Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Apple AirPods Pro 3

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

AirPods Max 2 compared with AirPods Pro 3

	AppleAirPods Max 2	AppleAirPods Pro 3
Overview
Released
Released	April 2026	September 2025
Sound
Type
Type	Over-ear	In-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	SBC and AAC	SBC and AAC
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	Yes	No
Chip
Chip	H2	H2
Drivers
Drivers	Apple-designed dynamic driver and custom high dynamic range amplifier	Custom high-excursion Apple driver and custom high dynamic range amplifier
Chip
Chip	H2 in each ear cup	H2 in each AirPod; second-generation Ultra Wideband chip in the MagSafe Charging Case
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	Up to 1.5x more Active Noise Cancellation than the original AirPods Max; Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode and Conversation Awareness	Active Noise Cancellation with Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness and Loud Sound Reduction; foam-infused ear tips for passive isolation
Audio features
Audio features	Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ; Personalised Volume; Voice Isolation; studio-quality audio recording; Live Translation; 24-bit, 48 kHz Lossless Audio and ultra-low latency audio via USB-C; analogue sources need Apple's USB-C to 3.5 mm Audio Cable, sold separately	Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ; Personalised Volume; Voice Isolation; studio-quality audio recording; Live Translation; lossless audio when paired with Apple Vision Pro
Hearing health
Hearing health	Loud Sound Reduction	Hearing Test, Hearing Aid (with automatic Conversation Boost) and Hearing Protection
Health sensors
Health sensors	–	Heart rate sensor for workouts
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 20 hours	Up to 8 hours
With the case
With the case	–	Up to 24 hours
Wireless charging
Wireless charging	–	Yes
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Storing them in the Smart Case puts them in an ultra-low-power state	Up to 7.5 hours with Spatial Audio and head tracking on; 6.5 hours with heart rate sensing during workouts; 10 hours in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature
Charging case
Charging case	–	MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) with speaker for Find My and lanyard loop; charges with MagSafe, Apple Watch or Qi-certified chargers or a USB-C cable
Fast charging
Fast charging	5 minutes of charging gives around 1.5 hours of listening	5 minutes in the case gives around 1 hour of listening
Design
Weight
Weight	386.2 g	5.55 g (better)
Water and sweat resistance
Water and sweat resistance	–	IP57
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.3	5.3
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	–
Controls
Controls	Digital Crown (turn for volume; press once to play, pause, answer a call or use camera remote; twice to end a call or skip forward; three times to skip back; press and hold for Siri); listening mode button; “Hey Siri” or just “Siri”; Siri Interactions	Force sensor with volume swipe on the stems (press to play, pause, answer calls and skip; press and hold to switch listening modes; swipe up or down for volume); camera remote; “Hey Siri” or just “Siri”; Siri Interactions
Microphones
Microphones	Nine microphones in total, eight for Active Noise Cancellation and three for voice pickup (two shared with ANC)	Dual beamforming microphones and an inward-facing microphone; speech-detecting accelerometer
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	–	Foam-infused silicone ear tips in five sizes (XXS, XS, S, M, L)
Case weight
Case weight	134.5 g (Smart Case)	43.99 g
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	–	IP57 (IEC 60529) for the AirPods Pro and charging case
Works with
Works with	Full features with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro on the latest software; works as Bluetooth headphones with other devices, with limited features	Full features with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro on the latest software; works as Bluetooth headphones with other devices, with limited features
Colours
Colours	Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Orange	White
In the box
In the box	AirPods Max 2, Smart Case, USB-C Charge Cable, documentation	AirPods Pro 3, MagSafe Charging Case (USB-C) with speaker and lanyard loop, silicone ear tips (XXS, XS, S, M, L), documentation; USB-C cable sold separately