AirPods Max 2: an infuriating love letter

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

You’ve probably read four hundred seventeen reviews of the AirPods Max 2 already. I’m not here to tell you they’re “life-changing” or wax poetic about unboxing experiences. I’m a critical Apple fan with a collection of decent IEMs and headphones, and I have strong opinions about where these fit in the audio landscape.

Let’s address the elephant in the room first: they cost a ridiculous amount of money for a consumer headphone. €579 / $549 is not a casual purchase. So are they worth it?

The Noise Cancellation

Comparing the ANC to the original AirPods Max, Apple’s claim of “1.5x better” is the kind of vague marketing figure Apple loves. In practice? It works. The low-end engine hum and midrange chatter of a crowded place genuinely fade out better than they did in 2020. You can hear voices are more muffled in a way that actually registers.

Is it the best ANC out there? No. If you ask me, the original AirPods Pro 1 still had the most natural implementation of ANC Apple ever shipped. The Max 2 might be technically superior at blocking decibels, but the Pro 1 felt less pressurized and more balanced.

Transparency Mode

This is where Apple usually left everyone else in the dust, but IMHO AirPods Max 2 feel a bit metallic.

It’s something I also notice on the original AirPods Max and the new AirPods Pro 3. Transparency Mode is clinical, and it lacks that “ear-opening” naturalism of the past. To my ears, the AirPods Pro 1 still hold the crown for the most convincing transparency. They’re the only ones that truly made me forget I was wearing anything at all.

The Sound

Compared to the AirPods Max 1, the bass is richer without muddying the mids. Instrument separation is surprisingly precise for a consumer Bluetooth headphone. Listen to well-mastered lossless tracks and you’ll notice a wider soundstage than most Bluetooth gear has any right to claim.

But here’s my biggest gripe: Apple still won’t give us a proper EQ.

We get “Adaptive EQ” that allegedly tailors to your ear shape. For €579, I want to tweak the frequency response myself. Is that really too much to ask in 2026?

Pros

Bass response is clean and present without bleeding into mids
Soundstage is wider than expected for Bluetooth headphones
Lossless audio over USB-C when wired
Adaptive Audio works well for handling sudden loud noises

Cons

No user-adjustable multi-band EQ
Feels heavy, especially when doing activities / chores around the house
That stupid ‘bra’ case offers zero real protection
Transparency mode feels metallic

The H2 Features

The H2 chip actually delivers some new experiences. Here’s what actually matters day-to-day:

Conversation Awareness: This feels like witchcraft. Start talking and your music immediately lowers while the mics pipe in the person you’re speaking to.

Adaptive Audio: A middle ground between ANC and Transparency mode. It handles sudden loud noises (sirens, car horns) while keeping you aware of your surroundings.

Lossless via USB-C: The USB-C port supports ultra-low latency lossless audio when wired.

The Disappointments

The case is still ridiculous. They kept the Smart Case. It offers zero protection for the headband, collects dust, and looks like you’re carrying a bra around. The material is as shitty as the iPad’s Magic Keyboard / Smart Folio.

The weight hasn’t changed. If you suffered from crown fatigue or clamping pressure with the original, the Max 2 won’t solve your problems. They’re still heavy.

No power button. You still can’t just turn them off. You have to put them in that stupid case to force deep sleep. It’s 2026 and this still bothers me.

The Verdict

Sound Quality 8.5/10

Noise Cancellation 8/10

Build & Comfort 7/10

Value for Money 6/10

Overall 7.5/10

These are brilliant headphones if you fit the profile. But they’re infuriating in ways Apple refuses to fix.

If you own the original AirPods Max: Skip the upgrade. Unless your battery is completely dead or you need USB-C lossless, the audio bump isn’t worth the massive upgrade fee.

If you own AirPods Pro 1, 2, 3: Keep them. The Pro 2 do 90% of what the Max 2 do for less than half the price. The only reason to switch is if you genuinely need over-ear form factor.

If you’re buying your first premium over-ears: These are worth considering. They sound incredible, ANC is solid, and they’ll easily last five to seven years (I’m still rocking my AirPods Pro 1, for example). Just budget for a real case and accept that Apple won’t let you touch the EQ settings for now.

The Crash

But here’s something worth mentioning: they crashed on me. Completely. Wouldn’t play any audio, refused to respond to controls. The only way to get them working again was a full reboot. It happened once during testing, and while it’s not a pattern (yet), it’s worth noting for a €579 product. I’d expect better stability from hardware at this price point.

You might also appreciate my thoughts on Apple’s software quality and how their hardware sometimes masks software corners they cut.

Testing the Sound

I put these through my usual testing playlist to see how the these headphones handle different extremes:

La Sera Dei Miracoli - Lucio Dalla

Dalla’s classic is a sprawling, messy arrangement. I use this to see how well headphones handle chaos, the piano, the backing vocals, and his soaring voice all fighting for space.

Figli Delle Stelle - Alan Sorrenti

I hate that I love this disco track. It’s perfect for testing high-end treble. If the headphones are too sharp, the hi-hats and falsetto will pierce your eardrums. Here, they sparkle nicely.

Oh my god - Adele

A solid pop track for testing vocal presence. The AirPods Max 2 put Adele right in the center of the room, isolating her voice cleanly from the heavy bass drops without muddying either.

Bury a Friend - Billie Eilish

Eilish’s production is absurdly bass-heavy with ASMR-style vocal whispers. If the sub-bass is too muddy, the track becomes unlistenable. The low-end surprisingly tight here.

Shape of My Heart - Sting

Yes, it’s cliché, but that acoustic guitar riff and the delicate snare hits are great for checking instrument separation. You can actually hear the fingers sliding on the strings.

Review on Eliseo Martelli