AirPods Max 2 review: better, but no surprises

Six years after the launch of the first AirPods Max headphones, Apple will launch in the coming days the AirPods Max 2, a device that corrects some of the shortcomings of its predecessor and improves some features, while ignoring a frequent request from its users.

Here are my first impressions.

Design: we don’t correct a winning formula

Good luck differentiating the AirPods Max 2 from the latest version of the AirPods Max 1. Apple has in fact kept its iconic design (yes, the word is well thought out, you just have to see all the copies of the headset on the market to be convinced) for the second version of its high-end headphones. Even the colors offered are identical!

I’m not complaining about it. The headset is particularly comfortable around the ear and on the head, and it breathes well. And if I had any fears about the long-term durability of the fabric, these have faded over time. My first generation headset is still in excellent condition.

Lossless music: finally (but that doesn’t change anything)

The biggest new feature is compatibility with lossless music, provided you use an Apple device (like a Mac or iPhone) and connect the headphones with a USB-C cable.

This was something that was missing with the previous generation.

Is this good news? Yes. Does that change anything? Not really. Lossless music makes a big difference when compared to an old MP3 of Faith by Limp Bizkit downloaded from Napster in 1999. But when I compare a modern lossless song on Apple Music, listened to wired or wireless, the difference is either minimal or indistinguishable.

Still: Apple had no reason not to offer it with its first generation headset, especially considering the price of the device. Note that the AirPods Max 2 is, however, still not compatible with lossless wireless audio.

Overall, the AirPods Max 2 offer some of the best sound quality on the market, and the device stands out equally in the high, low, and mid frequencies. Is it the best bang for your buck? Not necessarily, but in my opinion you have to be in bad faith not to be satisfied (which is somewhat expected of a $799 headset, that said).

Fonctionnalités intelligentes : des AirPods Pro 3 à l’AirPods Max 2

The AirPods Max 2 adopts many of the features of the AirPods Pro 3, such as better active noise reduction. I haven’t been able to try the headset in all possible conditions, but Apple claims a 1.5X improvement, which seems realistic to me (I loved the noise reduction of the AirPods Pro 3).

The AirPods Max 2 also reduces loud sounds and can be used to control the iPhone’s camera. However, these two features seem especially interesting to me for smaller headphones, and so they don’t really change the situation here.

Apple’s new headphones are also compatible with Apple Intelligence live translation. In my tests, in English, the translation seemed quite faithful to me, but the flow was a little choppy. So I wouldn’t use it to talk to someone, or to replace the subtitles of a TV show in a language I don’t know. There could still be interesting use cases, such as during a visit to a museum abroad.

The headset is also compatible with other technologies previously launched by Apple, such as adaptive audio and conversation detection, two interesting features for those who wear their headset in public.

Still impossible to turn off: a missed opportunity

Among the requests from users of the first AirPods Max (and those who didn’t buy it, in fact), one was left aside by Apple: add a button to turn off the headphones.

These must always be placed in their protective case, or be left motionless for a certain time.

Is it serious? Not really. But allowing them to be turned off (or put into hibernation) by holding one of the buttons down for a long time would nevertheless have silenced the critics. This seems to me to be a missed opportunity.

The first discounted AirPods Max will be worth it

AirPods Max 2 are available now for $799. You can find other headsets just as good for less elsewhere, but those with the money will appreciate it.

Note that Apple has stopped selling the first generation headset, but you can buy it for around $629, and the device should be pretty easy to find used for even less. Considering that the AirPods Max 2 represents a fairly minor development, it’s certainly an option worth considering.

We love

• Exceptional comfort.
• Excellent audio quality, especially with spatial content.
• Good active noise reduction.

We like less

• If you have to look for lice: some will regret the absence of lossless wireless audio, and a button to turn off the headphones.
• The price.