AirPods Max 2
Apple (Hacker News, Reddit, MacRumors):
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. The new AirPods Max also unlock creative possibilities for podcasters, musicians, and content creators, with useful features like studio-quality audio recording and camera remote.
[…]
Siri Interactions allow users to conveniently and privately respond to Siri announcements by simply nodding their head yes or gently shaking their head no.
For day-to-day use, I prefer AirPods Pro. They’re just so small and convenient. For louder environments and longer sessions, I’ve been using some Bose QuietComfort headphones, which I got on sale for less than half the price of the AirPods Max. I find them more comfortable (perhaps because of the lower weight) and like that the ANC is adjustable. They also have a built-in headphone jack and a power button.
Most notably, the overall industrial design is identical.
[…]
The knit mesh canopy is also the same despite criticism over time that the fabric can stretch or lose tension with prolonged use.
[…]
The Smart Case has also not been updated and the device still uses the same case introduced in 2020, which covers the ear cups while leaving the headband exposed and places the headphones into an ultra-low-power state when stored inside.
This is a lot like the recent Studio Display update.
On the AirPods Max 2, a new Camera Remote feature allows you to press the Digital Crown to take a photo and start or stop video recording while using Apple’s Camera app or compatible third-party camera apps on an iPhone or iPad.
I wonder whether the EU will take issue with that.
Previously:
- Studio Display and Studio Display XDR
- AirPods Pro 3
- AirPods Max Lossless and Low Latency Audio Over USB-C
- Testing Noise-Canceling Headphones
- AirPods Max
Update (2026-03-17): Dan Moren:
I did note one interesting details while perusing the comparison page between AirPods Max and AirPods Max 2: while Apple says that the 20 hours of listening time with ANC enabled remains constant from the previous model to this one, it has declined to provide a similar benchmark for movie playback, as it did for the last generation of AirPods Max. Likewise, the previous generation cited 5 minutes of charge time providing 1.5 hours of listening time, a stat that is not listed for the AirPods Max 2.
I love the story of the AirPods Max, even though they’re too small for my head.
Seemingly no change to the Smart Case for the Max, which I know some people were hoping for. […] I thought the case was fine.
My first-gen AirPods Max sit effectively unused next to my bed. I find them too bulky, too heavy, and too uncomfortable to wear for more than a few minutes at a time. The one exception to this was while traveling, as the longer battery life eased charging stress and the over-ear design helped block out a little more noise than my stalwart AirPods Pro 2. But even that use case has become less true: I now generally prefer to travel with two pairs of AirPods Pro, which, for $50 less than the AirPods Max, offer greater total battery life, nearly the same noise cancellation, and take up way less space in my carry-on.
Christina Warren says something similar. I just wouldn’t find it comfortable to wear AirPods Pro long enough for the battery to run out, much less switch to a second pair.
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There are better headphones for a bit less money. E.g. the HDB 630. I’m not sure mentioning Siri in a PR is a good idea considering how shitty Siri is, compared to today’s standards.
I bought the Air Pods Max twice and I was very angry at myself for buying them in 2024. At the time, I justified it strictly on how many Apple devices I use and the need for more battery life in a work day than a pair of AirPods Pro 2s could handle. In truth, I should’ve bought a second pair of AirPods Pros for work and not upgraded to the USB-C AirPods Max.
I will not make the same mistake a third time.
@Christina Yup, this is the way. Smaller and more compact, with more functionality overall. You'll give up a handsome midrange, though. It remains to be seen if these latest Maxes can do any kind of hearing assistance; that'd change the calculus quite considerably for me, because then the battery would win me out. Also, let's not forget that sweet, sweet USB type C port on the '24 models; you didn't *waste* your money.
@Michael I went through several alternatives to the Max; sad to say, but Apple have mostly got the switching nailed and the software story (besides the usual planned obsolescence of OSs nonsense) is far, far superior. I still have Sennheiser RS170s on my desktop, on permanent charge, that have replaceable batteries, lower latency lossless audio and much better fit and comfort, basically because Apple's lock-in works wonders.
