Apple announces AirPods Max 2
This wasn’t on my bingo card. You?
Apple today announced AirPods Max 2, bringing even better Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), elevated sound quality, and intelligent features to the iconic over-ear design. Powered by H2, features like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation come to AirPods Max for the first time.
Odd timing, no? Just two weeks ago, Apple announced several new products — including the MacBook Neo — and hosted hands-on events for influencers and the press to see the new products in person. Why not include the Max 2 in that?
The update effectively brings all of the features AirPods Pro 2 and newer have had for a while — an update that was widely expected to happen when Apple updated the AirPods Max with USB-C in 2024.
I’ve had a pair of the original AirPods Max hanging under my desk since a few months after release. They were/are great, but ultimately I found that I preferred the AirPods Pro design and form factor over the bulky headphones that were awkward to travel with.
Nonetheless, it seems that Apple feels like there’s a big enough need and market for $550 headphones.
Preorders start March 25, with deliveries beginning “early” April, in the same colors the USB-C AirPods Max are currently available in: midnight, starlight, orange, purple, and blue.