Apple has officially announced the second generation of its AirPods Max over-ear headphones, now powered by the H2 chip first introduced in AirPods Pro 2.
The new model brings significantly improved noise cancellation, Adaptive Audio features, and extended battery life to Apple's premium audio tier.
The AirPods Max 2 feature 40% better active noise cancellation compared to the original, driven by the H2 chip's more powerful processing and improved microphone array.
Battery life has been extended to 30 hours from 20 hours, addressing one of the most common complaints about the original model. The case has been redesigned from the controversial Smart Case to a more protective hard-shell design.
Pricing remains at $549, the same as the original AirPods Max. This positions Apple's premium headphones against the Sony WH-1000XM6 ($399) and Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($429), maintaining Apple's premium pricing strategy.