8Rank 08 of 8 · Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Apple Apple AirPods Max 2
The most expensive and by far the heaviest here at 386 g, supporting only AAC and SBC. The previous generation sits at €379 and is arguably the better buy.
6.8BPR score
- €493Price
- approx. 89.4% of noise removed by perceived loudness (SoundGuys)Measured ANC performance
- 8 of 8in Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones
- 6.8BPR score 0–10
Review
What this product is
Written after the analysis, from the same sources the score is built on: the manufacturer's documentation, available studies and verified owner feedback.
Excellent build and excellent ANC, attached to two specifications that are hard to defend at €493.
SoundGuys measured roughly 89.4% of noise removed by perceived loudness — against about 88% for the first generation — but published no dB figure for this model, so it cannot be compared directly with the rest of this ranking. Battery measured 21 hours 31 minutes against Apple's 20-hour claim, tested at 75 dB SPL with ANC on. Released 27 May 2026 with the H2 chip.
The weight is the first problem. At 386 g this is 56 g heavier than anything else here and 136 g heavier than the Bose. On a two-hour flight it is noticeable; on a ten-hour flight it is the deciding factor. Aluminium earcups look and feel exceptional and they weigh what aluminium weighs.
The second is codec support: AAC and SBC only. No LDAC, no aptX, no LC3. Apple's AAC implementation is better than Android's, and measurement differences between codecs are modest anyway — but a €493 headphone offering less codec support than a €66 Anker is a strange position. USB-C supports lossless playback, though settings cannot be adjusted while wired, and there is no 3.5 mm socket.
The strongest argument against it is Apple's own back catalogue. The previous AirPods Max with USB-C sells from €379 and measured about 88% noise reduction against this model's 89.4%. That is €114 for 1.4 percentage points.
Buy it if you are deep in the Apple ecosystem and value the build. Automatic switching between Apple devices, spatial audio with head tracking and the finish are genuinely good. Buy something else if you care about weight, codecs or money.
We could not verify an official EU RRP; only the $549 US MSRP and German street prices.
Technical data
Specification
Figures from the manufacturer's documentation, verified against available outside sources. Values we could not confirm are marked as declared.
- Measured ANC
- approx. 89.4% of noise removed by perceived loudness (no dB figure published)
- Previous generation
- approx. 88% - the difference is 1.4 percentage points
- Battery claimed / measured
- 20 h / 21 h 31 min at 75 dB SPL with ANC on
- Codecs
- AAC and SBC only
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- Chip
- H2
- Released
- 27 May 2026
- Weight
- 386 g - heaviest here
- Wired
- USB-C with lossless playback. No 3.5 mm socket. Settings locked while wired
- US MSRP
- $549; EU RRP not verified
- Price
- from EUR 492.99 (DE); previous generation from EUR 379
Component scores
Where the score
comes from.
Four components, equal weight, each on a 0–10 scale and each resting on a named source. The overall score is their mean — the full procedure is in the methodology.
What we liked
- approx. 89.4% of noise removed by perceived loudness (SoundGuys)
- Measured 21 h 31 min battery against a 20-hour claim
- H2 chip with seamless switching across Apple devices
- Aluminium build quality unmatched in this ranking
- USB-C lossless playback support
- Spatial audio with head tracking
Worth knowing
- 386 g — 56 g heavier than anything else here, 136 g heavier than the Bose
- AAC and SBC only. No LDAC, no aptX, no LC3
- No 3.5 mm socket
- Settings cannot be adjusted while wired
- The previous generation at €379 measured 88% — €114 for 1.4 points
- No dB attenuation figure published, so no direct comparison is possible
- No official EU RRP could be verified
Comparison
How it compares
within the category
All values come from the same analysis and are comparable only within the category Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones.
| Product | Score | Measured ANC performance | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-1000XM6Top score | 9.3 | ANC 8.7/10 — beats 90% of over-ears (SoundGuys) | €315 |
| Apple AirPods Max 2This product | 6.8 | approx. 89.4% of noise removed by perceived loudness (SoundGuys) | €493 |
| Category average8 products analysed | 8.3 | — | — |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy the previous AirPods Max instead?
On the measurements, it is the better value. The older USB-C model sells from around €379 and measured about 88% noise reduction against this generation's 89.4%. That is €114 for a 1.4 percentage-point difference plus the H2 chip. Unless you specifically need the newer chip's features, the saving is hard to argue against.
Does the lack of LDAC matter?
Less than the specification sheet suggests. Controlled measurements rank LDAC at 909 kbps above aptX HD above AAC, and Android's AAC implementation measures worst of the set — but Apple's own AAC implementation is considerably better, and these are transport-layer differences dwarfed by the headphone's tuning and fit. We found no rigorous blind listening test showing LDAC is reliably distinguishable on headphones like these. The weight is a far more consequential specification.
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The same protocol, the same key parameter, the same set of sources.
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