If you can live without deep iOS integration and a polished design, you could save hundreds. Billy Steele for Engadget We may receive a commission for purchases made through links. If you’re willing to pay for them, there’s a lot to like about the AirPods Max. You get a dose of high-end design with deep iOS integration and smart features like custom spatial audio, adaptive equalizer, live translation, adaptive audio, and conversation recognition. There’s also lossless audio over USB-C, if you’re into that sort of thing, but it’s more common on spec sheets these days. Of course, the main drawback of the AirPods Max has always been the price. At $549, the headset is among the most expensive sets we’ve reviewed. But if you’re willing to give up some features, specifically tools that can only be used with Apple devices, you can save a significant sum without sacrificing too much performance. Best affordable alternative to AirPods Max 2: Anker Soundcore Space 2 Pro Billy Steele for Engadget Currently testing for review. At $200, the Space 2 Pro will cost you less than half of a pair of AirPods Max 2. And yes, you’ll have to make some sacrifices to save that kind of money. First, you’ll be giving up the deep integration with iOS and Apple devices that AirPods Max offers. You’ll also have to give up premium design for something that’s still refined, but also decidedly plastic. If none of these are deal-breakers, then there’s a lot to like about the Space 2 Pro. These are Anker’s first Soundcore headphones with their Así AI chip inside. The component is responsible for active noise cancellation (ANC), voice quality (both in calls and voice controls), and HearID personalized sound. The ANC setup, which also uses eight sensors, does a decent job with human voices and constant noise sources. Voice quality is excellent, thanks in part to that chip and a six-microphone setup, but you’ll notice a slight degradation when the system kicks in to block out background noise. And the original tuning delivers crisp highs and deep bass right out of the box. The benefit of all that plastic is that the Space 2 Pro is very lightweight, making it comfortable to wear for long periods of time. These headphones also have intuitive physical controls that are reliable and easy to use instead of swipe-and-tap touch panels. Multipoint Bluetooth and 30 hours of battery life (ANC on) are also on the spec sheet. Amazon Best Affordable Alternative to AirPods Max 2: Best ANC: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2nd Gen) Billy Steele for Engadget $359 is still a big chunk of change, but in the case of the 2nd Gen QuietComfort Earbuds, you’re paying for Bose’s noise-blocking prowess. The overall sound quality here is also good, although the company’s Ultra model performs better. On these “regular” QC headphones, you get Cinema mode and immersive audio, the latter of which is the company’s take on spatial sound. The QuietComfort earbuds are no slouch, and you’ll be very pleased with the performance after saving almost $200 compared to the AirPods Max 2. Amazon Best AirPods Max 2 Alternative for Workouts: Beats 360 Billy Steele for Engadget Read our full review here. At this point, you’ve probably seen someone wearing the AirPods Max 2 during a workout. Those headphones aren’t a good choice for sweaty activities, as the ear pads are made of “a breathable mesh fabric.” Beats headphones have also not been designed to resist sweat, but they were also popular among athletes and gym-goers. However, with Beats 360, Apple finally has a pair of sports headphones in its lineup with IPX4 sweat resistance. Since Beats is owned by Apple, you get many of the benefits of AirPods Max here. These include one-touch pairing, automatic switching between Apple devices in your iCloud account, audio sharing with compatible headphones, Find My support, and hands-free access to Siri. The Beats 360 lasts up to 12 hours longer than the AirPods Max 2 (ANC enabled) and there is the ability to change the ear cushions and headband. Additionally, Beats’ affinity for bass will help keep you energized during a workout, but it’s not as dominant as it was in the company’s early models. Amazon Best Affordable Alternative to AirPods Max 2: Budget Pick: Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT Audio-Technica If you want a good pair of headphones for under $100, you have to make a lot of sacrifices. However, sound quality, battery life, and comfort don’t have to be on that list. With the M20xBT from Audio-Technica, you’ll get a classic design and the company’s warm, inviting sound quality. The 60 hour battery life is excellent and the headphones are lightweight and very comfortable. What you won’t find here is ANC, but basics like multipoint Bluetooth and optional wired use are still available. Amazon Best AirPods Max 2 affordable alternative – honorable mention: Fender Mix Billy Steele for Engadget When the comparison device costs $549, a $299 set is significantly more affordable. In this case, that’s the price of the Fender Mix: a pair of noise-canceling headphones that debuted just before CES. The new line of audio devices comes from Fender Audio, a collaboration of Fender Corporation (of guitar fame) and Riffsound. The result is a cleverly designed pair of headphones with a stored lossless Bluetooth dongle and a replaceable battery. There’s also a crisp, detailed quality to the sound that I really enjoyed. Additionally, the company now has an app for settings changes, a key element that was missing during my review. The five-way joystick controls are nice to use and the 52 hours of battery life with ANC enabled is a big plus. Speaking of noise cancellation, the performance here is respectable, although not at the level of Bose and some others. Still, it’s enough to block mild to moderate distractions. Amazon How We Select These Products When Engadget compiles buyer’s guides like these, we initially draw on our decades of experience reviewing products. Throughout each year, we review over 100 new devices, giving us a solid foundation to select the best products that fit any given criteria. Specifically for this guide, I was able to revisit recently reviewed devices as a refresher, reacquaint myself with the products on my initial short list, and make top picks based on affordable alternatives criteria. I write almost all of the headphone reviews on Engadget and edit the ones I don’t write, so I have a deep understanding of this particular category. We may update our selections as necessary after new products are announced and reviewed.
