Apple AirPods Max (2nd Gen)

The AirPods Max 2nd generation (released 2025) finally added USB-C, a meaningful hardware update after the original's embarrassing Lightning port. More importantly, Apple refined the H2 chip's ANC algorithm to match Sony's XM6 in voice-frequency attenuation while excelling in one area Sony doesn't: adaptive transparency mode. When a colleague speaks to you, AirPods Max automatically lowers music and lets conversation through — with a natural, unfiltered quality that no other headphone matches. The spatial audio implementation for video calls (using head tracking to keep voices positioned correctly as you move) is genuinely useful for engineers on long video meetings. Price: $550. The premium is real and the value depends entirely on Apple ecosystem integration (iPhone/Mac/iPad seamless switching).