Apple announced the AirPods Max 2 — the first major update to its over-ear headphones since the original launched in 2020. But practically all the old drawbacks of the model carried over to the second generation unchanged. Let’s break down where the AirPods Max 2 still fall short compared to the competition.
5 old problems that still plague the AirPods Max 2. Image: cultofmac.com
AirPods Max Weight
The AirPods Max 2 look practically identical to their predecessor. The stainless steel frame, aluminum ear cups, and mesh headband remain unchanged. The materials feel premium, but that comes at the cost of weight: the headphones weigh about 386 grams — 130 grams heavier than competitors. For comparison, the Sony WH-1000XM6 weighs approximately 254 grams while offering up to 30 hours of battery life.
The extra weight is noticeable during extended listening sessions — your neck gets tired, and the snug-fitting ear cushions, based on the experience of original AirPods Max owners, can cause condensation inside the cups during prolonged use.
Another downside: the headphones still have no power button — they only enter low-power mode when placed inside the case. If you don’t have the case handy, you can’t turn the headphones off — you just have to wait for them to go to sleep on their own. And unlike Sony and Bose, the AirPods Max 2 don’t fold — they take up a lot of space in a bag.
AirPods Max Sound: What Changed
The original AirPods Max are still praised for their sound thanks to 40-millimeter drivers. The AirPods Max 2 use exactly the same ones. That doesn’t make the sound bad — Sony’s drivers are actually even smaller, for instance — but after five years, an upgrade could have been expected.
Apple added a new amplifier with extended dynamic range, which the company claims delivers cleaner sound while preserving the signature character of the original AirPods Max. Spatial audio also promises improvements: better instrument localization, tighter bass, and more natural midrange reproduction. But all of this is thanks to the new chip and software processing, not new hardware inside the ear cups.
Same design and weight for AirPods Max — five years later. Image: cultofmac.com
AirPods Max 2 Case
The Smart Case from the original AirPods Max became a meme back in 2020 — for its purse-like shape and for the fact that it barely protects anything. The AirPods Max 2 ship with the exact same case, the design of which hasn’t changed.
Smart Case still leaves most of the headphones exposed. Image: cultofmac.com
The case leaves the headphones exposed on the top and sides — it won’t save them from scratches and bumps in a backpack. Its main function is to use magnets to put the headphones into sleep mode to conserve battery. Essentially, it’s less of a protective case and more of an “off switch,” given the lack of a power button. For headphones costing around 59,000 ₽ in Russia, you’d expect full protection, not a cosmetic pouch.
Wireless Headphones for Lossless
Lossless only via cable, no Bluetooth. Image: cultofmac.com
The AirPods Max 2 support lossless audio (uncompressed sound as close to studio quality as possible) only via a wired connection — through a USB-C cable. Over Bluetooth, the headphones still use the AAC codec, which compresses the audio. There’s no wireless lossless transmission because the current Bluetooth standard is technically incapable of handling such a data stream.
Given that Apple Music has a massive library of lossless tracks, wireless lossless transmission would have been a serious selling point. Competitors like Sony already support the LDAC codec, which, while not full lossless, transmits significantly more data than AAC. Apple has no such solution yet.
How Much Do AirPods Max 2 Cost
The AirPods Max 2 are priced at $549 — the same as the original at launch in 2020. In Russia, that’s roughly 59,000 ₽ and up. That’s $100 more than the Sony WH-1000XM6 and $100 more than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra second generation.
What do you get for that premium? Premium materials, deep integration with the Apple ecosystem — and the H2 chip. Battery life remained exactly the same — up to 20 hours with noise cancellation enabled, while the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QC Ultra Gen 2 each last up to 30 hours.
AirPods Max 2 in Midnight — the design hasn’t changed, and neither has the price. Image: cultofmac.com
Pre-orders for the AirPods Max 2 open on March 25, with deliveries starting in early April. The headphones will be available in five colors: Midnight, Starlight, Orange, Purple, and Blue.
How AirPods Max 2 Differ from AirPods Max 1
Despite all the criticisms, the H2 chip is a significant upgrade that genuinely changes the everyday experience. According to Apple, noise cancellation is 1.5 times more effective compared to the previous generation. This allows for better blocking of constant noise — airplane engines, subway trains, and commuter trains.
Thanks to the H2 in the AirPods Max, features previously available only on AirPods Pro have appeared for the first time:
- Adaptive Audio — automatic adjustment of noise cancellation and transparency levels depending on the surrounding environment.
- Conversation Awareness — the headphones automatically lower the music when you start talking to someone nearby.
- Live Translation — helps communicate with people speaking other languages on the spot, when connected to an iPhone with Apple Intelligence and iOS 26.
- Voice Isolation — during calls, the headphones isolate your voice and suppress background noise around you.
Additionally, the AirPods Max 2 have upgraded to Bluetooth 5.3 (from 5.0), which reduces audio latency — noticeable when watching video and gaming.
Who should buy the AirPods Max 2: those who are deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem.
