- 4.9★ · 223+ Google reviews
- 13 years specialist · since 2013
- OEM parts · 90-day warranty
- Updated 2026
Surface Headphones 2 or AirPods Max? Sound, ANC, comfort, and repair cost compared for Dubai buyers. Surface Headphones 2 weighs 290 g against 386.2 g for AirPods Max 2, according to each maker's specs. Every screen, battery, and board is OEM Microsoft; pickup is free across Dubai; warranty is 90 days. Rated 4.9★ from 223+ Google reviews.
In this guide
Key Takeaways
- Surface Headphones 2 weighs 290 g against 386.2 g for AirPods Max 2, according to each maker's specs.
- Surface Headphones 2 uses physical dials and keeps a 3.5 mm port, while AirPods Max 2 uses the Digital Crown and wired audio over USB-C.
- Microsoft states up to 18.5 hours of music for Surface Headphones 2, and Apple states up to 20 hours with noise cancellation on for AirPods Max 2.
- AirPods Max 2 works most fully with Apple devices, while Surface Headphones 2 and 2+ are built around Windows, Teams and the Surface app.
Surface Headphones 2 and AirPods Max are both over-ear, noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones, but they suit different users. Surface Headphones 2 is lighter, has physical dials for noise cancellation and volume, supports aptX and keeps a 3.5 mm audio port. AirPods Max, in the version Apple's current spec page describes, adds Apple's H2 chip, Spatial Audio, Adaptive Audio and lossless audio over USB-C, and works most fully with Apple devices. Every figure below comes from Microsoft's and Apple's own pages.
The Two Products Today
- Surface Headphones 2 was released by Microsoft in 2020. Surface Headphones 2+, released in 2021, is the business version with a Microsoft Teams button and a Surface USB Link dongle. Microsoft's US store page for Surface Headphones 2 currently shows it as not available. Microsoft's lifecycle page lists firmware servicing until December 30, 2027 for Surface Headphones 2 and May 4, 2027 for Surface Headphones 2+.
- AirPods Max: Apple's current spec page describes AirPods Max 2, which charges over USB-C and ships with a Smart Case. If you own an earlier AirPods Max, check Apple's spec page for your model, since details differ.
Side-by-Side Specs
| Surface Headphones 2 | AirPods Max 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 290 g | 386.2 g, Smart Case 134.5 g |
| Driver | 40 mm Free Edge driver | Apple-designed dynamic driver |
| Chip | Not stated | H2 chip in each ear cup |
| Noise control | ANC up to 30 dB active, 40 dB passive, 13 levels | Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, Adaptive Audio |
| Spatial audio | Not listed | Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking |
| Microphones | Microphones in both ear cups (2+: 8-microphone system) | Nine microphones |
| Battery | Up to 18.5 hours of music, up to 15 hours of Teams talk time | Up to 20 hours with ANC on |
| Charging | USB-C, full charge in under 2 hours | USB-C, 5 minutes for about 1.5 hours |
| Wired audio | 3.5 mm audio cable included | Lossless and ultra-low latency audio via USB-C |
| Bluetooth | 4.1, 4.2 and 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Codecs | SBC and aptX | Not listed on the spec page |
| Controls | Noise dial, volume dial, touch areas, mute button | Digital Crown, listening mode button |
| Colours | Light Gray, Matte Black | Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Orange |
Noise Cancellation
On Surface Headphones 2 and 2+, the left dial controls noise cancellation directly. Microsoft lists 13 levels, and its how-to page names the settings from High through Medium and Low to Passthrough and Ambient, where Ambient amplifies the sound around you. You turn it by feel without looking at a screen.
AirPods Max 2 switches between listening modes with a button. Apple lists Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode and Adaptive Audio, along with Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation and Loud Sound Reduction. Apple notes Adaptive Audio needs the latest firmware and iOS, iPadOS or macOS 26.4 or later.
Sound and Wired Use
Microsoft lists a 40 mm Free Edge driver with a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and SBC and aptX codecs over Bluetooth. Surface Headphones also take a 3.5 mm audio cable, and Microsoft notes they work over the cable even with a flat battery.
Apple lists an Apple-designed dynamic driver with a custom high dynamic range amplifier, Adaptive EQ and Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. For wired listening, Apple lists lossless and ultra-low latency audio over USB-C with compatible content. Apple's spec page does not list a 3.5 mm jack.
Battery and Charging
Microsoft states up to 18.5 hours of music or up to 15 hours of Teams talk time for Surface Headphones 2 and 2+, with a full charge in under 2 hours. Apple states up to 20 hours of listening with Active Noise Cancellation on, and says 5 minutes of charging gives around 1.5 hours. Apple also says storing AirPods Max 2 in the Smart Case keeps the battery in an ultra-low-power state.
Both companies measure battery life under their own test conditions, so treat these as each maker's figures rather than a direct test.
Compatibility and Controls
Surface Headphones 2 works with Windows 10 and 11, Android and iOS over Bluetooth, and the Surface app handles firmware and the equalizer. Surface Headphones 2+ adds the Surface USB Link for a dedicated Teams connection on a PC or Mac.
Apple lists iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro, and says AirPods can be used with non-Apple devices with limited functionality. If most of your day is on a Windows Surface, that difference matters more than any single spec.
Repair and Parts
Microsoft names ear pads and the Surface USB Link as replacement parts for Surface Headphones 2+, and does not list a battery part. Its service options for headphones are a repair of the unit or a refurbished replacement. Apple's AirPods service page describes battery service for AirPods and says its warranty does not cover batteries that wear down from normal use. Check each maker's support page for what applies to your model and region.
For Surface Headphones faults, read the Surface Headphones repair guide, the ANC troubleshooting guide and the battery guide, or see Surface Headphones and Earbuds repair in Dubai and Surface Headphones 2 repair.
If your Surface Headphones have a fault, every repair starts with a free diagnosis and a written quote before any work, with free pickup anywhere in Dubai and a 90-day warranty on the repair. Message us on WhatsApp or use the quote form on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is lighter, Surface Headphones 2 or AirPods Max?
Microsoft lists Surface Headphones 2 at 290 g. Apple lists AirPods Max 2 at 386.2 g for the headphones, with the Smart Case adding 134.5 g. If weight on your head over a long working day matters to you, that difference is worth trying for yourself before you choose between them.
Do Surface Headphones 2 and AirPods Max have a headphone jack?
Surface Headphones 2 and 2+ have a 3.5 mm audio port and include the cable, and Microsoft says they work over it even when the battery is flat. Apple's AirPods Max 2 spec page lists lossless and ultra-low latency audio over USB-C with compatible content and does not list a 3.5 mm jack.
Do AirPods Max work with a Windows Surface?
Apple says AirPods can be used with non-Apple devices, but functionality may be limited, and features such as Personalized Spatial Audio and Adaptive Audio depend on Apple devices and software. Surface Headphones 2 and 2+ are built around Windows, the Surface app and, on the 2+, the Surface USB Link for Microsoft Teams.
Can Surface Headphones 2 be repaired in Dubai?
Yes. An independent workshop can diagnose the battery, USB-C port, speaker drivers, dials, touch sensors, microphones and headband on Surface Headphones 2 and 2+. You get a free diagnosis and a written quote before any work, with free pickup anywhere in Dubai and a 90-day warranty on the repair.