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AirPods Max 2 are finally here, but did Apple actually fix the biggest complaints? After 5 years since testing the original, Kate had a wishlist: lighter design, better battery life, and… an actual case. And... Apple didn’t change any of that.
So what did you get for $549?
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0:00
I have been really excited for AirPods Max 2 ever since I reviewed the OG pair in 2020
0:07
Kind of wild that that's five years ago already, but I digress. Here's the thing
0:11
I had a list, a clearly defined list, of things Apple could change to make these the absolute best wireless headphones out there
0:20
Make them lighter. They're too heavy. Give me an actual case. What is this
0:25
Battery life needs to be longer to keep up with the comparable Bose and Sony options
0:31
So naturally, I assumed Apple would address at least one of those
0:35
They didn't. Not one. Same weight, same case, same battery story. So what exactly did Apple upgrade
0:43
Because if they're asking me and asking you guys to spend $549 again, are they actually worth it
0:55
Let's start with a snapshot of AirPods Max 2 vs AirPods Max 1
1:01
Well, these are technically the USB-C update, but either way, I'll throw a comparison chart up on the screen
1:05
Pause to read. Looks-wise, these don't look different, like, at all. Same design, same vibe, still very much a status item
1:15
And I get it. Despite my concerns about the weight, I actually do love the look
1:20
I went with orange this time around. It feels right for this time of year. Plus, go Cuse
1:24
You have a really nice selection of neutrals and colors when you're shopping AirPods Max
1:30
But if I had to strip down to the most singular, most important upgrade, it's definitely the H2 chip
1:36
H2 is the brain in the AirPods. It first debuted on AirPods Pro 2 in 2022 but for some odd reason wasn added to the AirPods Max USB upgrade that happened in 2024 Anyway now it is here and at a glance here are the features now available on AirPods Max 2
1:54
through the H2 chip. If you've watched any of my AirPods Pro videos or are just more familiar with
2:01
them generally, none of this is new, just new to AirPods Max. Some of the more recent additions in
2:07
the Apple ecosystem are camera gestures, live translation, and studio voice. Hi, where is the
2:13
closest subway station? Let me show you how the microphones actually sound. I'm recording into
2:22
voice memos on my iPhone. What do you think if you're watching this? Let me know if you have any
2:29
concerts on your schedule for this summer and who you're going to be seeing. Microphone improvements
2:34
also mean better noise cancellation, up to 1.5 times better noise cancellation by Apple's
2:41
measurements. That sounds impressive, but what does that actually mean? So hopefully you guys
2:46
can hear it through the microphone, but we're playing some airplane simulation sounds out loud
2:52
I had to double check that we were actually doing that because I didn't hear them at first
2:58
It's significantly repressed and that's without playing music. I'm going to put on some
3:04
Let's see. Some Gracie Abrams. The second I turned on my music, even at a low volume, I couldn't hear any ambient noise
3:15
Wow. That actually is a difference. Nothing. I can tell the difference at all That really good Okay okay I am impressed noise cancellation quality on AirPods Max 2 is definitely stronger but not in a very dramatic way It a little smoother a little more controlled
3:41
Look, they were already very effective noise-canceling headphones. Do I think the Bose QuietComfort Ultra are still better in that regard
3:50
Yeah, but the gap has shrunk. How about transparency? I think anyone who's tested the OGs can agree the transparency always felt a little slightly
4:00
artificial is the best way to put it, especially if you were comparing it next to the AirPods Pro
4:05
But this is one of the better improvements for AirPods Max 2. Finally, let's talk sound quality
4:11
This is where the AirPods Max have always been really strong, really easy to recommend
4:15
one of those things with not that much room for improvement, or so I thought
4:20
I've been listening to a lot of artists with super distinct voices. thank Billie Eilish, Casey Musgraves, Bowie, Joni Mitchell. And what I like about these headphones
4:28
is that they don't flatten any of their distinct voices out. They actually let those little
4:33
textures come through. So yeah, I'd say vocals still very much the star of the AirPods Max show
4:39
Bass is also improved. It's still not punch you in the face space. It's more like if it disappeared
4:45
you definitely notice it's not there, but it never overwhelms anything. It's controlled
4:49
It's balanced. It's very Apple, if you think about it. Also, small but important, you can now get
4:55
lossless audio with USB-C. Let's be real, most people probably aren't going to use it, but if you
5:01
care about that stuff or want to tread into high-def listening, it's at your disposal
5:08
Here's my honest take. When it comes to AirPods Max 2, you're not just paying for sound quality
5:13
You paying for the Apple ecosystem the design and yeah the status a little bit too I just as guilty of caring about that type of thing from a lifestyle perspective And if that matters to you you will probably love these because at the
5:27
end of the day, these are still what they've always been. Really good headphones from both
5:32
an aesthetic and sound perspective. At least now you get all of the latest features from Apple
5:37
and it's even likely that more features will be enabled via software updates as early as this fall
5:42
But I'll say this, I really do not think that anyone should pay full price for any pair of
5:50
AirPods ever. They go on sale a lot. Amazon, Target, it might be a minute depending on when
5:56
you're watching this video for AirPods Max 2, but either way I'll link them in the description
6:01
Maybe you'll get lucky and catch them at a time they're discounted. I'd say Prime Day and Black
6:06
Friday slash Cyber Monday will be the moments to look for those first AirPods Max 2 sales
6:11
And if you're looking for a new pair of wireless over-ear noise-canceling headphones right now
6:18
may I suggest the Sony WH-1000XM6 as my top AirPods Max 2 alternative
6:25
Always one of the top picks here at Tom's Guide. Recently launched in this subtle new sand pink color
6:30
It has 30 hours of battery life, first 20 on AirPods Max 2. And you can usually find them for about $400 new, so I'll link them below
6:38
If you guys liked this video, be sure to hit that thumbs up button and subscribe so you
6:43
don't miss the next tech review here on the channel. Let me know if you'd want to see a comparison of AirPods Max 2 against any other headphones
6:50
but otherwise, that's it for me for this video. Thanks for watching. I'll catch you next time
7:06
So is it not playing? What
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