The Apple AirPods Max are incredibly popular noise-cancelling earbuds that continue to appeal to Apple fans who want great sound and are on a big budget. That's why they're our top pick for Apple lovers in both our The best over-ear headphones and The best noise cancelling headphones guides.
It’s no surprise, then, that there’s been a lot of interest in what’s next from the Cupertino giant. After all, the Apple AirPods Max launched back in December 2020. Does that mean the Apple AirPods Max 2 are coming soon? Because you’d think so, wouldn’t you?
While no official details have been released about the AirPods Max 2, Apple analyst Jeff Pu says he expects the AirPods Max 2 could reach us in Q4 2024. Read our AirPods Max 2 rumors, possible release date, and what we want to see Guide to the latest news. But what technology and features should Apple borrow from its audio rivals to ensure the AirPods Max 2 is a success? Read on.
1. A better carrying case from Bose, Earfun and Sony
The original AirPods Max case was controversial. In our review , we called it “useless” and “awful.” Not just because it looked a little ridiculous (we saw people comparing it to a sleep mask and a bra when it was first released), but because it offered little to no protection for some incredibly expensive earbuds.
Sure, you can pay extra for a hard case, but these headphones already require a significant outlay, so we don't think you should. Especially when you consider that many other brands that make high-end headphones offer much better, sturdier, and less ridiculous cases.
For example, both the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones They come with simple cases with hard shells that the earbuds fold into. Even the less than perfect cases, like the one that comes with the Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones These headphones are quite large and bulky and offer a decent level of protection which is essential for traveling.
Why do we know it's not too much to ask? Even budget headphones do it better. Earfun Wave Pro It has a simple carrying case that we described in our review as “surprisingly premium.”
2. Sonos and Sony Lossless Audio
At launch, the AirPods Max cost $549 / £549 / AU$899. Though you can now find them for closer to $549 / £499 / AU$899, they’re still an incredibly expensive pair of earbuds — more expensive than some of the best headphones designed for audiophiles. And yet, they don’t support lossless audio. Instead, what you get here is Apple’s compressed AAC codec over Bluetooth.
On the AirPods Max 2, we'd love to see an option to listen to either Lossless or Hi-Res levels of Apple Music. It makes sense for the price, and many earbuds (some of which are available for much less) offer lossless listening. For example, the AirPods Max 2 Sonos Ace They may not be our favorite headphones for listening to music, but they are excellent movie headphones with a USB-C port that allows for lossless high-resolution audio.
This is one more reason for the AirPods Max 2 to come with a cable. Right now they don't, and while you can buy one separately, it's a digital cable, meaning it's not lossless. Apple could also follow Sony's lead. Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones The over-ear headphones feature LDAC codec (Sony's High-Resolution Audio option) and DSEE Extreme compatibility.
3. Longer battery life from Cambridge Audio, Earfun and Sennheiser
The Apple AirPods Max offered 20 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation turned on. That’s a decent amount of battery life, especially considering these over-ear headphones perform so well for every second of those 20 hours. But fast-forward a few years since their launch, and rival brands are now putting out devices that sound just as good (or nearly as good) with double and even triple the battery.
For example, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones The earbuds offer 60 hours of battery life, even with noise cancellation on. Like the AirPods Max, they also sound amazing, offer an incredible noise-cancelling experience, and look great. The same goes for the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 earbuds, which boast 60 hours of battery life with noise cancellation on and a whopping 100 hours with noise cancellation off. Even budget earbuds like the Earfun Wave Pro offer 55 hours of battery life. We know longevity isn’t everything, but the Max 2 need to catch up.
4. Improved design from Bose and Sony
Look, there's nothing mistaken With the design of the original Apple AirPods Max. In fact, some people think they're some of the most stylish over-ear headphones on the market right now — a common opinion among Apple fans, at least. But, if we're being picky, there are some design improvements that would make the AirPods Max 2 much better.
For starters, they don’t fold. This isn’t an uncommon thing among high-end headphones – the Bowers & Wilkins PX8 don’t fold either, for example, and neither do the Dali iO-12 (which sound amazing but also come with a frankly enormous case). But that does mean the AirPods Max are harder to carry around than they should be, and they’re already hard to carry around considering the fact that they have such a ridiculous case.
Other high-end brands do it better. Just take a look at the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and the Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones Headphones. It's not like you can squish them down to tiny tiny bits, but the ability to fold the cups and then use the hinge to push them inward a bit reduces the amount of space they take up, making them much more portable.
If we're focusing on design, it would be nice if the AirPods Max 2 were a bit lighter than the originals. It's a tricky balance, to be sure. Can the premium materials that make these earbuds so special also be this light?
Let's take a look at the specs. The AirPods Max currently weigh 385g. But both the Sony WH1000XM5 Headphones and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra The headphones weigh 250g, and at the same time, they sound great and look stylish. This proves that high-end is possible. and light.
