So you‘re an Apple user looking to upgrade your listening game. You want to cut the cord and go wireless but aren‘t sure whether to splurge on the over-ear AirPods Max or the latest in-ear AirPods Pro 2.
I‘ve tested both exhaustively as a self-confessed Apple audio nut. Here‘s my in-depth, unbiased comparison to help determine which flagship ear candy is best suited for your needs and budget…
An Audiophile Weighs In
As an long-time audiophile, I was eager to experience Apple‘s best-in-class sound quality but wasn‘t convinced wireless could match my beloved wired headphones.
Boy was I wrong!
Apple‘s audio engineering team has worked magic shrinking everything high-fidelity audio demands into impressively compact forms.
The resulting listening journey, infused with spatial richness and customizable sound profiles, keeps me grinning through my favorite test tracks.
While audio quality itself is spectacular regardless of model, each product has unique strengths and limitations worth examining before deciding where to spend your money.
So let‘s dive deeper into the nitty gritty details…
Headphone or Earbud: A Design Dilemma
The choice between over-ear cans versus in-ear buds comes down partly to personal comfort and portability preferences. But design impacts other factors too:
| AirPods Max | AirPods Pro 2 | |
| Wearing Style | Over-ear | In-ear |
| Dimensions | 6.64 x 7.37 x 3.28 inches | AirPod: 1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches Charging Case: 1.78 x 2.39 x 0.85 inches |
| Weight | 13.6 oz / 0.85 lb | AirPod: 0.19 oz Charging Case: 1.79 oz |
| Noise Isolation | Passive + Active Noise Cancellation | Passive + Adjustable ANC |
| Durability Rating | IPX4 (sweat/water resistant) | IPX4 (sweat/water resistant) |
The AirPods Max aims to envelope your ears in sonic luxury with soft memory foam ear cups. But some find the near half-pound load uncomfortable over long listening sessions.
Whereas the featherweight AirPods Pro 2 rests securely in your ear canal, largely disappearing from thought and sight. Their adaptive fit ensures long-wearing comfort for most.
Both block external noise effectively courtesy of passive in-ear/over-ear isolation supplemented by variable active noise cancelling. So no compromise on that front!
Battery Benchmarking
Music pumping nonstop into your noggin hinges on enough juice powering each device. And once again, we observe a cleavage between the Max and Pro models:
| Specs | AirPods Max Battery | AirPods Pro 2 Battery |
|---|---|---|
| Listening Time | Up to 20 hours | Up to 6 hours |
| Additional Charges | None | Additional 24 hours via charging case |
| Charging Duration | ~2 hours to 100% | ~60 minutes |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes (cases only) |
Clearly the AirPods Max provides significantly longer playback off a single full charge – handy for lengthy trips sans top-up opportunities.
Conversely, the AirPods Pro gives you 30 hours of cumulative listening interspersed with on-the-go quick charging via the pocketable case. Ideal for city slickers.
Both recharge wirelessly, eliminating fussing with cables. But only the AirPods Pro 2 case supports wireless magnitudes faster MagSafe charging.
So when it comes to battery benchmarks, each is optimized differently – privilege runtime in one, convenience in the other.
Lots more in-depth analysis on audio performance, features, controls etc. coming right up…
