Apple AirPods Max 2
Are the AirPods Max 2 right for you?
The AirPods Max 2 are Apple's over-ear Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancelling.
Best for
- Cutting down steady background noise. Apple lists Active Noise Cancellation, plus a Transparency mode for when you want to hear what's around you.
- Moving between an iPhone and a Mac. Apple says that with Automatic Switching, if you're playing music on your Mac, you'll be able to answer a call on your iPhone without having to switch devices.
Skip if
- Most of your devices aren't Apple's. Apple says AirPods can be used as wireless Bluetooth headphones with non-Apple devices, but functionality may be limited.
- You want a protective case in the box. One review found the Smart Case flimsy; another found it offers little protection against drops or scratches.
Want to see them next to a keyboard and a mouse? Try them on the QuickDesker board and build a whole desk setup around them.
What do they cost, and what should you check first?
- Seen at Best Buy for $499.00 (Midnight) on 2 Nov 2026
- Seen at Apple.com for $549.00 (Purple) on 5 Nov 2026
Prices change; check the one for the colour you want. Apple sells them in Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Orange and Purple.
In the box: the AirPods Max 2, a Smart Case, a USB‑C Charge Cable and documentation. Charging is via USB‑C.
Apple says ultra-low latency audio and Lossless Audio listening require a wired USB‑C connection and compatible content from supported apps and services. It also says functionality may be limited on Apple devices using earlier software.
What do the noise controls on the AirPods Max 2 do?
Apple lists Active Noise Cancellation and a Transparency mode. Active noise cancelling uses microphones and an opposing sound signal to reduce steady background noise, while a transparency mode does the reverse and lets outside sound in on purpose.
Apple's store page says they have up to 1.5x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation.
Two reviews rated the cancelling highly. One found it excellent, close to silent; another found it beat most over-ear headphones in its lab testing.
On the microphone side, Apple lists nine microphones in total and Voice Isolation. How cancelling, transparency and microphone noise reduction differ is set out in our guide: What “noise cancelling” actually means on a headphone box.
How long do the AirPods Max 2 last on a charge?
Apple quotes up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. It also says 5 minutes of charge time provides around 1.5 hours of listening time.
Battery figures like these come from the maker's own test settings, so your volume and the features you use change what you get.
Apple says they sense when you take them off your head and pause playback until you put them back on. It also says they enter an ultra‑low‑power state when stored in the soft, slim Smart Case.
Full specifications
| How it is worn | over-ear |
|---|---|
| Connections | Bluetooth 5.3 wireless technology |
| Active noise cancelling | Active Noise Cancellation |
| Battery life | Up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation enabled |
| Weight | 13.6 ounces (386.2 grams) |
| Transparency / ambient mode | Transparency mode |
| Microphone noise reduction | Voice Isolation |
| Driver type | Apple-designed dynamic driver |
| Microphone | Nine microphones total |
| Water resistance | not applicable |
| Spatial audio | Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking |
| Charging port | USB‑C |
| Quick charge, as quoted | 5 minutes of charge time provides around 1.5 hours of listening time |
| Wear detection | on-head detection |
| Dimensions | Width: 6.64 inches (168.6 mm); Depth: 3.28 inches (83.4 mm); Height: 7.37 inches (187.3 mm) |
| In the box | AirPods Max 2, Smart Case, USB‑C Charge Cable, Documentation |
Specifications from Apple's AirPods Max 2 support tech specs page, AirPods Max 2 store page and AirPods Max 2 product page, read 5 Nov 2026.