Apple AirPods Max 2 Review: The Best Over-Ears for iOS
Key takeaways
- WIREDRetains the gorgeous, comfortable, iconic design.
- Yes, the updated version of the 2020 AirPods Max is iterative.
- Photograph: Adrienne SoApple AirPods Max 2
Why this matters: a development in AI with implications for how people work, create, and decide.
Courtesy of Apple Triangle Up Buy Now Multiple Buying Options Available$530 at Amazon$530 at Walmart$530 at Apple Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Rating:8/10
WIREDRetains the gorgeous, comfortable, iconic design. Improved noise canceling and Bluetooth connection. Upgraded software features, like gesture controls and Adaptive Audio.TIREDBattery life is still disappointing. No customizable EQ. Live translation is hilariously bad.On a recent trip, I accidentally booked my family to fly on a de Havilland propeller plane. If there’s anything I hate more than flying, it’s flying on a tiny plane sitting next to giant propeller blades that are, improbably, the only things that keep you from crashing into the ground. I immediately pulled out the AirPods Max 2 ($549) and put them on to block out the overwhelming buzzing whirr. When I looked up, three other people had pulled out their own pairs.
Yes, the updated version of the 2020 AirPods Max is iterative. Yes, the only reason I knew the woman two rows ahead of me had the old version instead of the new one was that the new one doesn’t come in green anymore. But the AirPods Max design is instantly recognizable. Even the Sony WH-1000XM6, the best headphones, look more or less like every other pair. It takes a second—or third—look to see if someone really is wearing a pair of premium headphones or a pair of gorgeous cheap ones.