Apple has unveiled its next-generation over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max 2.
The announcement, made in a newsroom post on Apple’s website, noted that the headphones will include enhanced sound quality, better noise cancellation and deeper integration across Apple’s ecosystem.
The launch is Apple’s first significant update to its premium over-ear headphones since the original AirPods Max debuted in 2020.
“With the incredible performance of H2, AirPods Max are upgraded with up to 1.5x more effective ANC for the ultimate all-day listening experience,” Eric Treski, Apple’s director of Audio Product Marketing, said in the release.
“The sound quality is remarkably clean, rich and acoustically detailed—and when combined with capabilities like Personalized Spatial Audio, AirPods Max 2 deliver a profoundly immersive experience.”
Why It Matters
Competition in the premium headphone market is intensifying, with companies like Sony and Bose continuing to push advancements in noise cancellation and battery efficiency.
When they were first launched, the original AirPods Max were criticized for weight, price and limited updates over time.
What To Know
Apple’s high-end headphones are priced at the top of the market at $550.
The AirPods Max 2 will be powered by the company’s H2 chip, which the company says will enable improved Active Noise Cancellation, more advanced computational audio and enhanced transparency mode.
Apple also claims the headphones deliver richer sound with better clarity and more precise spatial audio.
Battery life has been extended compared to the previous generation, which addresses one of the more common complaints about the original model.
But despite these upgrades, reports suggest the changes may feel incremental rather than transformative.
Wired reported that while the new chip improves performance, the overall design remains largely unchanged, including the same form factor that some users previously found heavy and less portable than competitors.
What People Are Saying
Commenters on Reddit didn’t express much enthusiasm for the new release, with one writing, “I really need to know if they’ve done anything to mitigate the moisture issues. It could be as simple as moving the mics.
“I’ll be completely crestfallen if we’ve gone through three iterations of this thing at this price point where the ANC just breaks after a couple of months because I’m human-shaped.”
Another user simply labeled the listed specs as “stupid.”
“If Sennheiser can release wireless lossless headphones via an adapter, there’s no reason Apple can’t build that same audio chip into all of their products to allow true wireless lossless playback,” they posted.
“If there was just one reason to buy the new AirPods Max, that would probably be the biggest one. However, they dropped the ball yet again…”
Another user pointed out that the price point was difficult to stomach: “Haha, you can buy a MacBook Neo for an extra $50.”
Finally, one individual wondered, “Are they still heavy and uncomfortable as hell?” to which another replied, “Yep. Exact same size and weight.”
What’s Next
Customers can order AirPods Max 2s on March 25, and they will be available in April.
Newsweek has reached out to Apple for comment via email.
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