Who is the Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) for?
Budget-tier headphone. The 65.7 score sits in C-tier (58–67) — the formula flags meaningful weaknesses against premium peers.
Reasonable if cost is the deciding factor and the spec weaknesses don’t matter for your use. Check the spec table carefully before buying.
Mars Score is computed from 16 measured specs against the transparent formula for the headphones category. No editorial picks, no paid placement.
Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen): advantages & disadvantages
Measured against every headphones we track, here is where the Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) pulls ahead — and where it gives ground.
- ▲Includes Active noise cancellation — a feature not every headphones offers.
- ▼Battery life: 20 h — below the typical headphones.
Pros are specs scoring ≥75% of the category normalization range. Cons are ≤35%. Derived from the Mars Score formula — no hand-curated lists.
At a glance
- Driver size
- 40mm
- Battery life
- 20h
- Weight
- 384g
- Type
- over-ear
All specifications
Design
- Type
- over-ear
- Weight
- 384 g
- Water resistance
- none
Audio
- Driver size?
- 40 mm
- Sensitivity?
- 105 dB
- Transparency mode
- true
- Spatial audio?
- true
Battery
- Battery life
- 20 h
- Fast charge?
- true
Latest from the lab
All lab reports →Popular comparisons featuring the Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen)
The 8 closest matchups in the Headphones category, sorted by Mars Score proximity — the fights most worth your time.
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Frequently asked
What is the Mars Score for Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen)?+
Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) scores 65.7 on the transparent Mars Score formula for headphones, computed from its published specs against the category's weighted normalization.
What category does Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) belong to?+
Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) is a Apple headphone catalogued in the Headphones category.
When was Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) released?+
Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) was released on 2025-09-19.
What is the driver size of Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen)?+
Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) has a driver size of 40 mm.
What is the battery life of Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen)?+
Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) has a battery life of 20 h.
What is the weight of Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen)?+
Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) has a weight of 384 g.
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