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  1. Home
  2. Headphones
  3. Compare

Apple AirPods Max 2 vs AirPods 5

Which Headphones Are Better?

    Top
    Main Differences
    Sound
      Sound ProfileFrequency Response ConsistencyRaw Frequency ResponseBass Profile: Target ComplianceMid-Range Profile: Target ComplianceTreble Profile: Target CompliancePeaks/DipsStereo MismatchCumulative Spectral DecayPRTFHarmonic DistortionElectrical AspectsTest Settings
    Design
      StyleComfortControlsPortabilityCaseBuild QualityStabilityHeadshots 1Headshots 2TopIn The Box
    Isolation
      Noise Isolation - Full RangeNoise Isolation - Common ScenariosNoise Isolation - Voice HandlingANC Wind HandlingLeakage
    Microphone
      Microphone StyleRecording QualityNoise Handling
    Active Features
      BatteryApp Support
    Connectivity
      Wired ConnectionBluetooth ConnectionWireless Connection (Dongle)PC CompatibilityPlayStation CompatibilityXbox Compatibility
    Comments

Products

Apple AirPods Max 2
Apple AirPods 5

Tested using Methodology v2.3

Updated Jun 23, 2026 02:11 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon

Tested using Methodology v2.3

Updated Oct 05, 2026 05:18 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon
Apple AirPods Max 2 Picture

Track

Apple AirPods 5 Picture

Track

TypeOver-ear
Noise CancellingYes
EnclosureClosed-Back
Bass Amount
Slightly Emphasized (2 dB)
WirelessYes
Treble Amount
Slightly Underemphasized (-3 dB)
MicYes
Sound Signature
Warm
TypeEarbuds
Noise CancellingYes
EnclosureOpen-Back
Bass Amount
Underemphasized (-5 dB)
WirelessTruly Wireless
Treble Amount
Underemphasized (-5 dB)
MicYes
Sound Signature
Flat
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Apple

Our Verdict

Apple AirPods Max 2

Apple AirPods 5

The Apple AirPods Max 2 and Apple AirPods 5 target very different kinds of Apple users. The Max 2 are large premium over-ears with much stronger noise isolation, fuller bass, a battery that lasts four times as long, and wired USB-C and analog playback. They're a better fit for situations where portability isn't the priority, although their weight and stronger clamping force can become tiring. The AirPods 5 disappear into a pocket and are far more practical for walking around or exercising. Both benefit from Apple's H2-powered ecosystem features like seamless switching.

GIFT THIS COMPARISON

0 

Variants

  • AirPods Max 2 (Blue)
  • AirPods Max 2 (Midnight)
  • AirPods 5 (White)
  • AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case (White)

Review

See Apple AirPods Max 2 Review
See Apple AirPods 5 Review
13 
2 

Check Price

Blue
AirPods Max 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon
White
AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case
SEE PRICE
Amazon
Midnight
AirPods Max 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon
White
AirPods 5
SEE PRICE
Amazon
Orange
AirPods Max 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon
 
Purple
AirPods Max 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon
 
Starlight
AirPods Max 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon
 

Main Differences for
Sports And Fitness

Threshold 

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Sports And Fitness 
 

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Full Comparison

Sound

Sound Profile 
 

Sound Profile  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Sound Profile Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Apple AirPods 5 Sound Profile Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Normalization Frequency 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Bass Amount 
 

Locked
Locked

Treble Amount 
 

Locked
Locked

Sound Signature 
 

Locked
Locked

Frequency Response Consistency 
 

N/A
N/A

Consistency L  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Apple AirPods 5 Consistency L Sample

SAMPLE

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Consistency R  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Consistency R Sample

SAMPLE

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Std. Deviation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw FR L  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Apple AirPods 5 Raw FR L Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Raw FR R  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Raw FR R Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Bass Profile: Target Compliance 
 

N/A
N/A

Bass Profile: Target Compliance  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Bass Profile: Target Compliance Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Bass Profile: Target Compliance Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

RMS Deviation From Target 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Low Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance 
 

N/A
N/A

Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Mid-Range Profile: Target Compliance Sample

SAMPLE

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RMS Deviation From Target 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid-Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble Profile: Target Compliance 
 

N/A
N/A

Treble Profile: Target Compliance  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Treble Profile: Target Compliance Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Treble Profile: Target Compliance Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

RMS Deviation From Target 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

High Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Peaks/Dips 
 

N/A
N/A

Peaks/Dips Graph 
 

Apple AirPods Max 2 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Apple AirPods 5 Peaks/Dips Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Peaks 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Dips 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Stereo Mismatch 
 

N/A
N/A

Frequency Response Mismatch  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Frequency Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Frequency Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

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Phase Response Mismatch  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Phase Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Phase Response Mismatch Sample

SAMPLE

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Weighted Amplitude Mismatch 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Weighted Frequency Response Mismatch 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Weighted Phase Mismatch 
 

Lock°
Lock°

PRTF 
 

N/A
N/A

PRTF  

Apple AirPods Max 2 PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Apple AirPods 5 PRTF Sample

SAMPLE

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PRTF Accuracy (RMS Deviation) 
 

Lock dB
N/A

PRTF Size (Avg.) 
 

Lock dB
N/A

PRTF Distance 
 

Lock dB
N/A

Harmonic Distortion 
 

N/A
N/A

Harmonics Levels  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Harmonics Levels Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Harmonics Levels Sample

SAMPLE

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THD Ratio  

Apple AirPods Max 2 THD Ratio Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 THD Ratio Sample

SAMPLE

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WHD @ 94 dB SPL 
 

Lock%
Lock%

WHD @ 104 dB SPL 
 

Lock%
Lock%

Electrical Aspects 
 

Impedance  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Impedance Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Impedance Sample

SAMPLE

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Sensitivity @1kHz-1V 
 

N/A
Lock dB SPL

Bluetooth Max SPL 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Test Settings 
 

Firmware 
 

Locked
Locked

Power 
 

Locked
Locked

Connection 
 

Locked
Locked

Codec 
 

Locked
Locked

Test Instrument  

Locked
Locked

EQ 
 

Locked
Locked

ANC 
 

Locked
Locked

Tip/Pad 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone 
 

Locked
Locked
Design

Style  

Design Picture 2  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Design Picture 2 Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Type  

Locked
Locked

Enclosure  

Locked
Locked

Wireless  

Locked
Locked

Transducer  

Locked
Locked

Comfort 
 

N/A
N/A

Comfort Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Comfort Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Weight  

Lock lbs
Lock lbs

Clamping Force 
 

Lock lbs
N/A

Controls 
 

N/A
N/A

Controls Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Controls Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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OS Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked

Ease Of Use  

Locked
Locked

Feedback  

Locked
Locked

Call/Music Control  

Locked
Locked

Volume Control  

Locked
Locked

Microphone Control  

Locked
Locked

Channel Mixing 
 

Locked
Locked

Noise Cancelling Control  

Locked
Locked

Talk-Through 
 

Locked
Locked

Additional Controls  

Locked
Locked

Portability 
 

N/A
N/A

Portability Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Portability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

L  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

W  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

H  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume  

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Transmitter Required  

Locked
Locked

Case 
 

N/A
N/A

Case Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Case Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Type  

Locked
Locked

L  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

W  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

H  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Volume  

Lock in³ (Lock cm³)
Lock in³ (Lock cm³)

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Build Quality Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Stability 
 

N/A
N/A

Stability Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Stability Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Headshots 1  

Angled Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Apple AirPods 5 Angled Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Side Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Apple AirPods 5 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Headshots 2  

Front Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Front Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Rear Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Rear Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Top  

Top Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Apple AirPods 5 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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In The Box  

In The Box Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 In The Box Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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for pictures & test results

Isolation

Noise Isolation - Full Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Noise Isolation - Full Range Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Noise Cancelling  

Locked
Locked

Overall Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Bass 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Mid 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Treble 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Noise Isolation - Common Scenarios Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Airplane Noise Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Airplane Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Join Now
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Office Noise Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Office Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Join Now
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Street Noise Attenuation 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Street Noise Isolation Audio 
 

Join Now
Join Now

Noise Isolation - Voice Handling 
 

Female Voice 1 
 

Join Now
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Male Voice 1 
 

Join Now
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Female Voice 2 
 

Join Now
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Male Voice 2 
 

Join Now
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ANC Wind Handling 
 

ANC Wind Handling Graph  

Apple AirPods Max 2 ANC Wind Handling Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 ANC Wind Handling Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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ANC Wind Noise 
 

Join Now
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Leakage 
 

N/A
N/A

Leakage  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Leakage Sample

SAMPLE

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Leakage Audio 
 

Join Now
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Overall Leakage @ 1ft 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Microphone

Microphone Style 
 

Integrated 
 

Locked
Locked

In-Line 
 

Locked
Locked

Boom 
 

Locked
Locked

Detachable Boom 
 

Locked
Locked

Mic  

Locked
Locked

Recording Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Microphone Frequency Response  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Microphone Frequency Response Sample

SAMPLE

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Recorded Speech 
 

Join Now
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LFE 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

FR Std. Dev. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

HFE 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Weighted THD 
 

Lock
N/A

Gain 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Noise Handling 
 

N/A
N/A

SpNR  

Apple AirPods Max 2 SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 SpNR Sample

SAMPLE

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SpNR 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Noise Gate 
 

Locked
Locked

Speech + Pink Noise Handling 
 

0.0
0.0

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample  

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Speech + Subway Noise Handling 
 

0.0
0.0

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample  

Join Now
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Active Features

Battery 
 

N/A
N/A

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Continuous Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Additional Charges 
 

Lock
Lock

Total Battery Life 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Charge Time 
 

Lock hrs
Lock hrs

Power-Saving Feature 
 

Locked
Locked

Audio While Charging 
 

Locked
Locked

Passive Playback 
 

Locked
Locked

Charging Port  

Locked
Locked

App Support 
 

N/A
N/A

App Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 App Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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App Name  

Locked
Locked

iOS  

Locked
Locked

Android  

Locked
Locked

macOS  

Locked
Locked

Windows  

Locked
Locked

Equalizer 
 

Locked
Locked

ANC Control 
 

Locked
Locked

Mic Control  

Locked
Locked

Playback Control 
 

Locked
Locked

Button Mapping  

Locked
Locked

Virtual Surround 
 

Locked
Locked
Connectivity

Wired Connection 
 

N/A
N/A

Cable Picture  

Apple AirPods Max 2 Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple AirPods 5 Cable Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Analog Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Audio 
 

Locked
Locked

Detachable 
 

Locked
Locked

Length 
 

Lock ft (Lock m)
N/A

Connector 
 

Locked
Locked

Latency - Analog 
 

Lock ms
N/A

Latency - USB 
 

Lock ms
N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

Join Now
Join Now

Recorded Latency Connection  

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth Connection 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth Version 
 

Locked
Locked

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Quick Pair (Android) 
 

Locked
Locked

Quick Pair (iOS) 
 

Locked
Locked

Latency - SBC 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Latency - aptX Adaptive (High Quality) 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - aptX Adaptive (Low Latency) 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - LDAC 
 

N/A
N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

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Recorded Latency Codec  

Locked
Locked

AAC Support 
 

Locked
Locked

Wireless Connection (Dongle) 
 

N/A
N/A

Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency - Dongle 
 

N/A
N/A

Recorded Latency 
 

Join Now
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PC Compatibility 
 

Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

PlayStation Compatibility 
 

PS5 Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

PS5 Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

PS5 Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Compatibility 
 

Xbox Series X|S Analog 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB 
 

Locked
Locked

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Check Price

Blue
AirPods Max 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon
White
AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case
SEE PRICE
Amazon
Midnight
AirPods Max 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon
White
AirPods 5
SEE PRICE
Amazon
Orange
AirPods Max 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon
 
Purple
AirPods Max 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon
 
Starlight
AirPods Max 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon
 
Back to Top

Apple AirPods Max 2

Apple AirPods 5

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 3 days ago

Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Apple AirPods 5: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


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