Beats 360 vs. AirPods Max 2: Which Should You Buy?

Beats 360 cost roughly $200 less than AirPods Max 2, weigh substantially less, and promise longer listening between charges. For someone choosing a pair of everyday over-ear headphones, those are three persuasive reasons to start with Beats.

AirPods Max 2 make their case with a broader set of adaptive listening features, Live Translation, and wired lossless audio. The decision comes down to how you will use them: a lighter pair that can follow you to the gym, or Apple's more fully featured headphones for listening, work, and travel.

The Price Gap Is Big Enough to Matter

The U.S. list price for Beats 360 is $349.99, compared with $549 for AirPods Max 2. Both are premium headphones, but that gap leaves room for accessories—or simply a considerably smaller bill.

Check current offers before making the final call. The listings for Beats 360 and AirPods Max 2 show retailer pricing, which can narrow the difference from Apple's list prices.

Beats Are Lighter and Better Suited to Exercise

Beats 360 weigh 294.5 grams, versus 386.2 grams for AirPods Max 2 with their cushions. That is almost 92 grams less on your head. Fit and clamping pressure still affect comfort, but the weight difference is substantial enough to take seriously if you wear headphones for hours.

Beats also have an IPX4 sweat- and water-resistance rating for non-water sports and exercise. AirPods Max 2 have no published IP rating. That makes Beats the more straightforward choice for someone who wants one pair for the commute and the gym; IPX4 is protection against splashes, not permission to swim or shower with them.

Both the ear cushions and headband cushion on Beats 360 detach. The included set uses Performance Knit fabric, with additional colors and an UltraPlush option sold separately. Swapping a worn cushion or changing its feel is part of the design, rather than a reason to replace the headphones.

AirPods Max 2 Have More Listening Features

Both headphones offer Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, Adaptive EQ, and Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. Beats 360 use a custom Beats chip in each earcup; AirPods Max 2 use Apple's H2 chips.

Max 2 add Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Volume. Adaptive Audio adjusts the balance between noise cancellation and awareness of your surroundings, while Conversation Awareness lowers playback when you start speaking. Those conveniences are useful if you move repeatedly between listening and talking throughout the day.

Max 2 also support Voice Isolation, studio-quality recording, and Live Translation. Translation requires compatible Apple hardware and software, with language and regional restrictions. It is worth checking those requirements before treating it as a reason to spend more.

Sound quality and noise cancellation deserve an in-person audition when possible. The feature lists describe what each pair can do, but comfort, tuning, and how well the cushions seal around your ears will shape the experience.

Battery Life Favors Beats

Beats rates 360 for up to 32 hours with ANC and Personalized Spatial Audio enabled. AirPods Max 2 are rated for up to 20 hours with ANC and fixed Spatial Audio. These are manufacturer tests with different settings, but the longer Beats rating is an appealing advantage for travel or anyone who dislikes frequent charging.

Beats also lists up to 32 hours with noise control off and Adaptive EQ active, or 24 hours in Transparency mode. Apple does not publish separate standard listening-time figures for Max 2 with noise control off or Transparency enabled.

A quick charge favors Max 2: five minutes provides around 1.5 hours of listening, compared with up to one hour for Beats. Both charge over USB-C. Max 2 include a USB-C cable; Beats 360 do not include a cable or power adapter, so factor that in if you do not already have one.

Android Support or Wired Audio?

Beats 360 offer dedicated conveniences on both major phone platforms. On iPhone, those include one-touch pairing, iCloud pairing, automatic switching, Audio Sharing, and Find My. Android users get Fast Pair, Audio Switch, Find Hub, and settings through the Beats app. Specific features require supported software; Beats lists iOS 27 for Find My and Android 15 or later for its Android app.

AirPods Max 2 work as ordinary Bluetooth headphones with non-Apple devices, but much of their appeal comes from their Apple integration. Their USB-C connection also supports lossless and ultra-low-latency audio with compatible devices, content, and software. That wired option is particularly useful at a desk or for work where wireless latency gets in the way.

The controls differ, too. Max 2 use a Digital Crown for volume and playback, alongside a listening-mode button. Beats use separate volume, playback, power, and listening-mode buttons. Neither approach requires reaching for your phone to change the volume.

Beats 360 vs. AirPods Max 2 Specifications

Which Should You Buy?

Beats 360 are the more practical starting point if you value lower weight, longer battery life, workout use, or good Android integration. They retain the major listening modes while asking considerably less at list price.

AirPods Max 2 are worth the premium if you will use their adaptive features, compatible Live Translation, or wired lossless connection. Try them on before buying if weight is a concern: the extra features do not make the heavier design disappear.

Compare current prices and availability across tracked retailers in the iClarified Beats Price Tracker and AirPods Price Tracker.