Headphones / Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Beats Studio Pro
Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Beats Studio Pro
Apple AirPods Max 2
The most beautifully built headphone here — and the heaviest, with no EQ.
Wins overall by 0.1 points
Quick Verdict
This is close. The Apple AirPods Max 2 edges ahead by 0.1 points, but that margin is inside the noise — the Beats Studio Pro is a defensible pick on its own terms. The rare headphone that pairs natively on both iPhone and Android.
The Apple AirPods Max 2 and Beats Studio Pro are both closely matched headphones models, and the Beats Studio Pro is $199 cheaper than the Apple AirPods Max 2 ($349.99 vs $549). On Value, the Beats Studio Pro leads (7.5 vs 5.0/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Durability, the Apple AirPods Max 2 leads (9.5 vs 7.0/10) — build materials, hinge quality, and reported longevity. On Battery, the Beats Studio Pro leads (7.5 vs 6.0/10) — playtime, standby, and charging speed. Overall, the Apple AirPods Max 2 scores 7.5/10 across our 10 scoring categories versus 7.4/10 for the Beats Studio Pro, though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Apple AirPods Max 2 | Beats Studio Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.00 | $349.99 |
| Release Year | 2026 | 2023 |
| Battery Life (hrs) | 20 | 24✓ |
| Battery (ANC off) (hrs) | Apple rates only the 20-hour ANC-on figure | 40 |
| Quick Charge (min for 3hrs) | 10 | 7.5✓ |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Weight (g) | 386 | 260✓ |
| Driver Size (mm) | Not published by Apple | 40 |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Apple Active Noise Cancellation on the H2 chip, using 8 of the 9 microphones, with Adaptive Audio, Transparency and Conversation Awareness | Fully Adaptive Active Noise Cancelling with real-time environment sampling, plus Transparency mode |
| Multipoint Pairing | Yes, but only across compatible Apple devices | Yes, but on Android and ChromeOS only |
| Microphones (mics) | 9 | Not published by Beats |
| Foldable | No | Yes |
| Water Resistance | None | None |
| App EQ | No | Three fixed profiles over USB-C; no free-form EQ |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Orange | Black, Deep Brown, Navy, Sandstone |
Category Scores
Battery
The Beats Studio Pro leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.0 — a 1.5-point margin on playtime, standby, and charging speed. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Noise Cancelling
The Apple AirPods Max 2 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on how well ambient noise is blocked. If that is what you are buying for, the Beats Studio Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Comfort
The Beats Studio Pro leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.5 — a 0.5-point margin on clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Sound Quality
The Apple AirPods Max 2 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.8 — a 1.2-point margin on driver performance, tuning, and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Beats Studio Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Call & Mic Quality
The Apple AirPods Max 2 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on voice clarity and background noise rejection on calls. If that is what you are buying for, the Beats Studio Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Travel
The Beats Studio Pro leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.0 — a 1.5-point margin on foldability, case, ANC on planes, battery for long trips. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Gaming
The Apple AirPods Max 2 and Beats Studio Pro are level here, at 7.0/10 each. latency, low-lag mode support, and soundstage is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Beats Studio Pro leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.0 — a 2.5-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Apple AirPods Max 2 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 7.0 — a 2.5-point margin on build materials, hinge quality, and reported longevity. If that is what you are buying for, the Beats Studio Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Apple AirPods Max 2 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on app ecosystem, multipoint, spatial audio, extras. If that is what you are buying for, the Beats Studio Pro does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Apple AirPods Max 2 if…
- • Durability matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Max 2 scores 9.5/10 here (build materials, hinge quality, and reported longevity).
- • Noise Cancelling matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Max 2 scores 9.0/10 here (how well ambient noise is blocked).
- • Your main use case is professionals.
Choose the Beats Studio Pro if…
- • Value matters most to you — the Beats Studio Pro scores 7.5/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • Battery matters most to you — the Beats Studio Pro scores 7.5/10 here (playtime, standby, and charging speed).
- • Travel matters most to you — the Beats Studio Pro scores 7.5/10 here (foldability, case, ANC on planes, battery for long trips).
- • You want to spend less — it's $199 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is commute or students.
Pros & Cons
Apple AirPods Max 2
Pros
- +Exceptional build — stainless steel and machined aluminium, the most premium object here
- +24-bit lossless over USB-C with ultra-low latency
- +Best-in-class Spatial Audio with head tracking on Apple devices
- +Live Translation and studio-quality recording
Cons
- −386g, a full 74g heavier than the next heaviest here, and it tells over long sessions
- −Still no EQ of any kind, at any price
- −AAC and SBC only, so Android users get the worst codec support here
- −Almost every headline feature requires an Apple device, including firmware updates
- −20 hours is the shortest battery here
- −No true power off — only the Smart Case
Beats Studio Pro
Pros
- +One of very few headphones that pairs natively on both iOS and Android
- +USB-C lossless audio
- +Folds properly for travel
- +Street price is routinely far below the $349.99 list
Cons
- −No wear detection, so it will not auto-pause when you take them off
- −Multipoint works on Android but not on Apple devices — you cannot have both multipoint and Spatial Audio
- −AAC and SBC only, no LDAC or aptX
- −Earpads are not user-replaceable
- −Runs warm over long sessions
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Apple AirPods Max 2 or Beats Studio Pro better overall?+
Based on our 10-category scoring, the Apple AirPods Max 2 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Value, the Apple AirPods Max 2 or the Beats Studio Pro?+
The Beats Studio Pro scores higher on Value (7.5/10 vs 5.0/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Durability, the Apple AirPods Max 2 or the Beats Studio Pro?+
The Apple AirPods Max 2 scores higher on Durability (9.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — build materials, hinge quality, and reported longevity.
Which is better for Battery, the Apple AirPods Max 2 or the Beats Studio Pro?+
The Beats Studio Pro scores higher on Battery (7.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — playtime, standby, and charging speed.
Which is better for Noise Cancelling, the Apple AirPods Max 2 or the Beats Studio Pro?+
The Apple AirPods Max 2 scores higher on Noise Cancelling (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — how well ambient noise is blocked.
Is the Apple AirPods Max 2 worth the price difference over the Beats Studio Pro?+
The Beats Studio Pro is the cheaper option at $349.99 versus $549. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Value.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Apple AirPods Max 2 is the better fit if you mainly care about professionals. The Beats Studio Pro is the better fit for commute or students.
What's the warranty on the Apple AirPods Max 2 vs the Beats Studio Pro?+
The Apple AirPods Max 2 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Beats Studio Pro ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 — $179.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.