The new AirPods Max 2 use the same aluminum-and-steel build as their predecessor, but with a new H2 processor that replaces the prior H1. Noise cancellation is approximately 1.5 times better than its predecessor, and the AirPods Max 2 also offers an improved Transparency Mode that lets outside sounds pass through much more naturally. And because they have a New High Dynamic Range Amplifier (HDRA), they produce clean sound at much louder levels. Plus, wired listening through the included USB-C cable now supports 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio for the first time on an AirPods Max.
You can pick up the AirPods Max 2 for $509 on Amazon, $40 off the $549 price, for a 7% discount.
Excellent sound in a comfortable, plush package
Most of the improvements in the AirPods Max 2 are on the inside rather than the outside. The H2 chip handles the same on-device computational audio processing that powers the AirPods Pro 3, and Apple has tuned the algorithms specifically for the larger drivers in the over-ear design. ANC reaches deeper into low-frequency noise from airplane engines, HVAC systems, and commuter trains than the previous AirPods Max could.
Adaptive Audio is the most useful of the new H2-powered features. Rather than choosing between full noise cancellation and full transparency, the AirPods Max 2 automatically adjusts the balance between the two based on your environment. When walking into a busy street, noise cancellation increases. Step into a quiet office and transparency opens up. The transitions happen continuously and gradually rather than as discrete mode switches.
Conversation Awareness lowers playback volume when you start speaking to someone, then ramps it back up when you stop. Voice Isolation routes calls through the H2 chip to prioritize your voice and reduce background noise. Live Translation, which requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, displays real-time translation of in-person conversations across more than a dozen languages.
The new design adds IP54 dust- and water-resistance, which the original AirPods Max lacked entirely. The headphones still aren’t rated for submersion, but light rain, sweat from a gym session, or accidental drink splashes no longer pose a risk to the internals. Battery life remains in line with the original AirPods Max for all-day listening on a single charge, with fast charging available through the USB-C port.
At $509 on Amazon, the AirPods Max 2 are $40 below the $549 price. That’s a decent discount on a current-generation Apple flagship, with the H2 chip and new audio hardware bringing the AirPods Max line back into competitive territory among premium over-ear headphones after sitting on the old H1 chip for five full years.
