Apple AirPods Max 2: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-17
Summary
The AirPods Max 2 is the 2020 AirPods Max with new internals, and most complaints carry over unchanged: about 20 hours of battery, no power button, no custom EQ, and no water resistance. Running costs are minimal — there is no subscription and the only user-replaceable part is the ear cushions. It is a good buy near the $429 sale price seen at major retailers in 2026; at the $549 list price it is hard to justify against the AirPods Pro 3.
Common problems and fixes
- Battery life behind rivals — Apple rates up to 20 hours with ANC on, the same figure as the 2020 model and short of Bose (about 24 h) and Sony (about 30 h); WIRED measured closer to 15 hours of active listening over two days. No fix; a 5-minute charge gives about 1.5 hours. Warranty terms were not verified in the sources; Apple’s standard one-year limited warranty is the baseline expectation. [1][2][5]
- No custom EQ — the tuning is fixed and there is no equalizer in software. No workaround reported. [1][2]
- Limited Bluetooth codecs — AAC and SBC only, no LDAC/aptX and no standard multipoint; Android users also lose several Apple features. No fix; Apple’s automatic switching inside one iCloud account covers the common Apple case. [2][3]
- Heavy build, minimal case — 386.2 g with cushions, and the Smart Case is a sleeve rather than protection. No fix reported. [2][5]
- Live Translation is beta — rated “hilariously bad” in WIRED’s hands-on test. No fix; treat it as unfinished. [1]
Parts and consumables
Yearly running cost
There is no subscription and no scheduled maintenance. The only recurring cost is occasional replacement ear cushions (price not published in the sources); a USB-C-to-3.5 mm cable is a one-time optional extra. Charging electricity is not quantified in the sources. A realistic yearly cost is close to $0 beyond electricity unless the cushions are replaced.
When it is a good buy
- $429 at Best Buy and Walmart (2026 review period, WIRED and PCMag) — strong value: reviewers rate the noise cancellation class-leading and the sound top-tier at $120 under list. [1][2]
- $529 (9to5Mac, April 2026 sale) — fair for an Apple user who wants over-ear headphones. [4]
- $549 US list (Apple) — the honest price, but hard to justify on sound alone against the AirPods Pro 3. [2][4]
- £499 UK RRP (Trusted Reviews, Sep 2026). [3]
- AirPods Pro 3 — the better choice for general use: 9to5Mac found it sounds roughly 99% the same over Bluetooth, with wired USB-C lossless the only clearly audible advantage for the Max 2. [4]