HiFiRatedThe short answer
Buy the AirPods Max 2 if you mostly listen sitting down, want the strongest noise cancelling and the most accurate sound, edit audio or video, and live entirely in Apple's ecosystem. Buy the Beats 360 if you want one pair for the gym, errands, and travel, find heavy headphones tiring, use Android, or want to save money.
This comparison draws on four reviewers who used both headphones and compared them directly: Kevin The Tech Ninja, AppleInsider, RecordingNOW, and Shevon Salmon. Every quote links to the moment it's said. For the full picture on the Beats, see our Beats 360 review, which synthesizes ten independent reviews.
Side by side
| Beats 360 | AirPods Max 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349 list | $549 list, $449 on Amazon (Oct 21, 2026) |
| Weight (measured by RecordingNOW) | 293.8g | 384.4g |
| Battery, ANC on | 32 hours | 20 hours |
| Water resistance | IPX4 (sweat and splashes) | No rating cited; not designed for workouts |
| Cushions | Twist-off ear and headband cushions in two materials | Magnetic ear cushions, one material |
| Listening modes | ANC and transparency | ANC, transparency, and adaptive mode |
| EQ | None | Full EQ in iOS 27 |
| Wired audio | None (USB-C charges only) | Lossless over USB-C |
| Controls | Physical buttons | Physical buttons and Digital Crown |
| Chip | Beats custom chip | Apple H2 |
| Android support | Full app, one-touch pairing, Find My Device | Basic Bluetooth only |
Noise cancelling and transparency: AirPods Max 2
Every reviewer gives this round to Apple. Kevin The Tech Ninja: "Noise cancellation is better on the AirPods Max in every scenario I test them." RecordingNOW also rates the Max 2 higher for noise cancelling and transparency, though it still puts the Beats 360 in the top 10 of the class and notes the Ultra Plush cushions seal better than the stock Performance Knit ones. Shevon Salmon agrees: "AirPods Max ANC system is just a little bit more better than this."
The bigger gap is adaptive mode, which blends noise cancelling and transparency automatically. Kevin lives in it when he's out walking, and the Beats 360 doesn't have it. AppleInsider adds conversation awareness, personalized volume, head gestures, and live translation to the list of H2 features the Beats lacks. Kevin also found the Max 2 cut more background noise on calls.
Sound quality: AirPods Max 2
AppleInsider: "other than workouts, AirPods Max 2 are absolutely better." It hears a bigger, more spacious and natural sound from the Max 2's larger ear cups. Kevin calls the Max 2 the more accurate, flatter pair and hears the Beats' extra bass as too boomy on vocals and podcasts, though he likes it for EDM and hip-hop. Shevon Salmon: "this does not sound better than the AirPods Max, guys."
The gap narrows with the optional Ultra Plush cushions. RecordingNOW found the stock Performance Knit tuning slightly bright and lean in the bass, and the Ultra Plush better across the board: "with the ultra plush cushions, the Beats 360 does get closer to the sound quality of the AirPods Max 2."
Two features matter if you tune or edit. AppleInsider notes that iOS 27 gives the Max 2 a full EQ, which the Beats 360 lacks. And the Max 2 plays lossless audio over USB-C, while the Beats has no wired audio at all. For editing, Kevin says "the Max are going to be a better tool, and it's not even close."
Comfort, weight, and the gym: Beats 360
RecordingNOW weighed the Beats 360 at 293.8g and the AirPods Max 2 at 384.4g, about 90g heavier. Kevin The Tech Ninja wore the Beats through a 4-hour flight without adjusting them, while he takes the Max off after about 2 hours, even at home. Shevon Salmon finds the Max "so heavy. It's hot. It's huge." for the gym.
The Beats 360 is designed for sweat. It is IPX4 rated, the breathable Performance Knit cushions twist off, and Kevin dried his after a cycling workout without any lasting smell or sogginess. The headband cushion clips out too. AirPods Max cushions also come off, but Kevin notes there is only one material, it isn't meant for workouts, and replacements cost $70. AppleInsider reports Beats cushion kits launched at $9.99 before going to a full price of $49.
The Max 2 wins on controls. Kevin found the Beats 360's untextured buttons hard to find by touch, while the Max 2's raised buttons and Digital Crown are easy to use blind. RecordingNOW, on the other hand, prefers the Beats' volume rocker to the Crown for precise steps.
Battery and Android: Beats 360
The Beats 360 is rated for 32 hours with noise cancelling on, against 20 hours for the AirPods Max 2. RecordingNOW calls 20 hours the lowest in the class, and noticed extra battery drain on the Max 2 because it has no dedicated off button.
On Android, Kevin The Tech Ninja found the Max 2 loses Find My, automatic switching, spatial audio features, and any app. His advice: "If you're on Android, this isn't a comparison. You got to get the Beats". Beats has a native Android app with full controls, and the Beats 360 also works with Find My and one-touch pairing on iPhone.
Price and value
At list price, the Beats 360 is $200 cheaper ($349 vs $549). In practice the gap is often smaller. RecordingNOW said the Max 2 typically sells around $449, and when we checked on October 21, 2026, Amazon had the AirPods Max 2 at $449 (sold by Amazon.com) and the Beats 360 at $349. Even so, RecordingNOW concludes: "I think if you're comparing against the AirPods Max 2, the Beats 360 is the better value."
AppleInsider's take on the extra money: "Is it $200 cool? I mean, I think the features are worth it, but I don't think that everyone needs them."
Verdict
Kevin The Tech Ninja uses both, and his split is the clearest guide: "If I'm walking out the door and going to have an active day, I'm grabbing the Beats 360s every single time." For a long editing session at a desk, he takes the AirPods Max 2. AppleInsider also reaches for the Beats more often for listening and workouts, but "I'd still probably opt for the AirPods Max 2 when I'm getting on a plane".
One caution on the Beats: two of the ten reviewers in our Beats 360 review heard a constant faint hiss on their pairs, so listen for it in a quiet room before the return window closes. For other premium noise-cancelling options, compare the Sony WH-1000XM6, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen), and the older AirPods Max (USB-C).
Sources consulted
- Kevin The Tech Ninja — $349 vs $549: Beats 360 vs AirPods Max 2
- AppleInsider — Beats 360 Ultimate Review! Compare VS AirPods Max 2 & Beats Studio Pro!
- RecordingNOW — The TRUTH about Beats 360...
- Shevon Salmon — Beats 360 After 1 Week: The Glaze Is Crazy
- Amazon.com — AirPods Max 2 listing and Beats 360 listing, prices checked October 21, 2026
This comparison combines the independent reviews above. Quotes are verbatim from each video's English captions and link to the moment they're said. Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases via Amazon links.