Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Beats Beats 360

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AirPods Max 2 compared with Beats 360

	AppleAirPods Max 2	BeatsBeats 360
Overview
Released
Released	April 2026	September 2026
Sound
Type
Type	Over-ear	Over-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	–
Chip
Chip	H2	Beats proprietary chip
Drivers
Drivers	Apple-designed dynamic driver and custom high dynamic range amplifier	Custom dual-magnet dynamic drivers with three-layer diaphragms
Chip
Chip	H2 in each ear cup	–
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	–
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	Adaptive EQ; personalised spatial audio with dynamic head tracking; accelerometer and gyroscope in the left ear cup; SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs (Les Numériques)
Hearing health
Hearing health	Loud Sound Reduction	–
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 20 hours	Up to 32 hours
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Storing them in the Smart Case puts them in an ultra-low-power state	Up to 32 hours with noise cancelling and spatial audio, or with Adaptive EQ; up to 24 hours in Transparency mode
Fast charging
Fast charging	5 minutes of charging gives around 1.5 hours of listening	A 5-minute USB-C Fast Fuel charge gives up to 1 hour of playback
Design
Weight
Weight	386.2 g	294.5 g (better)
Water and sweat resistance
Water and sweat resistance	–	IPX4
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	Physical volume and playback buttons on the right cup; power and listening-mode buttons on the left
Microphones
Microphones	Nine microphones in total, eight for Active Noise Cancellation and three for voice pickup (two shared with ANC)	Nine in total; eight for noise cancelling and three for voice, with two shared
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	–	Detachable Performance Knit ear and headband cushions included; UltraPlush cushions sold separately; adjustable stainless steel arms; folds flat
Case weight
Case weight	134.5 g (Smart Case)	88 g
Dimensions
Dimensions	–	Headphones 165.5 × 87.1 × 191.3 mm; carrying case 225 × 85 × 225 mm
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	Apple pairing, automatic switching, Audio Sharing, hands-free Siri and Find My; Android Fast Pair, Audio switch, Find Hub and Beats app
Colours
Colours	Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Orange	Black, Cloud, Pink, Sky
In the box
In the box	AirPods Max 2, Smart Case, USB-C Charge Cable, documentation	Headphones with matched Performance Knit cushions, woven carrying case, Quick Start Guide and documentation; charging cable and power adapter sold separately