GoKawiilAirPods Max 2 4 / 5 Very good pros and cons Pros Beautiful, detailed sound
Exceptional object imaging
Intelligent features thanks to H2 chip Cons No changes to outer design
No improvements to battery life View now at Best Buy
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Admittedly, I was not a huge fan of the AirPods Max when they first launched years ago. They had a beautiful silhouette that informed the design evolution of several of Apple's contemporaries, and they worked seamlessly across Apple's OS. But beyond that, there wasn't much more to them.
Sony offered comparable sound quality and noise cancellation, Bose could live up to the occasion with significantly fewer software limitations, and both were priced a few hundred dollars less.
Also: Best AirPods 2026: I've used every pair of Apple headphones and earbuds - these are the winners
This sentiment somewhat lingers with the release of the AirPods Max 2, so the pressing questions are: "If your AirPods Max are two to six years old, is the second generation worth the upgrade?" and "If you're AirPods Max-curious, should you choose them over Sony or Bose's latest models?"
After wearing the AirPods Max 2 for nearly a week, I've already made up my mind about them, and we're only at the third paragraph: Everything there is to love about the AirPods Max 2 is everything you can't see, and, if you weren't remotely interested in the first generation, you won't care for these either. Let me explain.
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