A month after Apple’s AirPods Max 2 hit the market, there’s plenty to appreciate—but very little that actually feels new. More importantly, there’s hardly any reason to upgrade from the original model.
That’s the uncomfortable conclusion I reached after spending several weeks with Apple’s premium headphones. Still, anyone who closely examined the spec sheet probably saw this coming.
With any second-generation product, the expectation is simple: keep what worked, refine what didn’t, and meaningfully improve the experience. But with the AirPods Max 2, Apple seems to have taken the easiest path forward—and that’s disappointing.
While the AirPods Max 2 do introduce a few improvements and borrow some features from the AirPods Pro lineup, many of the original issues remain untouched. As a result, users are likely to encounter the same frustrations as before.
That’s the real concern here. At a $549 price point, buyers expect more than just excellent sound quality wrapped in the same old flaws.
If you’re looking for great audio and can live with a few design quirks, the original AirPods Max might actually be the better deal right now—especially if you can find them at a discount.
AirPods Max 2 Review: Familiar Design, Familiar Problems
When it comes to design, the AirPods Max 2 feel almost unchanged. In fact, they’re virtually identical to the first generation.
Even the color options remain the same. You still get five choices: Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, and Orange.