(Credit: Apple)
At last, Apple is launching a successor to its 2020 AirPods Max over-ear headphones. The new AirPods Max 2 retain the overall design and price of its predecessor but add several new audio features, thanks to an upgraded H2 chip.
The chip brings features like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Live Translation, Voice Isolation, head gestures for Siri Interactions, Personalized Volume, and Loud Sound Reduction to the AirPods Max line for the first time. Apple first introduced the chip in the AirPods Pro 2 in 2022, and later added it to the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3.
When it comes to audio quality, Apple says the AirPods Max 2’s active noise cancellation (ANC) is 1.5 times more effective than the previous generation. With ANC enabled, the AirPods Max 2 can run for 20 hours on a single charge, the company claims.
(Credit: Apple)Like the previous generation, the refreshed headphones also support 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio and reduced gaming latency when connected using the bundled USB-C cable.
They also feature “a new high dynamic range amplifier for even cleaner audio while maintaining the incredible sound signature of AirPods Max,” Apple says, adding that Spatial Audio also gets a boost “with improved localization of instruments, more accurate and consistent bass response, and more natural-sounding mids and highs.”
Apple is also adding a new functionality for the Digital Crown. The circular dial, which previously supported playback and volume controls, will now also allow you to take a photo and start or stop video recording on a connected iPhone or iPad.
Preorders for the AirPods Max 2 begin on March 25, and they will become available starting early next month. The price remains the same as the first-gen at $549, and the available colors include Blue, Midnight, Orange, Purple, and Starlight.