AirPods Max 2: H2 Brings Parity

AirPods Max 2 finally feels like the Pro’s equal.

Engadget’s hands-on wrap of recent hardware refreshes puts the premium headphones squarely in the spotlight, thanks to Apple’s new H2 chip. The takeaway: the new Max 2 delivers enough performance improvements to bring it on par with the AirPods Pro 3, marking a meaningful step for Apple’s over-ear lineup. The result isn’t merely incremental—it's a signal that Apple intends its best-in-class headphones to live in the same ecosystem as its best-in-class earbuds, with features and behavior that now feel more cohesive across devices.

What the H2 achieves, according to testing, is a shift in capability that used to live in the Pro side of the family. While the original Max leaned on its strong design and sound, the H2 chip updates processing for the audio pipeline, enabling improvements in how the headphones handle noise cancellation and spatial audio cues. In other words, you get more Pro-like performance without swapping ecosystems or accessories. Engadget’s reviewers note that the upgrade makes the Max 2 a more credible companion to iPhones and iPads, with features that mirror what Pro users already enjoy.

Pricing and ongoing costs remain a mystery in the recap. Engadget did not publish a price for AirPods Max 2, and there’s no subscription model to contend with—these are still one-and-done purchases, at least in theory. That absence of mandatory fees matters in the premium headphones market, where some competitors push paid features or cloud-enabled settings. For Apple, the value proposition remains rooted in the hardware and the way it plays with the rest of the ecosystem.

Setup time and difficulty are about what you expect for Apple’s wireless headphones: quick to pair on an iPhone or iPad, with seamless device switching and a familiar setup flow that minimizes friction for existing users. The bigger question for buyers isn’t whether it pairs, but whether the improved on-device processing translates to noticeable gains in daily use. The recap implies yes—more capable ANC, clearer calls, and a sound profile that leans into the Pro family’s tuning ethos.

From a practitioner perspective, a few concrete points stand out. First, the H2’s presence nudges premium audio devices closer to the standard set by Apple’s own earbuds, which compress the gap between over-ear and in-ear experiences in the same ecosystem. Second, the lack of a required subscription lowers the total cost of ownership and reduces the risk of “subscription fatigue” common in other premium lines. Third, for buyers already vested in Apple gear, the Max 2’s parity with Pro features creates a smoother cross-device experience—critical when you bounce between a MacBook, iPhone, and iPad during a workday. Fourth, for rivals, this update raises the bar in a market where price and feature packages often collide; the Max 2’s integration advantage becomes a differentiator that other brands will need to counter with either aggressive pricing or stronger multi-device value propositions.

Bottom line: AirPods Max 2 is a solid upgrade for Apple enthusiasts who want true parity with the Pro ecosystem and a premium, comfort-forward listening experience. If you’re deep in the Apple folds, this is a buy. If you’re evaluating premium headphones purely on ANC strength or price-to-performance, you might want to wait for more teardown details or competitor moves.

Sources

Engadget review recap: ASUS ZenBook A16, AirPods Max 2, Sonos Play and LG Sound Suite