Apple now has two flagship over-ear headphones competing at very different price points, with the new Beats 360 arriving at $349.99 while AirPods Max 2 sit considerably higher at $549.
Beats is part of Apple, meaning the comparison is effectively between two approaches from the same company. Beats 360 prioritizes customization, fitness, long battery life and compatibility across Apple and Android, while AirPods Max 2 lean more heavily on Apple’s H2 chip and deeper integration with the Apple ecosystem.
The $199.01 price difference is substantial. Despite costing less, Beats 360 includes several features AirPods Max 2 do not offer, including an IPX4 sweat and water resistance rating and interchangeable headband cushions alongside replaceable ear cushions. Performance Knit and UltraPlush cushion options also allow the fit and appearance to be changed after purchase.
Beats 360 is built around a custom Beats chip and the brand’s new acoustic platform. Beats says its adaptive Active Noise Cancelling system delivers up to 1.75 times more total noise cancellation than Beats Studio Pro, alongside Transparency mode, Adaptive EQ and Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking.
AirPods Max 2 take a more computational approach. Apple’s H2 chip powers Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Personalized Volume, Siri Interactions, Loud Sound Reduction and Live Translation. Apple also says Active Noise Cancellation is up to 1.5 times more effective than the previous-generation AirPods Max.
AirPods Max 2 have an advantage for wired high-fidelity listening and professional workflows, supporting 24-bit, 48kHz lossless audio over USB-C. Apple also promotes ultra-low-latency wired audio and the ability to create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking.
Battery life is one of the clearest strengths of Beats 360. Beats advertises up to 32 hours of continuous playback with Active Noise Cancellation enabled, while Transparency mode provides up to 24 hours. A five-minute Fast Fuel charge provides up to one hour of playback.
The two headphones also target different types of users outside Apple’s ecosystem. Beats 360 supports Android features including Fast Pair, Audio switch and Find Hub, while still offering Apple features such as one-touch pairing, Automatic Switching, Audio Sharing, Hey Siri and Find My.
AirPods Max 2 remain the more deeply integrated choice for Apple users who want the full range of H2-powered features, particularly Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Live Translation. Beats 360 instead offers many of the core premium headphone features at a significantly lower price while adding practical advantages for exercise and customization.
The arrival of Beats 360 therefore gives Apple an unusually close pair of premium over-ear headphones. AirPods Max 2 remain positioned as Apple’s highest-end option, but Beats 360 now covers considerably more of the same ground without simply being a cheaper version of the AirPods experience.