Do Apple's New Airpods Max 2 Beat The Airpods Pro 3? I've Tried Both, Here's My Take

The AirPods Max 2 and AirPods Pro 3 stock nan aforesaid H2 audio chip.

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The AirPods Max 2 are best-suited for Apple powerfulness users.
• Users pinch only an iPhone will find much inferior successful nan AirPods Pro 3.
• iPhone users pinch mixed-device ecosystems will find much worth successful Sony aliases Bose over-ears.

The AirPods Max 2 are here, and I'm assured respective group are weighing whether to bargain their first brace of Apple over-ears, but a $549 asking value isn't 1 to sneeze at. If it's solely Apple's intelligent features for illustration Adaptive Audio, Live Translation, and Conversation Awareness that excite you, I'd opportunity you would astir use by investing successful nan AirPods Pro 3, and different marque of over-ears instead. Here's why.

Software-wise, they're very similar

The AirPods Pro 3 and nan AirPods Max 2 stock Apple's premium H2 audio chip, meaning they connection nan aforesaid software features and audio processing. Both connection Apple's big of intelligent features including Live Translation, Adaptive Audio, exceptional sound cancellation and Transparency Mode, Personalized Volume, Camera Remote, Voice Isolation, and Siri Interactions.

Review: AirPods Max 2

Both nan AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max 2 support Apple's studio-quality sound signaling for enhanced sound clarity crossed telephone calls, FaceTime, Voice Memos, nan Camera app, and compatible third-party applications. Additionally, some support Audio Sharing pinch different brace of AirPods aliases Beats headphones and link to an Apple TV 4K successful Spatial Audio.

What changed from procreation to generation

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Apple upgraded nan AirPods Pro 3's acoustic structure, implementing caller 10.7mm high-excursion drivers for deeper bass, a high-dynamic-range amplifier for vibrancy, and further ports for a wider soundstage. The Pro 3's upgraded microphones, audio processing algorithms, eartips, and acoustic building consequence successful improved audio performance, sound cancellation, and Transparency Mode.

They besides received Apple's second-gen U2 ultra wideband spot for much precise instrumentality location, a caller style for enhanced fit, an IP57 waterproofing upgrade, and infrared sensors to way bosom complaint and calories burned during a workout.

Also: AirPods Pro 3 fittingness characteristic surprises triathlete tester - here's what he found

The AirPods Max 2 received Apple's precocious H2 chip, nan aforesaid spot wrong nan AirPods Pro 3, bringing improved audio value and a high-dynamic-range amplifier. The Max 2's enhanced audio capacity is astir evident erstwhile listening to music, gaming connected Apple devices, and watching pinch an Apple TV 4K. 

Like nan 2024 USB-C version, AirPods Max 2 besides supports ultra-low latency and 24-bit/48kHz lossless audio via a wired connection, comes pinch a Smart Case, offers nan aforesaid weight distribution and fit, promises 20 hours of artillery life, and comes successful nan aforesaid colors. 

Why I advocator for nan AirPods Pro 3

Jada Jones/ZDNET

With conscionable an iPhone, you tin entree almost everything nan AirPods Pro 3 person to offer. If it's nan only Apple instrumentality you usage regularly, you make a batch of telephone calls, aliases you want a brace of Apple headphones to activity retired in, you'll find much inferior successful nan AirPods Pro 3.

The AirPods Pro 3 are Apple's champion earbuds yet, offering each smart characteristic it has to connection successful a portable and waterproof shape factor. They are highly versatile, arsenic users tin maximize their capacity successful nan office, gym, market store, and astatine location -- each successful nan aforesaid day. Unlike nan AirPods Max 2, nan AirPods Pro 3 are waterproof, person a bosom complaint sensor, and are easier to clean; making a amended action for nan gym.

Review: AirPods Pro 3

The AirPods Pro 3 person amended microphone sound pickup, acknowledgment to their placement astatine nan bottommost of nan earbud stem, person to your mouth. Their improved in-ear seal creates coagulated passive sound cancellation, and their upgraded sound processing creates amended algorithmic sound cancellation.

I usage these earbuds successful each facets of my life: I deterioration them while I work, market shop, return hands-free telephone calls while I thrust (Transparency Mode is basal for this), and tin easy popular them successful and retired of my pouch for speedy insertion aliases removal.

Who I urge nan AirPods Max 2 for

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On nan different hand, nan AirPods Max 2 are champion for group who person an expansive Apple instrumentality ecosystem. If you regularly usage an iMac, MacBook, and iPad for gaming aliases master audio tasks, for illustration to watch Apple TV privately, and have an iPhone, nan AirPods Max 2 fresh much snugly into your ecosystem.

Also: I utilized Apple Music's caller AI instrumentality to break retired of my euphony rut - and it worked

You tin maximize nan AirPods Max 2 by owning aggregate Apple devices to link them to, arsenic each instrumentality unlocks caller AirPods Max 2 capabilities. These headphones are a high-end Apple merchandise and connection nan astir inferior to Apple powerfulness users. Apple's seamless instrumentality switching besides lets users move their AirPods Max's connectivity based connected which instrumentality is active, a coagulated characteristic for personification pinch aggregate devices.

Which different over-ears to consider

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If you'd use from investing successful nan AirPods Pro 3 alternatively of nan AirPods Max 2, I urge nan Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) arsenic your over-ear headphones. I particularly urge this prime if your over-ear checklist includes headphones pinch high-performing sound cancellation, suitable for nan gym and travel. 

Also: Bose's QuietComfort Ultra shows nan institution still outperforms Apple successful 1 cardinal area

The QC Ultra 2's lightweight creation and 30 hours of artillery life make perfect for hours-long wear, and their package agnosticism useful conscionable arsenic good for iPhone users a pinch a tablet aliases laptop from different brand. Additionally, Bose upgraded nan second-generation exemplary pinch 16-bit/44.1kHz aliases 48kHz (CD standard) USB-C audio, which is mostly good for mundane listeners and immoderate casual gamers. Any higher solution is apt to beryllium noticeable to those pinch trained ears.

Also: I wore 5 different headphones crossed 8 flights - here's really each brace handled my accent tests

You tin besides see nan Sony WH-1000XM6, a feature-rich brace of headphones pinch awesome audio and noise-canceling capabilities. These headphones are besides lighter and much portable than nan AirPods Max 2, making them a amended action for exercising and traveling. Sony's XM6 headphones let users much power complete their device, offering LDAC and LC3 codecs and a elaborate equalizer.

ZDNET's buying advice

To put it simply, if your Apple ecosystem consists solely of an iPhone, nan AirPods Pro 3 will springiness you nan astir bang for your buck. If you person a wide Apple ecosystem, nan AirPods Max 2 present heavy integration crossed your devices. 

The AirPods Max 2 are compatible pinch professional-quality audio crossed your Apple devices, but if you had gripes pinch nan first generation's fresh and weight, artillery life, aliases carrying lawsuit for mundane use, see your over-ear options from Sony and Bose.