Apple AirPods Max 2 vs AirPods Max: what’s the difference?
So far, Apple has announced the new AirPods Max headphones. The original pair was launched at the end of 2020, followed by a minor update in 2024. Then in March 2026, without warning, Apple announced a new flagship.
While the 2024 update changed the connection port from Lightning to USB-C, very little else has changed. AirPods Max 2, however, promises new features, better ANC performance and improved sound quality.
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Apple AirPods Max 2 vs AirPods Max: price
The original AirPods Max launched at £549 / $549/AU$899, which at the time was an unprecedented price for consumer wireless headphones (although similarly priced competitors quickly emerged). The 2024 update dropped the UK price to £499, while the US and Australian price tags remained unchanged.
AirPods Max 2 cost the same in the UK and US, although the price has gone up by AU$100 in Australia. You’ll pay £499 / $549 / AU$999 next.
With the highest chance of a discount since they’ve been replaced, this round just goes to the original AirPods Max.
** Winner: Apple AirPods Max **
Apple AirPods Max 2 vs AirPods Max: build & comfort
The original AirPods Max set new standards in terms of luxury and comfort levels, but Apple has been surprisingly quiet on the design of the second model. Aside from touting the product’s environmental credentials (they’re made from “100 percent recycled rare earth materials in every magnet,” for example), it doesn’t say anything about comfort or fit. So it’s safe to assume that it sticks to the same design as the original Max.
That’s not a bad thing, as the originals excel in this area, making competing pairs feel cheap in comparison. They boast anodised aluminum ear cups connected by a stainless steel band with a breathable mesh canopy. The memory foam ear cushions feel comfortable while also blocking out external sounds.
AirPods Max 2 weighs the same 386.2g as the first generation pair. That’s quite heavy, but thanks to the very clever weight distribution, the headphones never fail you.
They offer the same winning digital crown control mechanism as the original pair, but they also have a smart case that is much maligned – on the one hand, it keeps them in very low power mode to save the battery, but on the other hand, they look like a bra. And it will not protect large areas of them if they are abandoned.
In short, very little has changed in terms of plot, and that’s both good and bad news. AirPods Max 2 comes in the same five finishes as the 2024 update: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple and Orange.
** Winner: Draw **
Apple AirPods Max 2 vs AirPods Max: features
So far, very little has changed. But it’s in the features department where Apple is said to have made real strides. AirPods Max 2 has an H2 chip, compared to the original H1. This enables features previously seen in the Apple AirPods Pro 3 earbuds.
Adaptive Audio automatically adjusts noise cancellation levels to match the ambient sound, while Live Translation translates conversations in real time.
Voice Isolation brings voices forward while reducing ambient noise, so you can hear the person driving clearly. You can also press the Digital Crown to open the shutter of your iPhone’s camera.
And you can respond to Siri announcements by nodding or shaking your head.
These join the original AirPods Max feature set, which includes Bluetooth (version 5.0 on the original, 5.3 on the AirPods Max 2), active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode, and wired listening via USB-C.
Sadly, the battery life is limited to 20 hours. That’s a pitiful margin, as the Sennheiser HDB 630 manages three times that.
** Winner: AirPods Max 2 **
Apple AirPods Max 2 vs AirPods Max: noise cancellation
Until we review the AirPods Max 2, we can’t comment on the noise cancellation. But it is said to have improved since the first couple.
Apple says that thanks to the H2 chip and updated audio algorithms, AirPods Max 2 offers up to 1.5x more effective noise cancellation than its predecessors. The transparency mode – which allows external sounds to keep you aware of your surroundings – should also sound natural thanks to the optimized digital signal processing algorithm.
AirPods Max 2 have the same total of nine microphones, eight of which work for ANC functions.
In our Apple AirPods Max review, we described the original noise cancellation as “excellent”. They allow very little noise, and are very good at combating chit chat. It’s a subtle, natural effect that many people will prefer over the vacuum-like feel of some better-performing pairs.
** Winner: TBC **
Apple AirPods Max 2 vs AirPods Max: sound
The original AirPods Max received five stars and the What Hi-Fi? Award, so obviously they sound pretty awesome. And AirPods Max 2 should sound even better, according to Apple.
While they retain the same sonic signature as the original, there is a new variable frequency amplifier that should make for a cleaner sound. Spatial Audio should sound better with improved instrument placement, “a more precise and consistent bass response, and a more natural sounding mid and highs.”
You get the same lossless 24-bit/48kHz audio over the USB-C cable as its predecessors, while we’re promised reduced audio latency wirelessly.
In our review we praised the original delivery of AirPods Max “very pleasant and spacious”. “Light on their feet, slow rhythmic and exciting, they feel like a significant step forward in terms of sonic complexity, and build quality, from many headphones that came before them,” we noted.
It is worth noting that this was in 2020, before there was a premium class of wireless headphones. But they still stand up six years down the line – in fact, Apple didn’t see fit to fix the noise for a 2024 update.
“Trials of the Past it bursts with energy and the apples add an extra layer of sizzle and attack that’s impossible to ignore,” we wrote.
They bring a sense of texture and intensity to any track they transmit. But be warned: they will show errors in low-quality recordings.
We’re looking forward to testing the AirPods Max 2 and will update this section once we have them.
**Winner: TBC**
Apple AirPods Max 2 vs AirPods Max: the first decision
AirPods Max 2 looks better than the original in many ways. They have several new features and promise improvements in both the key areas of sound quality and effective noise cancellation. Add the same premium design, and we have a proposition on our hands.
It’s just a shame about the battery life. And the case.
We’ll have a full review of the AirPods Max 2 very soon, and we’ll update this article when we do.
MORE:
Read our first Apple AirPods Max review
Apple AirPods Max vs AirPods Max 2024: what is the difference?
I the best noise canceling headphones you can buy
