Hartley Charlton
AirPods Pro and AirPods Max Are Apple's Most Expensive Headphones. Which One Should You Choose?
Almost three years after the launch of the first-generation AirPods Pro, Apple unveiled the second-generation model alongside the iPhone 14 lineup and several new Apple Watches in 2022, and a year later, in 2023, replaced the Lightning port with USB-C. Although the second-generation AirPods Pro have the same design as their predecessors, they improve features like active noise cancellation, in-ear detection, and battery life, while introducing new features like Adaptive Transparency, touch-sensitive volume controls, and precision search.
In late 2020, Apple announced AirPods Max, an all-new AirPods variant with an over-the-ear design. Both AirPods Max and AirPods Pro feature active noise cancellation, personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, “Hey Siri,” and automatic switching. In September 2024, the company updated the AirPods Max color options and replaced the Lightning port with a USB-C port.
As two high-end AirPods options, should you consider buying the third-generation AirPods Pro for $249, or do you want the AirPods Max, which are still on sale for $549? Our guide will help you answer the question of how to decide which of these AirPods is best for you.
| AirPods Pro 2 (2022, 2023) | AirPods Max (2020, 2024) |
|---|---|
| Plastic design | Aluminum, stainless steel, and silicone design |
| IPX4 sweat- and water-resistant earbuds and charging case | |
| Available in white only | Lightning: Available in silver, space gray, azure, pink, and green USB-C: Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Purple, and Orange |
| In-ear headphones with silicone ear tips (four sizes) | Over-ear |
| Silicone clip-on ear tips (four sizes) | Magnetic fabric ear cups |
| Skin detection sensors | Optical IR sensors |
| ~10mm custom Apple high-frequency drivers and high-dynamic-range amplifiers | 20mm Apple dynamic drivers and more powerful high-dynamic-range amplifiers |
| Dual beamforming and inward-facing microphones | Nine microphones (eight are used for active noise cancellation, three are used for voice capture) |
| H2 Chips | H1 Chips |
| Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Lightning: 2.4 GHz connection USB-C: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz connection |
2.4 GHz connection |
| USB-C: Lossless audio support with Apple Vision Pro | |
| “Hey Siri” and “Siri” voice commands | “Hey Siri” voice commands |
| Force sensor for media and listening mode control | Noise cancellation control button for listening mode control |
| Touch control for volume control | Digital crown for media and volume control |
| Transparency and Adaptive Transparency | Transparency |
| Adaptive Audio | |
| Conversation Awareness | |
| Conversation Boost | |
| Loud Sound Reduction | |
| Hearing Protection (coming fall 2024) | |
| Hearing Test (coming fall 2024) | |
| Hearing Aid (coming fall 2024) | |
| Lace Loop | |
| U1 Chip for Precise Finding | |
| Speaker in Charging Case for Find My | |
| Up to 6 hours of listening time on a single charge | Up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge |
| 5 minutes in the case provides about 1 hour of listening time | 5 minutes of charging provides about 1.5 hours of listening time |
| Charge with the Apple Watch charger, MagSafe charger, Qi wireless charger, and Lightning or USB-C (depending on model) | Charges only via USB-C or Lightning (depending on model) |
| MagSafe Charging Case | A smart case that keeps your battery charged in an ultra-low power state |
| $249 | $549 |
While there is some overlap between the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, features like active noise cancellation and transparency, as well as the completely different shape and form of the earbuds, will make it easier for most buyers to decide which device they like better.
The AirPods Max offer a wider range of color options and a more premium design, as well as much longer battery life on a single charge. Thanks to their over-ear design and significantly larger drivers, the AirPods Max deliver noticeably better sound quality than the AirPods Pro, so if sound quality is your top priority, the AirPods Max are undoubtedly the better choice. If you actively dislike the AirPods Pro's in-ear design, the AirPods Max may also be more comfortable.
On the other hand, the AirPods Pro offer a high level of convenience and portability thanks to their small size and charging case. The sound quality of the AirPods Pro can’t match the AirPods Max, but features like Adaptive Audio, Loud Sound Reduction, and Conversation Boost make them ideal for on-the-go use. With their lightweight design, in-ear design, and sweat- and water-resistance, the AirPods Pro are also ideal for working out.
The AirPods Pro are much more versatile when it comes to charging, with four different charging options compared to the mandatory USB-C or Lightning port of the AirPods Max, depending on whether you buy the latest version. Due to their size, weight, less durable construction, and limited portability, the AirPods Max are best suited for home use for long, high-quality listening, while the AirPods Pro offer a more balanced experience with a high level of convenience and portability.
It's also worth noting that the AirPods Pro have many more features than the AirPods Max, such as “Siri” voice commands, precise search, Bluetooth 5.3, and lossless audio support, as well as new hearing protection, testing, and assistance features.
AirPods often get big discounts on Amazon and other third-party retailers, so upgrading to the Max version may be a better deal if you can take advantage of one of these deals. Both sets of AirPods often get big discounts, so it's always worth shopping around for the best price using our roundup of deals.
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