AirPods Max 2: Apple’s Disappointing Five-Year Update
Five years.
That’s how long it’s been since Apple first introduced the AirPods Max. Now, after a half-decade, we finally have the AirPods Max 2, and frankly, the most striking thing about them is how little has changed. We’ve spent two weeks putting these through their paces, and we had to love with not only déjà vu, but also genuine frustration.
The design, while still iconic, retains its fundamental flaws. The headphones still don’t fold, and the much-maligned “bra case” hasn’t changed. It still offers minimal protection and no practical storage for cables. They’re heavy, causing pressure behind the ears during extended use. Battery life is a stagnant 20 hours, a figure that feels increasingly outdated when competitors routinely offer 50 or 60 hours. Furthermore, while a charging cable is included, the essential 3.5mm audio cable is not; Apple expects users to purchase a separate USB-C to 3.5mm adapter for an additional 45 bucks.
Connectivity, a supposed Apple strong suit, is proving to be surprisingly problematic. The promised seamless multi-point switching, which only works reliably between Apple devices, frequently failed for us. We experienced calls routing to the headphones even when they were securely stowed in their case, completely sealed. This bizarre behavior meant we couldn’t hear callers despite the phone indicating a connection to the headphones upstairs. Conversely, there were instances where the headphones were connected to an iPhone and MacBook, showing as active, but no audio would play, and the controls were unresponsive. This required a manual restart—a first for us with any AirPods Max model—to restore functionality. The “auto-on, auto-off” feature, which should detect when the headphones are being worn or put down, also proved unreliable, connecting to devices even when left on a desk.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) performance, while generally excellent, exhibited inconsistencies tied to fit. A slight shift in position could cause the ANC to fluctuate, transitioning audibly between silence and ambient noise. This is a noticeable flaw that Apple has yet to address.
On the audio front, the sound profile of the AirPods Max 2 is open and rich, but sometimes at the expense of realism. Hi-hats can sound overly sparkly and glassy, and acoustic instruments lack a natural timber, making them less convincing. This tuning seems to favor electronic music, which might explain why the sound is polarizing. The most glaring omission, however, is the complete lack of sound customization. Five years on, and Apple still doesn’t offer even basic EQ presets, let alone a customizable equalizer. This feels less like a design choice and more like an act of corporate arrogance, dictating how users should experience their audio.
Despite these significant drawbacks, the AirPods Max 2 are not without their merits. The material choices are undeniably premium, offering a luxurious feel. The ANC, when working optimally, is still top-tier, providing an immersive quiet. The transparency mode remains industry-leading, making it feel as if you’re not wearing headphones at all. The physical button controls, particularly the digital crown, are among the best implementations on any headphone, working flawlessly even with gloves or wet hands. And, of course, the iconic design ensures they are instantly recognizable.
Ultimately, the lack of substantial upgrades over five years, coupled with persistent connectivity issues and a premium price tag (around 580 Euros at launch), makes this refresh deeply disappointing. It feels less like a “Max 2” and more like an “AirPods Max 1.3,” as one astute viewer put it. We are seriously considering returning our unit due to the connectivity problems alone; such fundamental issues are simply unacceptable at this price point.
Tech Specs
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- Battery Life: 20 hours
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- Audio Cable: USB-C to 3.5mm (sold separately)
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- Connectivity: Multi-point (auto-switch only with Apple devices)
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Microphones
The microphone performance in quiet conditions was acceptable, but in windy and noisy environments, it struggled to isolate our voice effectively. Compared to the original AirPods Max, there wasn’t a considerable upgrade in call quality. To hear the raw microphone samples, check out the video embedded at the top of this post!
Pros and Cons
✅ Premium build quality
✅ Top-tier ANC
✅ Excellent transparency mode
✅ Intuitive button controls
❌ No design changes
❌ Poor multi-point connectivity
❌ No sound customization
❌ High price for minimal upgrades
Products Discussed
Bowers & Wilkins PX8 Flagship Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
Sennheiser HDB 630 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
DISCLOSURES: We bought the AirPods Max and Max 2 with our own money. No one got input at any stage in the creation of this content. All opinions and bad jokes are strictly our own. Affiliate shopping and merchandise links above earn us commission.
