Apple's original AirPods Max have always been difficult to recommend.

On the plus side, they sound great and feel very solid despite being heavy, but their charging case is barely there, offering little protection. There's also no off button, which remains one of Apple's weirdest design decisions ever (next to the inability to use the Magic Mouse while it's charging, of course). Above everything else, $550 is a lot for a pair of headphones. With these shortcomings in mind, I hoped Apple's AirPods Max 2 would address at least some of them.

Unfortunately, that's not the case, but just like with the first-generation AirPods Max, that doesn't make them bad over-ear headphones. The best way to put it is that the AirPods Max 2 are more of an incremental upgrade than a reinvention. New features include the H2 chip, which first appeared in the AirPods Pro 2 in 2022, adding features like adaptive audio, conversation awareness, live translation, and 1.5x better active noise cancellation, alongside improved high-dynamic-range amplifiers.

About this review: Apple sent XDA the AirPods Max 2 used in this review. The company had no input into its contents, nor saw them before publication.

Pricing, specs, and availability

The AirPods Max 2 feature 20 hours of listening time on a single charge with active noise cancellation enabled. Other features include nine microphones — eight for active noise cancellation and three for voice pickup — the Digital Crown spinning wheel, and a button for switching between active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode.

Like the last AirPods Max revision, there's a USB-C port for charging. The same case is back, and the only way to turn the AirPods Max 2 off is to put them in it. Additionally, each magnetic ear cushion can once again be removed for cleaning or replacement. There's now support for 24-bit/48kHz lossless audio when you connect the AirPods Max 2 over USB-C. Lastly, the AirPods Max 2 feature Bluetooth 5.3 and weigh 13.6oz (386g).

Apple's AirPods Max 2 cost $550 and are available in Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, and Orange.

The AirPods Max 2 are more familiar than they should be

Their predecessor's key issues are still around

One of the best things about the AirPods Max 2 is their build quality. Everything from the aluminum ear cups and magnetic cushions, to the stainless steel headband frame, feels durable and premium. Over the six years that I used the original AirPods Max, I often wore them in precarious situations where they'd accidentally knock against other objects or in some cases outright fall off, whether I was outside gardening, renovating my bathroom, or organizing the cords under my desks.

Even with a few minor tumbles and bumps, they're still scratch and scuff-free, and while I can't confirm the AirPods Max 2 will be as durable, that seems to be the case so far. One thing I've noticed with my original AirPods Max is that the headband's knit mesh fabric has started to sag and deteriorate. Given the AirPods Max 2 feature the same material, my guess is they'll eventually suffer the same fate.

The AirPods Max 2 are also still very weighty, and if you plan to wear them all day, you'll start to feel this weight at some point, whether it's pressure on the top of your head or the ear cups, especially if you plan to wear the over-ear headphones while exercising. In comparison, Sony's WH-1000XM6 and Bose's Ultra Headphones both weigh 8.9oz (254g), making them considerably lighter. I had hoped that Apple would shave off a few ounces with the AirPods Max 2, but that's not the case here.

The lackluster case is back, too. I still don't understand why this flexible wrap is the route Apple took yet again. They barely protect the AirPods Max 2, leaving their top band and the bottom of each ear cup entirely exposed. This isn't a case I'd trust to drop the AirPods Max 2 in, so I couldn't confidently toss them in a backpack or suitcase. I was really hoping we'd get a real case for the AirPods Max 2, but that hasn't happened.

Once again, the case is the only way to shut off the AirPods Max 2, which is a perplexing decision on Apple's part and doesn't make sense for headphones. Sure, they enter a deep sleep mode when in their case, which allows the battery to last for months in that state, but I'd prefer a simple off button.

Apple's top-tier headphones still sound great

Lossless audio support is a welcome addition

The original AirPods Max feature excellent noise-cancelling, and the AirPods Max 2 kick things up a notch. I work from home and have a very active 10-month-old son. With noise-cancelling on, I can't hear him or my partner upstairs, and even if they're on the same floor as me, my kid's high-pitched squeals of joy sound extremely muffled. Apple claims that the AirPods Max 2's noise-cancelling offers a 1.5x improvement over the first-generation AirPods Max, and I'd say that's accurate.

Transparency mode is also still great, and like with the first-generation AirPods Max, I find myself using it when I'm running outside. The outside world sounds as if my ears aren't covered at all whenever I have the feature turned on. I'm also a big fan of Conversation Awareness, which lowers the AirPods Max volume when you start talking and shifts to transparency mode, allowing you to talk to someone while still wearing the headphones. I've found this feature really comes in handy when my partner comes downstairs to my office to chat, or when I'm wearing over-ear headphones while I'm out and about and need to speak to someone.

Thanks to the addition of the H2 chip, there are other new features that, if you've used other versions of Apple's recent AirPods, you'll likely find very familiar. There's Adaptive Audio, Live Translation, better audio recording, gesture-based Siri interactions, low-latency over Bluetooth, voice isolation, and more. All of these features work just as well as they did with the AirPods Pro 2, especially Adaptive Audio, which adjusts ANC levels based on the noise in your environment.

Voice Isolation is another notable addition that makes it actually possible to use the AirPods Max 2's built-in mic for meetings and phone calls, something I wasn't comfortable doing with their predecessors, given how bad they made my voice sound. That said, it's weird that the headphones don't feature the AirPods Pro 3's H3 chip, though I don't see health-tracking features ever making their way to the AirPods Max 2, so it makes sense to some extent.

Then there are the audio quality improvements. Like most of the changes in the AirPods Max 2, they're subtle but still noticeable, thanks to the headphones' new amp and the H2 chip's extra processing power. There's more bass now, but the highs and lows are still noticeable and separated, creating a chilled-out sound profile that makes it easier to hear the separation between instruments and various vocals.

Whether I'm listening to more guitar-driven music like The Menzinger's "Chance Encounters" or pumping something with substantially more bass like 50 Cent's "Window Shopper," everything sounds great playing in the AirPods Max 2. 24-bit/48 kHz lossless audio support is a welcome new feature, too, but I've never noticed that much of a difference with the high-quality audio format and prefer to just use Bluetooth. Still, it's nice that it's there and should have been included with the first-generation AirPods Max.

Should you buy the AirPods Max 2

If you own the original AirPods Max, and they're still working fine, I'd say you're safe to skip the AirPods Max 2. In many ways, Apple's new over-ear headphones are the definition of an incremental upgrade, despite the wave of new features introduced by the H2 chip. The fact that they're still weighty, and their case hasn't been improved, is undeniably disappointing, too.

Still, the AirPods Max 2 sound great, offering an aggressive audio profile that makes everything you play through them sound spectacular, and their noise cancellation remains top-tier. On the other hand, Sony's WH-1000XM6's sound just as good and are slightly cheaper, while also not feeling quite as high-quality. If you're looking for high-end headphones, the AirPods Max 2 are ultimately for you if you're an Apple user. Their key advantage is still Automatic Switching, allowing you to seamlessly move between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, without needing to mess around with Bluetooth settings.

If you're an Apple user and have the cash to spare for the pricey headphones, you won't be disappointed with the AirPods Max 2.

You should buy the AirPods Max 2 if:

• You don't already own the AirPods Max.
• You're an Apple device user.
• You appreciate high-quality audio.

You shouldn't buy the AirPods Max 2 if:

• You already own the AirPods Max.
• You're primarily an Android or Windows 11 PC user.
• You expected a generational leap.