On the AirPods Max 2

I really love my APM 1st gens (with Lightning), and didn't feel like I could justify the upgrade for just USB-C for the refresh. For me, the sound quality is still just what sounds ‘good’. I feel like they actually kinda made me slightly 'snobby' in terms of audio, in a way I didn't think I cared about. I would go and try on all the demo units in stores because I kinda wanted another pair of cans that I could leave in the office, but up until the release of the Bose QuietComfort Ultras, I genuinely didn't find any other wireless over-ears that had 'comparable' quality (though it may have just been that I was used to the AirPods's sound signature, which I could have tuned on some brands... but overall package...), and that I would be 'saving' enough on to lose ecosystem features (and I didn't really see any features on other headphones I really wanted).

My AirPods Max (lightning) criticisms

These are main issues I have had over my 5+ years with mine (with comparisons to whether these have been resolved with the 2s).

Reliability issues

Hopefully resolved

I had two pairs die on me. They would just cut out after a few hours of listening. This was in the first 2 years after release, and luckily I had AppleCare+ so just did Express Service Replacement for them each time. I am not a particularly sweaty but I would notice a small amount of condensation in the cups if I wore them for extended periods (3+ hours). The general consensus online is that this causes corrosion on the contacts.

I actually believe that Apple revised this slightly (maybe adding some coatings to the internals) because my current pair has held up for over 2 years now (touch wood) without issue, though this is completely speculation.

I was disappointed to see the new APM 2s not have any IP rating at all. When it's raining on my commute, I have to take off my AirPods Max, stow them in my bag, and then put in my AirPods Pros. That doesn't feel great. Adding any IP rating (not saying immersion, just like splash proof!) would have been great, and would have given me a bit of confidence regarding the condensation issues too.

The headband

TBC, but probably not resolved

The woven headband is super lovely and bouncy when you first get it, but after a year, it becomes saggy. It just doesn't hold up long term. If we could get replacement headbands (or even better, just the mesh!) that would at least make it feel a bit more manageable, but currently the solution is a full device replacement. That's not great, eco-friendly, and just doesn't give me confidence.

The case

Not resolved

I used my case for like a week then just put it back in the box. My AirPods Max used to go in a cloth bag (when new, and before the headband was saggy), and now just go naked into my backpack. That means they sometimes think that they are round my head, and I get confused why I can't hear music from my phone (say if they perch over a coat). It feels like they could have gone two ways with the 2s. Either completely ditch the case and made them more intelligent with turning on or off (skin sensors like the AirPods Pros?), or given us something like the Vision Pro's airbag case. 

The current case just unfortunately hits a load of pain points for me. Firstly it's actually quite finicky to use. You can't put the AirPods Max in one-handed without some real training, and once you get it in there, it doesn't really protect the AirPods at all. There are gaps which expose the aluminium parts (Why these bits? Why not the cushions?!), and if you dropped them in the case, it wouldn't do a lot to help. 

I'd have loved to see either something like the Vision Pro's case, or a hard shell case that maybe didn't require a zip (so could be used one-handed), akin to their old leather MacBook sleeves?

Comfort

TBC, but probably not (fully) resolved

I can now say that I that I can wear them for ages, and I do find them comfortable for long periods, but this wasn't how they were initially. There was quite a bit of clamping force, and I did feel like my neck was straining (maybe I hunch too much tho). This was remedied through usage (which I actually think was my body adapting to it, as I didn't have to re-break in replacement units), but I maintain, they take some getting used to.

They are heavy. They are large (and easy to knock). The clamping force is quite a lot initially. But I have never worried about them falling off my head, and when I wore glasses, they kept a tight seal for noise cancellation without pressing my ears into my skull (something I find with on-ears or shallow over-ears), so I guess I would take the benefits for some initial training?

The ear cups

Not resolved, but Apple could just change the prices (pls?)

Now I love that you can take them off and get replacements. But woah. Really? Why are they so expensive? I caved and bought a second pair and honestly think that's best (as I can wash and leave them to dry completely and use the other pair). There must be some engineering in these though, as 3rd party Amazon ones just aren't as good, but they shouldn't be that much. I shouldn't have even thought about going to buy 3rd party ones.

I do also find that my ears become sweatier quicker with these than my Boses.I do also think the fabric is slightly rougher compared to the pleather of the Boses (I have awful skin so I do notice), and it does absorb sweat/dirt, which means you do want to wash them (they actually become smelly after a while - I can't imagine what the ear pads of people who run in these smell like!).

The finish

TBC, but probably not resolved

The aluminium is really nice don't get me wrong. I just felt like they were delicate. They scratched and dented really quite easily. I'm not sure what the correct answer to this was, but a case which doesn't protect these easily scrunchable parts was not it.

Also, no silver option this time? Is Starlight non-anodised? I always get silver so that scratches are less noticeable.

Announcements from Siri/other H2 enhancements

Added

I didn't realise this until I got my AirPods Pro 3s (as I didn't know it was a feature), but the AirPods Max can't announce a notification over the music that currently is playing (it pauses it, says the notification, then plays the music again). That's kinda crazy. I probably wouldn't have noticed (and probably still don't really care), but the new H2 chip should fix this.

It will be great to be able to just say 'Siri' rather than 'Hey Siri' though, like I genuinely think I don't use it at all on these just out of habit. I feel like even with 'Hey' they don't trigger as reliably as my AirPods Pro 3s.

I haven't used any other enhancements really on my APP 3s... I turned off Personalised Volume as it just seemed like the volume was wrong all the time, I turned off Conversation Awareness mostly because I sometimes sing to music/talk to myself and also think there's a social cue of taking off/out headphones/earphones that shows that you're listening (though I do turn it on in specific scenarios), and haven't really used Head Gestures because I have almost all Announce Notifications off (I have an Apple Watch, I don't need it in my ear as well). I haven't noticed Adaptive Audio so I assume that must be working really well?

Conclusion

Sounds like I'm being really negative, but I do feel like there could have been some real changes made to improve the design of these. After saying all of this, TIl probably still cave and get them at some point because:

• The automatic switching is just amazing
• I really like the sound of my current ones (I hope the 'improved' sound is a good thing)
• If the noise cancellation is using the AirPods Pro 3s's tech, then my gosh there will be no noise left
• The controls are just the best, so intuitive, and the Digital Crown allows such granular control (I miss it on my AirPods Pro 3s!)
• I can ditch this Lightning to 3.5mm cable that feels so flimsy, but I bought for a ridiculous sum and am so scared of losing (and has a 3.5mm to USB-C adapter on the end jic anyway)

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Note: I ended up getting some Bose QuietComforts (non-Ultras, a mistake tbh) for the office and have attached a wireless boom mic to them for calls. They are much lighter, and I would leave them in the office, but the sound quality just isn't 'there'. I do listen to music on them, but it's not my preferred way to. When I put on my AirPods Max it's like someone re-attached some other speakers down the back. Idk. Sounds like I'm a shill but genuinely I wish I had got the Ultras for work!