I have avoided the AirPods Max since their original release in 2020. I could never justify the $550 price tag, especially when the AirPods Pro line was much cheaper, offered more features, and had a more convenient form factor. I knew there was a target customer for these high-end headphones, but at the time, it wasn’t me. Then Apple dropped the true successor to the Gen 1 AirPods Max and added a lot of the features and internal hardware that the AirPods Pro 3 received earlier in 2025. So I decided to pick up a pair, and while the AirPods Max 2 are objectively great headphones, what it truly did was show me just how incredible the AirPods Pro 3 are. Let me explain.
Be sure to check out my hands-on review and comparison with both of these. I think seeing my reaction on video will be all you need.
AirPods Max 2 vs AirPods Pro 3 on paper
This update to the new AirPods Max 2 was all about bringing the specs up to 2026 standards and catching up with its little sibling, the AirPods Pro 3. The Max 2 and the Pro 3 now both have:
- H2 chip
- Active Noise Cancellation + Transparency Mode
- Voice Isolation
- Adaptive Audio
- Loud Noise Reduction
- Conversational Awareness
- Personalized Spatial Audio
- Live Translation
So many of those nice creature comforts I have been used to on the AirPods Pro 3 are now on the $550 AirPods Max 2. These features are great to have and, to no one’s surprise, they work exceptionally well on the AirPods Max 2.
In terms of where they begin to differ comes down to the form factor and what it enables for each of them. For example, the AirPods Max 2 have:
- Larger drivers (because of the over-ear design)
- About 20 hours of continuous playback
- Premium materials and build
- Physical controls (Digital Crown + button)
- Wired USB-C lossless audio support
Meanwhile, the AirPods Pro 3 also have some features and hardware that the AirPods Max 2 just do not have, like:
- IP57 sweat & water resistance
- Heart rate sensor
- Hearing aid + hearing assistance features
- MagSafe + wireless charging
- Up to 30 hours of playback time with the case (only 6-8 hours of continuous playback time)
Now that the hardware and features from an Apple ecosystem standpoint are relatively the same ot comes down to your preference in terms of form factor and use case. Do you want the smaller, more portable, and health-focused headphones, or do you want the more premium material over-ear style form factor? You would also think that because the AirPods Max 2 are over-ear and larger, the sound quality would be insanely better than the Pro 3s, right? This is where it gets interesting.
Sound quality comparison
Before we get into my comparison, I will say that my expectations for the AirPods Max 2 were very high. I had never even tested them before, and my thought was that the AirPods Pro sound great, so for another $300, the AirPods Max 2 should sound insane.
As expected, the AirPods Max 2 sound great. They are full and loud, the bass hits nicely, and the vocals are super clean, which is what you expect from a $550 pair of headphones. The ANC is also fantastic, blocking out basically all noise around you. Transparency mode is a superpower of the AirPods Max 2. It is unbelievable how well it works, to the point that when you turn on Transparency mode, it feels like you have taken the headphones off. It is a weird feeling, but it works so well. Even the Studio mics and the voice isloation works wonders. For instance, I was on a call with my 9to5Mac overtime co-host, Jeff, and I clapped my hands as an audio check, and the AirPods Max 2 canceled the clap out so well that Jeff could not hear it!
But here is the issue I found: the AirPods Pro 3 offers all these features and sounds 99% (if not 100%) the same as the AirPods Max 2. I was expecting to be absolutely blown away by the difference between the Pro 3 and the Max 2, but I really wasn’t. I tested each headphone in the same situations. I listened to the same music at the same volume levels and settings, and the experience was nearly the same. The bass was just as strong, the vocals were just as clean, and the on-device controls were both simple to use. It just made me really appreciate the magic that AirPods Pro 3 are.
Lossless Audio
Now, to be fair, the AirPods Max 2 allow for wired lossless audio via the USB-C port. I tested this out, and they do sound noticeably better than AirPods Pro 3. There is more detail, a bit more separation, and overall better fidelity. But the issue is that this is a very specific, niche use case. The people who want this feature and will take advantage of this feature will love it. But I would venture to guess that most AirPods Max 2 users are using them via Bluetooth, not wired. That is how I am using them; I have been using them wirelessly, so the experience is very similar to the AirPods Pro 3.
Why I prefer the AirPods Pro 3
To me, this really came down to price, expectation, and form factor. First off, the AirPods Pro 3 are smaller, lighter, easier to carry and charge, and workout-friendly. They also have more features, like a heart rate sensor, and can be used as a Hearing Aid, which is amazing for accessibility. While the AirPods Max 2 give you all the same ecosystem features, they sound great and look awesome, they are hard to stow away, not really that portable, they are relatively heavy, they are not meant for working out (even though people still do it), they need to charge wired in, and they have no off button!
Then the price conversation. If I pay more than 2x for a pair of headphones, I expect a significant jump in overall sound quality, and I just didn’t feel or get that. Again, watch my real-time reaction on video to see. I was expecting my body to feel the bass or to feel like I got my money’s worth, but I didn’t. My expectations were high, and they say expectation is the thief of happiness (or something like that). Maybe if my expectations were lower, I would have had a better experience, but who knows.
Who are the AirPods Max 2 for?
After my testing and comparison, I can say there is still a target customer for the Max 2. I mean I see so many of them in the wild, especially here in NYC. The AirPods Max 2 make sense if:
- You want over-ear headphones specifically and want to be in the Apple ecosystem
- You need 8+ hours of continuous listening without stopping
- You care about the aesthetic and premium build
- You value tactile buttons and controls
- You need Lossless Audio
- You value the fashion and status that come with wearing a pair of these
What I have concluded is that the AirPods Max 2 are not for me, and I prefer the AirPods Pro 3 99 out of 100 times. But that is just my two cents.
Final thoughts
The AirPods Max 2 are not bad headphones; if anything, they are fantastic. They’re well-built, they sound great, and they do everything you’d expect from an Apple product in the Apple ecosystem. But at $550, I personally cannot justify them. But that is ok, because Apple is not going for value with the AirPods Max 2; they are going for a combination of great sound, amazing ecosystem features, and also just a bit of status.
Amazon currently has the AirPods Pro 3 on sale for $224, and even the AirPods Max 2 are on sale for $529.
What do you think? Is my assessment fair? Are you an AirPods Max 2 owner? Curious to know everyone’s thoughts in the comments below.
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