Apple AirPods Max 2 deal offers solid savings

If you’re looking to upgrade to one of the best headphones, chances are that Apple’s new over-ears are on your radar. If so, there’s good news – an Amazon US AirPods Max 2 deal is listing them for $499, down from $549 – a $50 saving and the lowest price we’ve seen so far.

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Sadly, the same discount doesn’t appear to be running on Amazon UK, where they’re still selling for their regular RRP.

As for why this is a good AirPods Max 2 deal for those who can take advantage of it? Well, in our review, we found the AirPods Max 2 deliver excellent sound quality and impressively strong noise cancelling, with the H2 chip doing a lot of the heavy lifting. 

You also get features like Adaptive Audio that dynamically blends ANC and transparency depending on your surroundings, along with personalised spatial audio that tailors sound to your ears.

They’re also about as seamless as headphones get if you’re using Apple gear. Pairing is instant, switching between devices happens automatically, and you can tweak everything from noise control, to gesture settings straight from iOS. The physical controls remain refreshingly simple too, with the Apple Watch-style digital crown handling volume and playback duties.

Design is still very much the same story. You’re getting a premium aluminium build, plush ear cushions, and excellent long-wear comfort – but they’re heavier than most rivals at 386g. The Smart Case also returns unchanged, and still doesn’t offer much real protection, though it does help the headphones enter a low-power state more quickly when stored.

Battery life sits at up to 20 hours with noise-cancelling enabled, with a quick five-minute charge giving you roughly 90 minutes of listening. That’s perfectly usable, but it’s no longer class-leading in 2026, with plenty of competitors stretching well beyond 30 hours.

There’s also still no wireless lossless audio support, which feels like a missed opportunity at this price – though you can get lossless playback if you plug in via USB-C.

That’s really what this deal comes down to. At full price, the AirPods Max 2 can be tough to justify against cheaper, regularly updated rivals from Sony, Bose, and Bowers & Wilkins. At $509.99, they’re still a premium buy – but one that makes a bit more sense if you want Apple’s best over-ear headphones without paying full whack.

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Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.