Apple AirPods Max 2 / Apple AirPods (3rd generation)

Apple AirPods Max 2: A3454 · USB-C

Apple AirPods (3rd generation): AirPods (3rd generation) launched in 2021 with the MagSafe Charging Case; from 2022 a version with the Lightning Charging Case was also sold. The earbuds are the same with either case. AirPods 4, AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro are separate models.

Specification	Apple AirPods Max 2	Apple AirPods (3rd generation)
Release year	2026	2021
Model	A3454 Listed in Apple’s model table as AirPods Max 2, introduced in 2026. Apple	—
Announcement and availability	Announced 16 March 2026; orders from 25 March; deliveries from early April US and more than 30 other countries and regions. Apple	—
Colours	Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Orange Apple	—
Chip	Apple H2 in each ear cup Apple	—
Driver and amplifier	Apple-designed dynamic driver; custom high-dynamic-range amplifier; dual neodymium ring magnet motor The manufacturer pages read give no frequency range or impedance. Apple	—
Noise control	ANC, Transparency mode and Adaptive Audio; up to 1.5x more effective than the previous generation Apple’s claim, based on IEC 60268-24 testing; it does not mean the same reduction in every environment. Apple	—
Microphones	Nine microphones: eight for ANC, three for voice pickup (two shared) Apple	—
Sensors	Optical, position, case-detect and accelerometer in each cup; gyroscope in the left cup only Apple	—
Controls	Digital Crown (volume, play/pause, calls, Siri) and a listening mode button No separate power button is listed. Apple	Press the stem once to play/pause or answer a call; twice to skip forward or end a call; three times to skip back; press and hold for Siri There is no on-bud volume control. Apple
Bluetooth	5.3 The manufacturer does not state supported audio codecs. Apple	—
Wired audio	Lossless and ultra-low-latency audio over USB-C; 24-bit / 48 kHz Requires compatible content and a supported app. Lossless audio is not offered over Bluetooth. Apple	—
Analogue input	Analogue sources via a USB-C to 3.5 mm audio cable The cable is not listed among the box contents. Apple	—
Battery life	Up to 20 hours of listening with ANC on Apple’s test: pre-production units, 50% volume, ANC on, Spatial Audio fixed. Actual time depends on settings and environment. Apple	—
Quick charge	About 1.5 hours of listening from 5 minutes of charging Apple	—
Charging	USB-C; ultra-low-power state when stored in the Smart Case Apple	—
Dimensions	168.6 × 83.4 × 187.3 mm (width × depth × height), including cushions Apple	—
Weight	386.2 g; Smart Case 134.5 g Apple says size and weight vary by configuration and manufacturing process. Apple	—
Build and cushions	Anodised aluminium ear cups; breathable knit-mesh canopy; stainless steel telescoping arms; memory foam and mesh-textile cushions Apple	—
Water and dust resistance	None Apple lists this feature as not applicable to AirPods Max 2. Apple	—
Audio features	Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Personalized Volume, Loud Sound Reduction, Adaptive EQ; Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation and Personalized Volume need current firmware and operating system. A Spatial Audio profile needs an iPhone with a TrueDepth camera. Apple	—
Live Translation	Beta; needs an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone on iOS 26 or later Languages: Chinese (simplified and traditional), English (US, UK), French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Spain). Turkish is not listed. Apple	—
Software requirement	iOS and iPadOS 26.4 or later; current operating system on Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro On older Apple software and non-Apple devices it works as basic Bluetooth headphones with limited functionality. Apple	—
Firmware	9A348 (latest version in Apple’s list); adds an Equalizer control Apple’s page gives no release date for this version. Apple	—
In the box	AirPods Max 2, Smart Case, USB-C charge cable, documentation Apple	—
Accessibility	Live Listen, Headphone levels, Headphone Accommodations Requires the latest iOS or iPadOS. Apple	—
Design and fit	—	Open-fit in-ear design without silicone tips; short stem Because the earbud does not seal the canal, ambient sound is heard; fit depends on ear shape and there are no interchangeable tips. Apple
Audio technology	—	Custom high-excursion Apple driver; custom high dynamic range amplifier; Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ Adaptive EQ measures what is heard in the ear with the inward-facing microphone and adjusts the tuning to the fit in real time. Head tracking anchors sound to the Apple device’s screen. There is no active noise cancellation or transparency mode. Apple
Chip and connectivity	—	H1 headphone chip; Bluetooth 5.0 Automatic device switching, “Hey Siri” and one-tap pairing work with Apple devices. Apple
Sensors and microphones	—	Dual beamforming microphones, inward-facing microphone, skin-detect sensor, motion and speech-detecting accelerometers, force sensor The skin-detect sensor pauses playback when an earbud is removed. Apple
Battery	—	Up to 6 hours of listening per charge (5 hours with Personalised Spatial Audio on); up to 30 hours with the case; 5 minutes in the case ≈ 1 hour of listening Apple
Charging case	—	MagSafe Charging Case (MagSafe, Qi and Lightning) or Lightning Charging Case The included cable is Lightning to USB-C; there is no adapter. Apple
Sweat and water resistance	—	IPX4: earbuds and charging case IPX4 protects against splashes; it is not for submersion. Apple
Size and weight	—	Earbud (each): 30.79 × 18.26 × 19.21 mm, 4.28 g; case: 46.40 × 54.40 × 21.38 mm, 37.91 g Apple