Though the AirPods Max 2 offer new features, a teardown of the headphones shows they're still plagued by the same flaws of the original 2020 model.
Apple's AirPods Max 2 debuted on March 16, with their core feature being the H2 chip. With it, Apple's high-end headphones gained capabilities like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and gesture controls, among others. Active Noise Cancellation was improved as well.
However, as explained in our review, the AirPods Max 2 are an iterative upgrade, that ultimately leaves something to be desired. New features and ANC enhancements aside, Apple effectively delivered more of the same with its AirPods Max 2.
Now, an iFixit teardown of Apple's latest headphones outlines the same thing. Beyond the H2 chip, the AirPods Max 2 are effectively identical to their 2020 and 2024 counterparts, meaning users can expect the same structure, with the same repairability issues.
The video explains that Apple has made no effort to mitigate an issue that causes condensation to accumulate in the earcups. Apple's self-service program still lacks parts or manuals for the AirPods Max 2, making the repairability situation less than ideal.
Even so, the AirPods Max 2 look as though they share most components with the original model. The battery, headband, electronics, and buttons appear to match those of the 2020 and 2024 AirPods Max revisions.
As a result, the video says outright that AirPods Max 2 users will be able to more or less follow along by using the 2020 AirPods Max teardown, given the similarities.
Overall, the AirPods Max 2 offer a neat assortment of features, but Apple could have done a lot more in terms of reparability with its premium headphones. At $549, the AirPods Max 2 are also just $50 short of the MacBook Neo's price tag, making them a tough sell for most.
