Apple Launches AirPods Max 2 Headphones

Apple has launched the AirPods Max 2, its updated flagship over-ear headphones, six years after the original model's debut in 2020. Priced at $549, the new version arrives with enhancements focused on audio performance and smart features, available now in the same color options as prior iterations: midnight, starlight, blue, purple, and orange.

The AirPods Max 2 feature an upgraded H2 chip, replacing the H1 from the original, which enables improved noise cancellation, richer sound with punchier bass and greater clarity, and high-resolution audio playback via USB-C. Reviewers note the active noise cancellation effectively blocks urban traffic, public transport chatter, and office sounds, though it falls short of rivals like Sony's WH-1000XM5. Additional capabilities include Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness for pausing playback during talks, Head Gestures for call management, and Live Translation for real-time language support, all integrated with Siri. Battery life remains at 20 hours with noise cancellation enabled, matching the original despite expectations for an increase.

A teardown by repair specialists iFixit revealed minimal internal changes beyond the H2 chip. The...