I bought these because I needed a good pair of over-ear headphones for work. I already use my AirPods Pro 2 for running and everyday use, but I wanted something with better noise cancellation for my Mac and Windows PC. After about two weeks of using them, I can honestly say they’ve exceeded my expectations.

The noise cancellation is outstanding. Once I put them on, the outside world just fades away. Whether it’s people talking nearby, the TV in another room, or the hum of the air conditioner, these do an amazing job helping me stay focused. They’ve become my go-to headphones whenever I need to get work done.

Sound quality is excellent too. Everything sounds clear and balanced, whether I’m listening to music, editing videos, or jumping on long video calls. They’re also incredibly comfortable. They felt a little tight during the first couple of days, but I found the trick of gently stretching the headband for a few seconds before putting them on. After about a week of regular use, they naturally loosened up and now they’re comfortable enough to wear for hours.

On my Mac they’ve been flawless. Pairing is instant, and switching between Apple devices is exactly what you’d expect. On my Windows PC I’ve had the Bluetooth connection drop a couple of times. I’m guessing that’s more of an Apple and Windows compatibility quirk than a problem with the headphones, since it hasn’t happened often and reconnecting is quick.

Battery life has been excellent, and the build quality feels premium from the moment you take them out of the box. They weren’t something I originally planned to buy, but they’ve quickly become one of my favorite tech purchases this year.

If you spend hours at a computer, travel often, or just want an incredible pair of noise-canceling headphones, these are absolutely worth considering.

I’m not going to lie, I am very much an Apple product girl. Ever since I got my first iPhone, I never really looked back. So when I tried the Apple AirPods Max 2 in Starlight, I already had high hopes, but these headphones still managed to impress me.

First of all, the look? Clean, expensive, and very “I have my life together even if my tabs are chaotic.” The Starlight color is soft, pretty, and classy without doing too much. They also come in other colors, but Starlight has that luxury neutral vibe that matches almost everything.

The wear is one of my favorite parts. These are over-ear headphones with soft memory foam ear cushions and a knit-mesh canopy, so they feel premium the second you put them on. They do have a little weight to them, but in a quality way, not a cheap bulky way. The telescoping arms make the fit feel customized instead of awkward, and they sit comfortably without feeling like they are squeezing my head for rent.

Now let’s talk about the sound because that is where these really earn their spot. The quality is beautiful. Music sounds full, clear, and rich, and the noise cancellation is one of those features you do not realize you need until you use it and suddenly the world is muted like a toxic group chat. The Adaptive Audio and Personalized Spatial Audio make everything feel more immersive, whether I’m listening to music, watching videos, taking calls, or just trying to lock in and ignore everything around me.

The connectivity is smooth, especially with Apple devices. If you already use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, these fit right into the Apple ecosystem like they were always supposed to be there. Bluetooth pairing is easy, and I love that they now have a USB-C port. The lossless audio through USB-C is a major plus if you care about sound quality and want that extra crisp experience.

Battery life is solid too. You get up to 20 hours of listening time, which is perfect for long work days, travel, cleaning days, content editing, or those moments when you put headphones on just so nobody talks to you. They are rechargeable, easy to use, and the controls feel natural once you get used to them. I also love having the microphone, voice control, touch control, and Conversation Awareness because it makes them feel smart without being complicated.

One thing to know: they are not water resistant, so I would not treat these like workout headphones or wear them in the rain. These are more luxury everyday headphones, not “let me sweat through my whole gym session” headphones.

I have used other headphone brands before, so this is not me just blindly choosing Apple because it is Apple. But honestly? These are by far my favorite headphones. From the comfort, to the sound, to the design, to how smoothly they connect with my devices, they just feel like a premium experience all around.

If you are already an Apple person, these are going to feel like a natural upgrade. If you are picky about sound, comfort, and style, they are worth looking at. And if you want headphones that look good in photos while also actually performing well, the AirPods Max 2 understood the assignment.

These sound amazing and fit into the Apple ecosystem smoothly. Battery life is awesome but the drawbacks are the case, which does very little to protect these cans. Another drawback is there’s no off button. Not a biggie because the case puts them into low power mode.

My main concern is they seem easily damaged, so I feel I need to be extra careful with them at all times. I don’t know if that’s actually true or not, but it feels like a few times banging together could dent or chip the finish. But I didn’t buy them because they’re super rugged, so can’t knock off stats for that.

The noise canceling is otherworldly. I have the AirPod pro gen 3, and all previous AirPod models. These beat them all with noise canceling. We have a room AC that is super noisy and this completely eliminated it during a quick test. If I had no music playing and I listened carefully I could tell it was still on, but just barely. With music playing even very low I could walk through a hurricane and not notice.

I like the volume rocker/knob which is easy to use. I like the button for noise canceling on/off and the roller presses for play/pause.

I never thought I would buy these because they’re overpriced IMHO at $550 retail, but for prime day 2026 they hit $400 so I grabbed a pair. No regrets.

Such great over the ear headphones. Highly, highly recommend if you are immersed in the Apple ecosystem. If you don’t have an iPhone and such, I’m not sure if they connect as well. I’ve seen mixed reviews.

Make sure they are on your head correctly before any phone calls! I made that mistake one time and thought I’d gotten a defective pair— my fault lol you may have them on backwards if the person on the other end say you sound really far away.

People can hear me just fine on the phone. Music sounds awesome, tv sounds amazing (I have Apple TV and use my max’s with it a lot).

I love the purple color, very pretty. I have covers on the headband part bc since they’re a lighter color, I don’t want to possibly make them dirty. I also have covers on the cans bc they tend to clack together occasionally.

Battery life is great for me— I’ve seen others not be too impressed, but I wear them all during work— about 8 hours— and can transfer to Apple TV and wear them until bedtime, then charge them overnight. No charging needed at all during the day.

Noise canceling is so great. When there’s a lot of noise outside — I live in an apartment complex— I turn it on and I can disconnect from everything! Fantastic!

I like the way they fit. They sometimes need some adjusting, but luckily they can be adjusted for my comfort. But, when I wear my glasses, there’s a good amount of pressure around my temples.

I love how they automatically connect to whatever I’m currently using: iPhone, iPad, MacBook, or Apple TV. No difficulty there.

I actually returned these to Amazon and purchased the same pair from Best Buy instead simply bc I was able to return my old AirPod maxes and got about $130 in credit towards my new pair. It took about 3 weeks for my refund to arrive, but I got it eventually.

Always get AppleCare. Please. It’s worth it.

Absolutely, definitely recommend!!

I bought these hoping the sound signature would be similar to the AirPods Pro 3, and to replace my fantastic Audio Technica ATH-M50x and wireless ATH-M50xBT2 as my main over-ear closed-back headphones.

TL;DR:

The AirPods Max 2 have met or exceeded all my hopes and will likely be my go-to headphones of any kind. They might be the new GOAT for over-ear closed-back headphones for me.

They are the first over-ear pair that could unseat the ATH-M50x (my GOAT for over-ear closed-back), rival my beloved Koss Porta Pro (GOAT for on-ear), and compete with the AirPods Pro 3 (GOAT for in-ear)*.

*Judged purely by sound signature and my very picky tastes. Your mileage may vary. But if you love any of those as GOATs, you’ll probably love the Max 2.

I cover:

1 Why I chose these three (four, counting M50x vs BT2 for the parametric EQ) for comparison.

2 Noise cancelling (the main reason I risked buying them).

3 Sound signature (most important to me).

4 Spatial Audio and what it’s actually for.

5 Dolby Atmos in movies/TV and music.

6 Battery.

7 Other features (they’re all great as expected from Apple, I won’t dive deep).

8 Conclusion.

Full Review:

I compare everything to the ATH-M50x (best sound signature I’ve ever found for closed-back over-ear) and Koss Porta Pro (perfect sound signature but on-ear and zero isolation).

For in-ear, the AirPods Pro 3 are the first I’ve tried that compete favorably with the M50x series. I’ve tested many others over the years; most lacked good noise cancelling. The Pro 2 were decent but nowhere near the Pro 3.

The Pro 3’s noise cancelling spoiled me, so I waited for the Max 2 to see if they could deliver a sound signature as good or better than the Pro 3 while getting close to the M50x in a proper over-ear closed-back design.

Noise Cancelling

The Max 2 completely satisfied me here. They’re so good they might take the overall GOAT crown for me (still letting them “cook” a bit longer to confirm).

Excellent noise cancelling, though the Pro 3 is slightly better overall, the Max 2 let in a bit more high-frequency noise (noticeable with loud fans or portable AC). The difference is minor and not worth quibbling over. They’re outstanding.

Even with ANC off, the Max 2 isolate external noise better than the M50x. This was the key reason I tried them, otherwise I had no reason to move on from the M50x. The Pro 3 spoiled me, and I’ve been neglecting my ATH-M50xBT2 as daily drivers.

I never prefer in-ear over over-ear long-term, so I wanted over-ear closed-backs with strong ANC and a signature close to the Pro 3 / M50x. The original Max lacked the H2 chip and predated the Pro 2, so I waited for the Max 2.

Sound Signature

Differences between my three personal GOATs are noticeable but all stay in the same excellent ballpark. They’re all great out of the box, unlike most headphones that stray far from my tastes.

After extensive A/B comparing, the Max 2 is close to the sound from the M50x! This is a VERY good thing!! Except the Max 2 actually sounds much better to me! The Max 2 are louder at the same volume levels, so I had to match the volumes. Luckily the Apple Music app remembers the separate sound volumes when switching, so once I dialed that in, it was super easy to A/B.

Bass is the biggest difference. Bass is wonderful, clean, controlled, and perfectly present. It sounds fuller to me. Deeper. More visceral. I actually physically feel it more in my ears too, even at moderate volumes, which I don't with the M50x. All without being overpowering or boomy. It is amazing to hear, honestly.

Mids and highs are actually very similar.

Soundstage, instrument separation, and imaging are superb, better than the M50x! One of the best I’ve ever heard.

The Max 2 have more of a dynamic sound. I can hear that the amp is definitely the high dynamic amp they claim. Honestly this is the biggest difference compared to the M50x, which lacks that dynamic sound! It is really noticeable in the bass, but it is apparent everywhere. I am honestly amazed, as I didn't expect this difference.

I tried Headphone Accommodations, Balanced Tone (“Slight” setting) and liked it a lot for most music, but the default out-of-the-box sound is already fantastic and really doesn’t need it, though.

Overall, the Max 2 sound better than the M50x. I’m honestly surprised, and thrilled! My dream of modern noise-cancelling wireless over-ear closed-backs with a great signature has arrived!

That said, the ATH-M50xBT2 still edges it out for me because of the excellent parametric EQ in the Audio Technica app. I can dial in any tweaks I might want. But out of the box, there is no comparison. Max 2 are phenomenal sounding!

Apple really needs a proper parametric EQ at the iOS level (10+ bands, etc.) plus lossless wireless to make the platform unbeatable. The lack of EQ isn’t a deal-breaker though, the default tuning is so good for my tastes.

If you love the Koss Porta Pro, ATH-M50x series, or AirPods Pro 3 sound signatures, you’ll very likely love the Max 2.

They also go painfully loud, louder than any of the others I’m comparing.

No wireless lossless is disappointing at this price, but not a deal-breaker for me (most headphones with it don’t sound as good anyway). Apple should have included it.

Spatial Audio

It’s fantastic on the Max 2, even better than on the Pro 2/3.

Understand what it does: Spatial Audio simulates true stereo (as producers intend for speakers) on headphones. Headphones can’t replicate real speaker stereo because you never hear the left channel in the right ear and vice versa.

Spatial Audio fixes that, giving a more punchy, defined, front-centered sound with a faithful stereo soundstage.

If you want the sound closest to what the producers intended for most music, use Spatial Audio (95% of the time that’s the case). With it on (especially head tracking), the Max 2 get closer than anything else I’ve heard to my Klipsch Chorus II speakers, you feel like you’re in front of a proper hi-fi system.

I usually keep it on “Fixed” for music (I often listen with eyes closed), but switch to head tracking when I want the illusion of my actual speakers. Some prefer plain “headphone stereo” for the ultra-wide all-around stage; I love both and switch depending on mood.

Dolby Atmos

Even better on the Max 2 than on the Pro 2/3.

For movies on Apple TV, nothing else at the headphone level compares. Apple has nailed it. With Spatial Audio and head tracking on, it feels like you’re in the theater as the mixers intended, sounds sync to the screen location. The deeper sub bass and wider soundstage on the Max 2 make it noticeably better than the Pro 3 (you feel it a bit in your ears). Only missing the chest rumble of a real sub.

For music, Dolby Atmos shines on concert/live recordings where you want to feel “there.” For studio tracks, it often lacks the punch and flair of good stereo mixes, so I prefer regular stereo or Spatial Audio for most music. Producers should keep the energy/hype when doing Atmos versions.

Comfort

Pleasantly surprised! Despite being heavier than the M50x (by ~100g), I don’t notice it much and actually find the Max 2 more comfortable overall, less pressure on top of my head.

I can extend them further while keeping a perfect seal thanks to the spring-loaded cups. The M50x cups aren’t spring-loaded, so extending them loses the seal easily. The mesh headband and overall build also help stability.

I’m glad Apple didn’t change the design much, folding or other common requests would likely hurt the comfort and consistent seal. These feel built like tanks for longevity: replaceable headband (pop off the cups, no crossing wires), magnetic ear pads (easiest to swap ever). They should last forever.

Only real long-term concern from teardowns is potential moisture buildup inside the cans if heavily sweated in (not my use case, I’d use Pro 3 for gym). I’ve worn them continuously for 5+ hours with no comfort issues.

Battery

My biggest disappointment: only 20 hours. At this weight I expected much better (ideally 50 hours with ANC). The ATH-M50xBT2 gets 50 hours without ANC. Under 30 hours feels weak these days.

Other features

Everything else is excellent as expected from Apple, seamless integration, H2 chip features, premium build. They’re all talked about plenty elsewhere.

Conclusion

When considering the whole package — superb ANC, sound signature I love, excellent Spatial Audio/Dolby Atmos (especially for movies), comfort, build quality, and Apple ecosystem integration — the AirPods Max 2 are my new overall GOAT headphones (over-ear closed-back, on-ear, or in-ear).

I rate them 9.0/10.

Main deductions (in no particular order):

No proper parametric EQ at the OS level (Apple could crush this).

No wireless lossless (24-bit/96kHz would’ve been great).

20-hour battery life.

Weight (non-issue for me personally, but could be lighter with titanium headband).

Still an outstanding pair. Highly recommended if you like the sound signatures I mentioned.

These are the best quality headphones I have ever used. From the top tier active noise cancellation, to the live translate functionality, these headphones are the gift that keeps on giving.

These headphones, while a little heavy, are extremely comfortable and well fitting. The seamless connection with IOS devices makes them incredibly simple to use and does a great job at preserving the battery life for when you will actually be using them.

I felt the need to leave a 4 star review because of a strange bug that occurs when using the carrying case, this bug causes the headphones to not automatically connect properly. This seems to be a software issue that could and should be fixed with a software update.

Overall I am happy with my purchase, and feel my money was well spent!

I’ve owned a lot of headphones over the years, and I can honestly say these AirPods Max 2 are the best I’ve ever used. I love listening to music, and these have completely exceeded my expectations. The sound is incredibly detailed, the bass is rich without being overpowering, and I keep hearing little details in my favorite songs that I never noticed before.

The noise cancellation is fantastic, and when I switch to Transparency mode it feels so natural that I almost forget I’m wearing headphones. They’re also very comfortable, even during long listening sessions.

If you’re on the fence, my advice is simple: go for them. They are expensive, but for me they’ve been worth every penny. I absolutely love them and would buy them again without hesitation.

I couldn’t be happier with the 2026 AirPods Max 2—they are hands down a phenomenal upgrade and easily deserve a 5-star review.

The biggest standout is the new H2 chip. The improvement in Active Noise Cancellation is immediately noticeable—it blocks out distractions better than ever, making music and podcasts feel more immersive. The new Adaptive Audio feature is also a game changer, automatically adjusting between noise cancellation and transparency depending on your surroundings. It just works seamlessly without you having to think about it.

Conversation Awareness is another feature I didn’t know I needed. As soon as I start talking, the volume lowers and voices become clearer, which makes quick interactions so much easier without removing the headphones.

Sound quality remains top-tier—rich, balanced, and incredibly detailed. Apple didn’t mess with what was already great, and that was the right call. Calls are also much clearer now thanks to improved microphones and better voice isolation, even in noisy environments.

The switch to USB-C is a welcome and overdue upgrade, making charging more convenient across devices. Plus, the new color options (especially Midnight) look sleek and modern.

Even though the design, battery life (around 20 hours), and the Smart Case remain the same, none of that takes away from how refined and polished these feel overall.

If you’re on the fence—don’t be. These deliver premium sound, smarter features, and a noticeably better listening experience. Highly recommended!

While performance is outstanding, the price remains significantly higher than many competing flagship wireless headphones that offer comparable sound quality and comfort. For Apple users seeking the best combination of premium build quality, industry-leading noise cancellation, and effortless ecosystem integration, the AirPods Max are an excellent choice, provided you’re willing to pay a premium price for it.

These are amazing headphones. Some may find them having less than ideal settings on different platforms, but I use Apple platforms. They are great for those. They can be used between different devices almost seamlessly (you have to select them for the device first). The equalizer settings also really help enrich the bass and help clear the mids and treble sound. Lossless audio is also great, though you have be at least close to an audiophile to notice the difference in most music. The transparency is an amazing setting that sounds clear as day. I don’t use noise cancelling much, but it is great. Not the best though. A couple of people chatting near you is all it takes to start hearing beyond the headphones. It’s still good though, so I wouldn’t dock a point for it.

Overall, I recommend this to anyone using Apple devices that want headphones around this budget.

Been using them for almost a month

At first I wasn’t used to over ear headphone, it felt heavy and sweating but I got used to it. It feels great now

Amazing audio quality and active noise cancellation. I’m actually surprised by the ANC. Sometimes I’m near an AC in the home but I barely hear it

I love the conversation awareness.

Works great, connects with the apple ecosystem. On the pricier side, but the construction feels very premium and feels like it will last longer than other headphones.

C’est ma 2 e paire et je les adore!