Six upgrades make Apple AirPods Max 2 enticing at any price

• Apple’s AirPods Max headphones have excellent audio quality but aren’t flawless.
• The carrying case is terrible, and whenever I use it in public, I feel like I should apologise.
• If you’re paying this much for headphones, you should be able to upgrade to Apple Music’s Lossless or Hi-Res levels.

Apple AirPods Max is the best AirPods for sound quality. They have excellent audio quality but aren’t flawless.

I adore my AirPods Max, but I know I paid the Apple Tax: if I’d had the Sony WH-1000XM4s instead, I’d have gotten superior noise cancellation for less money.

Apple is probably working on the second generation of AirPods Max (the first ones came out in 2020), and if it has these improvements, it would be worth paying Apple’s high price.

Six features make the AirPods Max 2 among the best headphones, not only Apple headphones.

1. A proper carrying case

True, but not poetic. The AirPods Max carrying case is terrible, and whenever I use it in public, I feel like I should apologise. The headphones came with it.

But my primary issue is its function. No headband protection implies style over substance.

I could get a beautiful hard case, but I already spent a lot on the headphones. Apple should offer a case like other brands.

2. Lossless audio

AirPods Max are more expensive than many high-end headphones for audiophiles, but they only work with Bluetooth audio that isn’t as good.

If you’re paying this much for headphones, you should be able to upgrade to Apple Music’s Lossless or Hi-Res levels.

I want the highest-quality headphones to play the highest-quality music, whether Apple uses these methods or not.

If wireless fails, there’s always cable.

3. Standard cable is included

My AirPods Max lacked a cable, like everyone else’s. The cost of lightning to 3.5mm is $35/£35/AU $35.Digital cables lack lossless audio. False.

I mistakenly did not include a cord with the pricey headphones. A 3.5mm headphone jack would have been more practical and less cash-grabbing.

Include a cable, even if it’s nonstandard. While we’re on Lightning…

4. USB-C

It’s on MacBook Airs and Pros.

The iPad Airs do. Most devices have it. USB-C may be in the iPhone 14.

Apple’s usage of Lightning in the OG AirPods Max made sense at the time, but now it’s annoying: they’ll soon be the only Apple item in my home without a USB-C outlet. Let’s make the replacement future-ready.

5. Detection of L/R ears

If I had a cent for each time I lost my AirPods Max, I’d buy the AirPods Max 2. I forget which side the controls are on, but I appreciate why Apple picked a Digital Crown. It should have had the Apple Watch’s reversible controls for right or left-handed use.

The right-hand side can control AirPods Max.

The earpads are uniform, so automatic adjustment is excellent.

6. Interchangeable components

The AirPods Max was meant to include replaceable headbands and ear cups (so Apple could sell you more stuff).

Apple couldn’t make the headband work (earpads may be swapped), so it shelved the idea.

AirPods Max is easy to disassemble if you just want to remove the ear cups, so it’s not farfetched to envisage swappable ear cups.

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