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Apple AirPods Max 2 review

No. 8 of 10 in our noise-cancelling headphones ranking · Updated · How we rank

Our verdict: The Apple AirPods Max 2 ranks 8th of the 10 noise-cancelling headphones we compare, with 8.3 out of 10.

Apple AirPods Max 2

8.3/10

The AirPods Max 2 are Apple's wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling and an H2 chip. They suit iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want easy switching between devices and a metal build.

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Why it's here

  • Strong cancelling from the H2 chip, with a natural transparency mode
  • Metal and knitted-mesh build, with instant pairing across Apple devices
  • USB-C charging and wired lossless audio
  • Adaptive Audio and Live Translation for recent iPhones

Keep in mind

  • Heavy at about 386g, which tires some owners on long flights
  • About 20 hours with ANC on, the shortest battery here
  • AAC only over Bluetooth, so Android users lose most of the benefit

Why the Apple AirPods Max 2 scores 8.3

Each bar shows where it places among the 10 noise-cancelling headphones in this guide, so a full bar is 1st of 10. How happy owners are counts for most of the score.

  • How happy owners are9th of 10
  • How many rated it10th of 10
  • How new it is2nd of 10

Level with the Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) and the Apple AirPods Max 2 score the same, so either is a safe pick. The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) goes first because it is the newer design.

About the Apple AirPods Max 2

The AirPods Max 2 keep Apple's over-ear design: aluminium earcups, a knitted-mesh headband canopy and a Digital Crown for playback, volume and calls. They come in Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple and Orange. The H2 chip is the main change. Apple says it gives up to 1.5x more active noise cancellation than the previous generation, using six outward-facing and two inward-facing microphones. Expert Reviews calls the update conservative and describes the noise cancelling as excellent, close to Sony's WH-1000XM6.

Adaptive Audio adjusts the cancelling to your surroundings, and a press of the listening mode button switches to Transparency mode. Other features include Personalised Spatial Audio with head tracking, Adaptive EQ, Conversation Awareness, which lowers music when you speak, and on-head detection. Live Translation is labelled beta by Apple and needs Apple Intelligence and a compatible device. Switching between Apple devices is automatic when they share an Apple Account.

Charging is by USB-C. A wired USB-C connection carries lossless audio and ultra-low latency. Expert Reviews says lossless is limited to 24-bit/48kHz. Over Bluetooth the headphones support AAC and SBC only, so Android phones get no higher-quality codec. Apple rates battery life at up to 20 hours with ANC and Spatial Audio on. The box holds the headphones, a Smart Case, a USB-C charge cable and documentation, according to John Lewis. The Smart Case puts the headphones into an ultra-low-power state, and Expert Reviews says leaving them out of it drains the battery.

What owners report about the Apple AirPods Max 2

There is little owner feedback for this exact model yet. The one retailer page we could read in full, John Lewis, shows only a score with no written comments.

Who the Apple AirPods Max 2 suits

These suit people with an iPhone, iPad or Mac who want strong noise cancelling, a natural transparency mode and quick device switching. Wired lossless over USB-C helps anyone who listens on a laptop or at a desk. Live Translation and Adaptive Audio need recent Apple devices.

Look elsewhere if weight matters. At 386g they tire some wearers on long flights, and Expert Reviews found the fit loose and poor for narrower heads. Android users get only AAC and SBC over Bluetooth, so the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) fit better. For longer battery life, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless lasts longer than these 20 hours.

Questions about the Apple AirPods Max 2

Is the AirPods Max 2 out yet?

Yes. The AirPods Max 2 are on sale in the UK and are listed by Apple, John Lewis and Argos.

What is the difference between AirPods Max 1 and 2?

The main change is the H2 chip, which Apple says gives up to 1.5x more active noise cancellation than the previous generation. Expert Reviews says the design is otherwise unchanged.

Is the AirPods Max 2 worth it?

For iPhone owners who want top-level noise cancelling, yes. Expert Reviews calls them impressive but a conservative update, and criticises the weight, loose fit and short battery.

How long does the AirPods Max 2 battery last?

Up to 20 hours with ANC and Spatial Audio on, according to Apple. Expert Reviews notes this is well below the roughly 30 hours of several rivals.

Do the AirPods Max 2 work with Android?

Yes, over Bluetooth, but only with AAC and SBC codecs, so you lose most of the Apple-specific features. Live Translation needs Apple Intelligence.

Other noise-cancelling headphone picks

The other badge winners in our noise-cancelling headphones ranking.

All 10 noise-cancelling headphones, compared

  1. 1 Anker Soundcore Space OneBest Choice 9.0 Check Price
  2. 2 Sony WH-1000XM6Best Premium 8.9 Check Price
  3. 3 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) 8.9 Check Price
  4. 4 Anker Soundcore Q30 8.7 Check Price
  5. 5 Sony WH-1000XM5 8.6 Check Price
  6. 6 Sony WH-CH720N 8.6 Check Price
  7. 7 Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) 8.3 Check Price
  8. 8 Apple AirPods Max 2This review 8.3 Check Price
  9. 9 Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 8.3 Check Price
  10. 10 Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless 8.2 Check Price
See the full noise-cancelling headphones ranking

The Apple AirPods Max 2 on Amazon

Apple AirPods Max 2

The AirPods Max 2 are Apple's wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling and an H2 chip. 8.3 out of 10.

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How we score it

Every score here comes from our ranking model; no editor sets the order. We haven't read the review sites for this guide yet, so for now it is led by owners. It ranks products by how happy owners are, holding back any product few owners have rated until more agree. How many rated it and how new it is only settle close calls, and value for money earns its own badge rather than a higher place. We compared 13 models for this guide before settling on these ten.

Brands can't pay to be included or to move up. We last checked these picks in November 2026.

How we rank, in full

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