Apple AirPods Max 2 Review: Finally Worth The Pricetag?

How I Tested the Apple AirPods Max 2: I’ve spent the last week testing the new AirPods Max across daily commutes, office work, and focused listening sessions, plugged in at my desk with lossless audio enabled, to see what has actually changed and whether they justify the price. They’ve already replaced every other pair in my arsenal, and I will update this review if anything changes over the coming months.

The 60-Second Verdict

The main takeaway from my time with the Apple AirPods Max 2 is that they finally feel every bit of their price point. They can compete with the similarly priced Sennheiser HDB630s in terms of audio quality while also giving the class-leading Sony WH-1000XM6 a serious run for its money in active noise cancellation (ANC). Sure, the design and carry case might still be a pain point for some buyers. But if you’re an iPhone user (and the price point doesn’t scare you), these are the best noise-cancelling wireless headphones money can buy.

Pros

• The New H2 Chip: Unlocks phenomenal computational audio, including Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness.
• Top-Tier ANC: The 48,000-times-per-second processing makes it neck-and-neck with Sony for the best noise cancellation on the market.
• Flawless Ecosystem Integration: Unmatched auto-switching between Apple devices and class-leading head-tracked Spatial Audio.
• Wired Lossless Support: 24-bit audio via a simple USB-C connection is a great addition.

Cons

• The Weight: At 385 grams, they are significantly heavier than plastic rivals, leading to “crown fatigue” on long flights.
• Battery Life: Still capped at 20 hours, which lags behind Sony (30 hours) and Sennheiser (60 hours).
• Price: Finally feels like it’s AUD$999, but it’s still prohibitively expensive for many buyers. No cheaper over-ear alternative in the Apple line-up.

Here’s my scorecard for the Apple AirPods Max 2:

Category	Score
Design	5/5
Audio Quality	5/5
ANC	5/5
Battery	4/5
Value	4/5

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What’s New: AirPods Max 2 vs. AirPods Max

They might look the same, but the AirPods Max 2 have received some serious updates under their bubbly exterior. Notably, the addition of the H2 chip brings a ton of computational audio upgrades, like Adaptive Audio, which dynamically blends your active noise cancellation with transparency mode.

Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume of your music the moment you start talking to someone and adds ambient voices, so you don’t even have to touch the Digital Crown. On the other side of the equation, Voice Isolation aggressively scrubs out wind and traffic when you are on a phone call, and if that wasn’t enough, it also features Personalised Volume that actually learns how loud you like your music in different environments over time. It’s these ownership perks that don’t get the spotlight on release day, but pay for themselves in the long run.

Besides the H2, the headline upgrade is to ANC, which delivers “1.5x more effective ANC” by processing background noise 48,000 times per second.

Feature	AirPods Max (1st Gen)	AirPods Max 2
Processor	H1 Chip	H2 Chip
Noise Cancellation	Standard ANC	1.5x More Effective ANC
Smart Features	Basic Transparency Mode	Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.3
Wired Audio	Requires Lightning to 3.5mm cable	Lossless Audio via USB-C
Siri Controls	Voice only (“Hey Siri”)	Siri Head Gestures
Battery Life	20 Hours	20 Hours
Charging Port	Lightning	USB-C
Weight & Case	385 grams / Smart Case	385 grams / Smart Case
Price	AUD$999	AUD$999

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Design, Comfort, and The Case

The AirPods Max 2 are available in the same five colours introduced during the minor 2024 USB-C refresh: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, and Orange.

They’re also made from the same machined, anodised aluminium ear cups and stainless steel headband as the previous generation, but that’s a positive in my books. Whether you love or loathe the over-ear headphone aesthetic, it’s in vogue, and the AirPods Max have become the ultimate status symbol because of their price. Unlike so many over-ear headphones, which are pragmatic, clunky, and chunky, these headphones have always looked stylish. Why change?

Well, the main reason you would switch to plastic like competitors from Sony and Bose is weight. Coming in at 385 grams (13.6 oz), the AirPods Max 2 are significantly heavier than the Sony WH-1000XM6 (254 g) and the Bose QC Ultra (252 g). It’s not that you get a sore neck from wearing them for extended periods at your desk—they’re not as heavy as the Apple Vision Pro 2—but you might start to feel them on long-haul flights.

The breathable knit-mesh canopy was a pain point for many AirPods Max owners, and it is the same headband as before. I’ll report back during my

Unlike some reviewers, I have no issue with the “bra-style” Smart Case. Sony improved the WH1000-XM6’s design, allowing it to fold into the case, but it still suffers from the same volume-measurement issues as before. Sure, it folds, but when you try to pack the case in your carry-on luggage, it still takes up a lot of room. On the flipside, I have no such issue with the AirPods Max 2 because I can pack in and around the headband. If I pack them around a water bottle, I might be anxious, but I wouldn’t do that anyway.

Design Verdict: Unlike many of their plastic competitors, the AirPods Max 2 remain the most premium-feeling headphones on the market. Their relatively heavy weight is still an issue for some who plan to use them for hours at a time and the Smart Case is also a carry over. However, the style is iconic, and they feel every bit their price point.

Audio Quality and Spatial Audio

While the physical design hasn’t changed, the listening experience gets a nice update. Thanks to that new H2 chip and a high-dynamic-range amplifier, the AirPods Max 2 have been fully retuned to deliver a wider, more refined soundstage than their predecessors.

It’s important to note from the start that the brand hasn’t tuned them to sound like perfectly neutral studio monitors. The sound is tuned for enjoyment, with an energetic sound profile that remains remarkably well controlled, likely due to advanced algorithms working in the background.

To ensure my testing was consistent and accurate, I selected only tracks available in 24-bit ALAC, the highest-quality format the AirPods Max 2 can receive when plugged into a USB-C port. I tested both Spatial (Dolby Atmos) and lossless-only songs separately to minimise sound processing.

When testing the bass response on Kaytranada’s “Vex Oh” (feat. GoldLink & Ari PenSmith), the low-end thump was authoritative and deep, but it never bled into or muddied the mid-range vocals. I noticed the same when I switched to Curren$y & The Alchemist’s “Whale Watching” (feat. Styles P), where the treble really shines through. You can hear the physical texture of the instruments, including the slide of the guitar fretboard and the intake of a rapper’s breath.

They compare well to the analytical, generally flat response of the Sennheiser HDB630s out of the box. Granted, the equaliser on the Sennheiser is on a professional level, but if you’re not interested in tuning your own sound, then you’ll be more than satisfied with the AirPods Max 2. When I switch over to Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” the clarity of the mids and treble really shines through. The Sennheisers might still edge them out for pure audiophile neutrality, but for daily listening, the AirPods Max 2 will offer a richer, more engaging profile for most ears.

If you are watching movies on an iPad or listening to Dolby Atmos (Spatial) tracks on Apple Music, this is where the AirPods Max 2 absolutely obliterate the competition.

The head-tracked Spatial Audio is executed like no other brand can. When you turn your head, the audio stays anchored to your screen, creating an incredibly convincing illusion that you are sitting in a premium home theatre rather than wearing headphones. Competitors like Bose and Dyson have their own immersive audio tricks, but Apple’s implementation remains the gold standard.

When plugged directly into a Mac or iPad via a USB-C to USB-C cable, the AirPods Max 2 support high-resolution lossless audio up to 24-bit/48kHz. Hardcore audiophiles might turn their noses up at the fact that it doesn’t support the absolute highest 192kHz ceiling, but the jump to 24-bit wired lossless is meaningful to Apple Music users who have had access to lossless audio for years but no lossless device to listen on. Tests might have shown that 24-bit is almost imperceptible compared to standard 16-bit audio (especially at 48kHz), but being able to extract the most from your headphones and the subscription services you pay for are the real advantages for listeners.

Audio Verdict: The AirPods Max 2 deliver an uber-premium soundstage that balances punchy dynamics with crystal-clear vocals. While purists might prefer the neutral tones of the Sennheiser HDB630s, the AirPods Max 2 offer a more entertaining, cinematic listen, especially with Spatial Audio.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency

Apple claims the H2 chip delivers “1.5x more effective ANC” than the previous generation. While it’s hard to measure exactly 1.5x in the real world, the upgrade is undeniably significant when worn back-to-back with the 2024 updated model.

The H2 chip processes background noise 48,000 times per second, and you can feel it working the moment you turn it on. During my commute, it completely erased the low-frequency rumble of the train engine (something the original AirPods Max always struggled to fully mute). High-frequency noises, like the screech of the tracks or office chatter when I’m at my desk, are also heavily dampened, bringing it neck-and-neck with the Sony WH-1000XM6 for the title of best ANC on the market.

I’ll speak more about integration in a moment, but Adaptive Audio is where Apple truly laps the competition. The new Adaptive Audio mode dynamically blends ANC and Transparency in real-time. If you are walking down a quiet street, it lets ambient noise in, so you remain aware of your surroundings. But if a loud siren passes by, the chip instantly clamps down on that specific harsh frequency to protect your ears without completely isolating you.

It also boasts the best Conversation Awareness I’ve ever experienced in a pair of headphones, automatically dropping the music volume the second I start talking to a barista. It’s there if you need it, but you essentially never have to touch the noise control button on the headphones again.

Battery Life and Charging

It would have been nice to see Apple improve the AirPods Max 2’s battery life, but here’s something many people overlook. While other brands claim battery life of up to 60 hours, the AirPods Max 2 offer up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Spatial Audio enabled. Others, like the Sony, still have up to 30 hours, but it’s a much smaller gap than some brands would have you believe.

During my week of testing, this proved fairly accurate. I listen to music a little louder than I should, and I got about 19.5 hours of mixed listening and phone calls before they died. You do start to notice the ANC effectiveness taper off as the battery dies, but that’s fairly standard.

Fortunately, the switch to USB-C makes charging far less agonising. You no longer have to carry a dedicated Lightning cable, and a quick 5-minute charge will net you roughly 1.5 hours of listening time.

AirPods Max vs. The Competition

Here’s a snapshot of how the AirPods Max 2 compare to the competition:

• vs. Sennheiser HDB630: While everyone will compare the AirPods Max 2 to the Sony XM6, I think its closest competitor is actually the Sennheiser. Price dictates headphone purchases more than anything, so if someone is shopping for the Sony, it’s unlikely they will cough up the extra $300 for the AirPods Max 2. Both the Sennheiser HDB630 and the APM2 sit at the top tier of wireless audio fidelity, both supporting 24-bit lossless playback via USB-C. Back-to-back testing them against each other, the Sennheisers deliver a slightly warmer, more analytical soundstage that purists might prefer, but they lack the head-tracked Spatial Audio that makes watching movies with the AirPods Max 2 a truly cinematic experience.
• vs. Sony WH-1000XM6: The Sony WH-1000XM6 are still the undisputed king of battery life with up to 30 hours with ANC on. However, the AirPods Max 2 easily win when it comes to build materials (aluminium vs. plastic), and the seamless ecosystem integration with iOS makes the user experience leagues above. If you travel constantly and don’t plan to use the AirPods regularly, consider the Sony. If you want to live in the ecosystem with your headphones, stretch and buy the Apple.
• vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra: I still think Bose is the master of pure comfort. The QC Ultras are significantly lighter than the AirPods Max 2 because of their plastic construction, and having used them on long-haul flights, I don’t experience the same “crown fatigue” as with the AirPods Max 2. However, Apple’s H2 chip makes the Transparency Mode and Conversation Awareness feel much more natural than Bose’s current offerings.
• vs. Dyson OnTrac: Now half-price at many retailers, I wouldn’t count out the Dyson OnTrac, which matches the AirPods Max in quirky (albeit heavy) premium metallic design and offers incredible customisation options with its swappable caps and cushions. However, when it comes to computational audio, Dyson’s ANC and transparency modes feel a generation behind the H2 chip powering the AirPods Max 2.

I haven’t had a chance to test the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 (I only have the PX7 S3), but if you’re interested in a comparison with the PX8, please let me know, and I’ll investigate.

Final Verdict: Are They Worth It?

It looks like an incremental upgrade from the surface, but the upgrades under the skin of the new Apple AirPods Max 2 take Apple’s flagship headphones to the top of the market (where they’re priced).

Who Should Buy These: iPhone and Mac loyalists who prioritise premium build materials (aluminium/steel) over weight, and those who want the absolute best Spatial Audio experience for watching movies or listening to Dolby Atmos tracks. If you live in the Apple ecosystem, the convenience, sound quality, and ANC capabilities more than justify the AUD$999 price tag.

Who Should Skip These: If you don’t have an iPhone and don’t see the value in Spatial Audio or design, the Sony WH-1000XM6’s 30+ hours of battery life and lightweight design edge out the AirPods Max 2. Pure audiophiles who prefer a perfectly flat, analytical soundstage (and want an absurd 60 hours of battery) could also look to the Sennheiser HDB630s.