Rank 5 of 8 in Over-ear headphones
Apple AirPods Max 2
5 tests from 4 countries · 3 of them not from the UK
Score by criterion
Sound 90
Noise cancelling 93
Comfort 78
Battery 70
Prices · United Kingdom
Retailers
Strengths
- Outstanding noise cancelling (sub-score 9.8 out of 10) and a very natural transparency mode (HIFI.DE)
- More punch, dynamics and precision than the predecessor; premium build (What Hi-Fi?)
Weaknesses
- Battery life unchanged at around 20 hours; 21 hours measured with ANC in testing (SoundGuys)
- Battery sub-score only 5 out of 10; neither LE Audio nor multipoint, fairly heavy (Clubic)
- Limited compatibility with Android devices, cannot be switched off manually, Smart Case offers little protection (HIFI.DE)
Tests reviewed
| Source | Country | Issue | Original verdict | Converted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIFI.DE | Germany | 04/2026 | 9.0 | 90 |
| Clubic | France | 03/2026 | 8 / 10 | 80 |
| TechRadar | United Kingdom | 05/2026 | 4.5/5 | 90 |
| What Hi-Fi? | United Kingdom | 03/2026 | 4/5 | 80 |
| SoundGuys | USA | 04/2026 | 7.8 | 78 |
Where the tests disagree.
Each dot is the average test result of one country, converted to 0–100. The further apart the dots, the more it pays to read the individual reports.
Apple AirPods Max 2 ± 6 pts
Specifications
| Weight | 386.2 g |
|---|---|
| Battery life (manufacturer) | up to 20 h with ANC |
| Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Chip | Apple H2 |