Noise-cancelling headphones · Ranked #15 of 23 · Best for For iPhone owners

Apple AirPods Max 2

83
Well liked
Average of 11 professional reviews
9 of 11 recommend it · broad agreement
Where the 11 reviews landedRange 70–90
Score printed by the outlet Estimated from the verdict

Exact average 82.9 · 9 printed, 2 estimated · printed scores only: 83

Apple AirPods Max 2Image: Apple

The 2026 AirPods Max improve noise cancelling and sound, and critics see them as the best choice for people who use Apple devices. They are less happy that the heavy design, the weak case and the battery life barely changed. Android users lose many features.

Reviewed by TechRadar, Tom's Guide, CNET and 8 more

The catch: Heavy, expensive, and the case still doesn't protect them.

Scored as AirPods Max 2 (2026); first-gen reviews dropped.

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What 11 critics said

Highest score first · all converted to 0–100
  1. 90
    TechRadarHands-on review · 2026

    Excellent noise cancelling and head-tracked spatial audio make these a top choice for iPhone owners.

    Read TechRadar review
  2. 90
    Tom's GuideHands-on review · 2026

    Near-perfect audio gear in the reviewer's eyes, with excellent sound that outweighs weak battery and heavy build.

    Read Tom's Guide review
  3. 89
    CNETHands-on review · 2025

    Excellent sound, build and noise cancelling make them high-end headphones for Apple users, though they are heavy, expensive and have an awkward case.

    Read CNET review
  4. 87
    EngadgetHands-on review · 2026

    The H2 chip finally brings the over-ears level with the AirPods Pro 3 in features, with stronger ANC and better sound.

    Read Engadget review
  5. 80
    WIREDHands-on review

    The best over-ears for iPhone users, with great sound, better noise blocking and a richer feature set.

    Read WIRED review
  6. 80
    Expert ReviewsHands-on review · 2026

    Great sound and noise cancelling, but Apple left the comfort, fit and case problems untouched.

    Read Expert Reviews review
  7. 80
    ZDNETHands-on review · 2026

    A strong upgrade for Apple users with lovely sound and smart H2 features, but unchanged design and battery.

    Read ZDNET review
  8. 80
    How-To GeekHands-on review · 2021

    After two months of use the reviewer found class-leading noise cancelling, great comfort and near-balanced sound, though the price, battery life and useless case count against them.

    Read How-To Geek review
  9. 70
    TechGearLabHands-on review · 2025

    Rich, immersive sound and strong noise cancelling make these a top performer, but weight, clamping force, short battery life and very high price hold them back.

    Read TechGearLab review
  10. 83est.
    Creative BloqNo printed score · Hands-on review

    Superb sound and elite noise cancelling with strong Apple features, but the high price, uneven comfort, average battery and odd wired setup make it not a sure buy.

    Read Creative Bloq review
  11. 83est.
    The GuardianNo printed score · Hands-on review · 2020

    Praises the sound, noise cancelling and comfort, but says the price premium is hard to justify and the case is odd.

    Read The Guardian review

"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates

How it compares

Direct comparisons by professional outlets, exact models only, in our words. Shown as evidence; they never change the critic score.

vs Sony WH-1000XM687

  • SoundGuys (2026) picks the Sony WH-1000XM6. Still choose this one if: you are deep in Apple's ecosystem and want H2 features or wired lossless.
  • Tom's Guide (2026) picks the Apple AirPods Max 2.
  • BGR (2026) picks the Sony WH-1000XM6. Still choose this one if: you own Apple gear and want detail, bass-range ANC or wired lossless.
  • TechRadar (2026) picks the Sony WH-1000XM6. Still choose this one if: you use iOS and want a premium look and a spacious sound.

vs Sennheiser Momentum 484

  • SoundGuys (2026): it depends. Choose this one if: you own Apple devices and want top ANC and call quality.

What critics praise most

Sound quality11 of 11
Noise cancelling9 of 11
Comfort4 of 11

What critics dislike most

Price7 of 11
Weight and fit5 of 11
Size and weight5 of 11

Other noise-cancelling headphones critics rate highly

Dali IO-8Image: Dali
Top pick, narrowlyDali IO-84 reviews · critics agree93
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2Image: Bowers
Best for luxury sound qualityBowers & Wilkins Px8 S25 reviews · critics agree91
Sony WH-1000XM5Image: Sony
Most reviewed pickSony WH-1000XM517 reviews · broad agreement89
Technics EAH-A1000Image: Technics
Best for sound and comfortTechnics EAH-A10005 reviews · broad agreement89

Compare head to head

Compare with any other product →

Also reviewed, not yet scored

Common questions

Is the Apple AirPods Max 2 worth it?

Most critics think so: 9 of 11 recommend it. Heavy, expensive, and the case still doesn't protect them.

Do critics agree about the Apple AirPods Max 2?

Broad agreement: scores range from 70 (TechGearLab) to 90 (TechRadar), a spread of 20 points across 11 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.

What do critics dislike about the Apple AirPods Max 2?

Price (7 of 11 reviews), Weight and fit (5 of 11 reviews), Size and weight (5 of 11 reviews).

What is the best alternative to the Apple AirPods Max 2?

The Dali IO-8 (critic score 93), top pick, narrowly.