Who is the Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) for?
Solid mid-pack headphone. The 68.0 score lands in B-tier (68–77) — competent across the board, with one or two specs holding it back.
A right buy if pricing matters and the trade-offs the formula penalizes don’t affect how you use the device. Compare it against the A-tier picks first.
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.
- ▼Weight: 384 g — among the weakest in the headphones category.
- ▼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 12 closest matchups in the Headphones category, sorted by Mars Score proximity — the fights most worth your time.
Browse by segment
How Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) fits the Headphones field
Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) is listed in the Headphones catalog with a Mars Score of 68.0. It currently ranks 17 of 25 products in this category by Mars Score.This page is most useful when you match the product's strongest measurable specifications to your own workload instead of treating one number as a universal recommendation.
Key specifications to check
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- Battery life
- 20 h
- Weight
- 384 g
- Type
- over-ear
Values are shown exactly as stored in the current catalog. A dash means the value is not available; it is not a zero and is not treated as a win or loss.
Who should consider it?
Start with the priorities represented by driver size, battery life, weight. Buyers who value those dimensions should compare this product against the closest same-category alternatives below, then verify regional pricing, warranty, and configuration before purchase.
Closest alternatives
Frequently asked
What is the Mars Score for Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen)?+
Apple - AirPods Max (USB-C, 2nd gen) scores 68.0 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.