Embodiments provide novel systems and methods for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Max-Log detection. These systems and methods enable near-optimal performance with low complexity for a two-input two-output channel. Some embodiments comprise using a Max-Log detector to compute a set of log-likelihood ratio (LLR) values for a channel input by minimizing cost function while computing only one instance of the cost function for each value of each bit in a symbol. Other embodiments comprise using a Max-Log detector to compute a set of log-likelihood ratio (LLR) values for a channel input by computing all instances of a cost function for each value of each bit in a symbol and selecting the minimum cost from all computed instances of the cost function for each value of each bit.