The New AirPods Max 2 Will Finally Get Features That Apple’s Headphones Have Had for Years.
On Monday, Apple officially announced the AirPods Max 2. As the name suggests, this is the first major update to the AirPods Max since the over-ear headphones were released in 2020. The company previously released a minor update to the AirPods Max , but that merely replaced the original Lightning port with a USB-C port and allowed Apple to add a few useful features via a software update . The AirPods Max 2, however, come with new features from the outset—features that Apple’s headphones have had for years.
First, the answer to the question you’re probably wondering: no, Apple hasn’t changed the price. These headphones still cost $549, which is expensive, even for high-quality over-ear headphones. Take a look at PCMag’s list of the best headphones of 2026 , and you’ll see similar options from competitors like Sony and Bose cost up to $450 or $460, but none exceed $500—and you’ll often find huge discounts on these headphones. The AirPods Max’s price has always made it difficult to recommend them, even though I personally love them. The same applies to the AirPods Max 2.
However, Apple offers significantly more functionality for the same price, and considering $549 in 2020 will cost nearly $700 in 2025, you get significantly more for your money with the AirPods Max 2. The new earbuds feature the Apple H2 chip, which Apple says improves noise cancellation by up to 1.5 times and delivers an “even more natural” Transparency mode. The company says the new earbuds feature a new high-dynamic-range amplifier “for even purer sound” while maintaining the sound signature of the previous-generation AirPods Max. Meanwhile, spatial audio sounds “better than ever” with “more accurate and consistent bass response and more natural-sounding mids and highs.” Like the AirPods Max with USB-C, these earbuds support 24-bit lossless audio at 48 kHz when connected via a wired USB-C cable.
New features of AirPods Max 2
So, according to Apple, the AirPods Max 2 sound better than the AirPods Max. This is to be expected from the new generation of headphones. However, in my opinion, the real improvement here lies in all the “intelligent” features that the AirPods Max 2 now support. For the first time, AirPods Max support Adaptive Audio, which automatically adjusts the level of noise cancellation and transparency to suit your surroundings. This also includes Conversation Detection, which automatically lowers the volume and reduces background noise when you start speaking. This means you can clearly hear the person you’re talking to while wearing AirPods Max, and when you finish speaking, the audio volume returns to its previous level.
The new AirPods also feature Voice Isolation, which blocks background noise and amplifies your voice during calls, and personalized volume control, which adjusts the volume based on your previous settings. There’s also a “volume reduction” feature that limits the volume of external sounds while still allowing the sounds themselves to be heard. (You could wear them to a concert and still hear everything, but still protect yourself from excessively loud sounds.) You can also nod or shake your head to interact with Siri instead of speaking. (If Siri asks if you want to reply to a message, you can nod to accept or shake your head to decline.) You can also take advantage of Apple’s “real-time translation ” feature, which translates conversations on the fly.
The thing is, none of these features are actually new, and with the exception of a few (namely, live translation), they’ve been available on some AirPods models for years. It’s great that Apple finally added them to the AirPods Max, but it’s disappointing that the USB-C model, at $549, didn’t get them.
Apple announced that AirPods Max 2 can be pre-ordered starting March 25th in Midnight, Starry Sky, Orange, Purple, and Blue, with availability beginning early next month. However, now that these earbuds are officially unveiled, keep an eye out for discounts on the previous-generation AirPods Max. Amazon occasionally offers great deals on AirPods Max , and now that the new model has arrived, prices on the previous models should drop even further, subject to availability. At the time of writing, the best deals appear to be on refurbished models.