Apple AirPods Max 2: A3454 · USB-C
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): QCUH2-HEADPHONEARN · second-generation over-ear Ultra
| Specification | Apple AirPods Max 2 | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2026 | 2025 |
| Model | A3454 Apple | — |
| Announcement and availability | Announced 16 March 2026; orders from 25 March; deliveries from early April 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 Apple | — |
| Noise control | ANC, Transparency mode and Adaptive Audio; up to 1.5x more effective than the previous generation Apple | Active noise cancellation; Quiet and ambient-sound Aware modes Bose |
| 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 Apple | Power/Bluetooth and multifunction buttons; touch volume strip; wear detection Bose |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 Apple | — |
| Wired audio | Lossless and ultra-low-latency audio over USB-C; 24-bit / 48 kHz Apple | — |
| Analogue input | Analogue sources via a USB-C to 3.5 mm audio cable Apple | — |
| Battery life | Up to 20 hours of listening with ANC on 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 | USB-C; up to 3 hours for a full charge; 15 minutes for up to 3 hours with ANC on Bose |
| Dimensions | 168.6 × 83.4 × 187.3 mm (width × depth × height), including cushions Apple | — |
| Weight | 386.2 g; Smart Case 134.5 g 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 | — |
| Audio features | Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Personalized Volume, Loud Sound Reduction, Adaptive EQ; Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking Apple | — |
| Live Translation | Beta; needs an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone on iOS 26 or later Apple | — |
| Software requirement | iOS and iPadOS 26.4 or later; current operating system on Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro Apple | — |
| Firmware | 9A348 (latest version in Apple’s list); adds an Equalizer control Apple | — |
| In the box | AirPods Max 2, Smart Case, USB-C charge cable, documentation Apple | Carry case; 3.5–2.5 mm audio cable; 1 m USB-C to USB-C cable Bose |
| Accessibility | Live Listen, Headphone levels, Headphone Accommodations Apple | — |
| Launch | — | Announced 10 September 2025; available from 2 October 2025 Bose |
| Wireless | — | Bluetooth 5.4; multipoint connection to two devices Bose |
| Digital audio | — | USB-C; 24-bit / 48 kHz lossless audio support Bose |
| Analog audio | — | 2.5 mm headphone input; included 3.5 mm–2.5 mm cable; headphones must be powered on Bose |
| Battery | — | Up to 30 hours with ANC on and immersive audio off; 23 hours with immersive audio; 45 hours with both off Bose |
| Weight and size | — | Headphones about 264 g; 4.5 × 16.0 × 20.5 cm Bose |
| Modes | — | Quiet, Aware, Immersion, Cinema; EQ and shortcuts in the Bose app Bose |
| Water resistance | — | No IP rating; avoid situations where the headphones may get wet Bose |
| PC calls | — | 8.2.20 and later: two-way PC audio over USB-C; app compatibility varies Bose |
| Software 10.12.12 | — | 8 September 2026: LE Audio beta on compatible Android/Windows devices and improved USB calls Bose |