Apple’s AirPods Max 2 Aren’t a Worthy Sequel to the Original

Apple Inc.’s AirPods Max 2 — the first substantial update to the company’s $549 headphones — don’t represent an upgrade-worthy sequel but should intrigue customers looking to buy the brand’s over-ear offering for the first time.

Apple released the first AirPods Max in 2020, hoping to replicate the enormous success of its wireless earbuds in a different style. They had a striking design with aluminum-clad ear cups, removable fabric ear pads and a mesh headband — as well as a price tag that led to them becoming a status symbol.