop, and back to my phone again. Thankfully, because I have an iPhone and a MacBook, the AirPods Max 2 do just that. I can listen on all my Apple devices without having to fiddle with my settings, and this is a luxury I can't live without now.
Last, and also kind of least, is the style. I'm not the kind of person who will buy headphones purely for aesthetics, but it helps when they're pretty. Thankfully, the AirPods Max 2 are supremely pretty. The anodized aluminum ear cups are super premium and the minimalist, sleek Apple design is so simple yet effective. No egregious touch controls (unlike Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sony WH-1000XM6) and a weight-bearing mesh headband make these my perfect headphones.
Sorry, but I'm an AirPods Max 2 apologist. I feel like Apple designed them just for me.
But those "AI features"? I've not touched them once
Some people may disagree with me here, and that's fine. Life would be boring if we all shared the same opinions! But I'm not the kind of person who wants, or needs, AI in her headphones. I've gone my whole life without having a (disobedient, cloth-eared) personal assistant living in my headphones, so why would I need one now?
The Live Translation feature? Sure, I've used it for fun. I've used it after my Duolingo lessons to check I've got my pronunciation right. I used to live in South Korea, so I've used it to test my (dwindling) Korean skills.
"Siri is a glorified egg timer at this point."
But I've not used it for its intended purpose, and I really don't think I will.
The same can be said for the "improved" Siri integration. Siri is a glorified egg timer at this point, and I just use my brain instead of asking Siri. The likelihood is, she wouldn't listen anyway. Girl's got serious obedience issues — she needs military school, stat.
Of course, don't take my negativity as gospel. You may love having these features. Maybe you're always on vacation and need to communicate with people who don't speak your language, or you're super busy and need to check your calendar hands-free. But that's just not me.
These features are great if you need them, but don't ditch your non-smart headphones if you're anything like me.
But they're not for everyone
There are three types of people who should not buy the AirPods Max 2.
- No iPhone? No MacBook? No iPad? Don't get the AirPods Max 2.
- Can't drop $500 on headphones? Don't get the AirPods Max 2.
- Want "audiophile" sound? Don't get the AirPods Max 2.
There's very little point in investing in extremely expensive headphones if you don't have the ecosystem they're built for. Even though you can use AirPods Max 2 with an Android phone, you don't get the full experience. You can't customize any settings or take advantage of the AI smart features.
If you have an Android, I would recommend getting the Sony WH-1000XM6 instead, which are some of the best headphones you can get, period.
There's very little point in investing in extremely expensive headphones if you don't have the ecosystem they're built for.
Again, if you can't afford $500 on headphones (me neither), then you shouldn't buy the AirPods Max 2. To put it kindly, they're overpriced. I would go for the Soundcore Space One Pro, JBL Live 780NC, or the CMF Headphone Pro. At $199, $249, and $99 respectively, these headphones sound good, look cool, and won't break your bank.
And, finally, arguably the touchiest of all subjects — sound quality. Don't get me wrong, I love how the AirPods Max 2 sound. They scratch that audio itch perfectly. But I know Apple's sound signature can upset some people. In that case, you should invest more in headphones like the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 or the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2. Both headphones offer superior sound — and an even steeper price tag to match.
Am I going to keep using the AirPods Max 2? 100%. They are my perfect headphones. As someone who takes connectivity, ANC, and sound quality seriously (everything else I can take or leave), the AirPods Max 2 are ideal. They automatically switch between my MacBook and my iPhone and they block out every speck of sound. Of course, the best part is the sound quality — Apple's sound signature must have been designed solely for me. It's everything I want and more.
Even so, I know the AirPods Max 2 are overpriced, and that battery life makes them a pretty controversial product. But what do you think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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