Apple AirPods Max 2 / Samsung Galaxy Buds3 (SM-R530)

Apple AirPods Max 2: A3454 · USB-C

Samsung Galaxy Buds3 (SM-R530): Galaxy Buds3 (SM-R530), silver or white. The tipped Galaxy Buds3 Pro (SM-R630) with light blades and the 2025 Buds3 FE are separate models.

Specification	Apple AirPods Max 2	Samsung Galaxy Buds3 (SM-R530)
Release year	2026	2024
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	—
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	Music: 5 hours ANC on (24 total with case), 6 hours ANC off (30 total); talk: 3.5 hours ANC on (18 total), 4 hours off (20 total) These are Samsung’s internal tests with default settings paired to a Galaxy phone. Capacity is 48 mAh per earbud and 515 mAh in the case (typical). Samsung
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	—	Open-type stem earbuds without silicone tips; silver and white The open design does not seal the ear canal, so it avoids a pressure feeling over long use but isolates less than tipped models. Fit varies with ear shape. Samsung
Driver and microphones	—	11 mm dynamic driver (one-way); 3 mics + voice pickup unit (VPU) per earbud The VPU picks up the wearer’s voice through bone vibration to help separate speech in noisy calls. Samsung
Noise cancelling	—	Active noise cancelling (ANC) and ambient sound mode ANC measures outside sound with microphones and produces an opposite wave to reduce steady hum; in an open design the effect is more limited than in sealed earbuds. Samsung
Sound quality	—	UHQ 24-bit/96 kHz, 24-bit Hi-Fi, 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel UHQ (24-bit/96 kHz) only works on certain Galaxy phones and tablets with One UI 6.1.1 or later (S24, S23, Z Fold6/Flip6, Z Fold5/Flip5, Tab S9 series); 24-bit Hi-Fi needs One UI 4.0 or later. Other devices use AAC or SBC. Samsung
Connectivity and codecs	—	Bluetooth 5.4, Auto Switch; SSC HiFi, SSC UHQ, AAC, SBC Samsung Seamless Codec (SSC) is Samsung’s own codec for higher-resolution wireless audio with Samsung devices. Auto Switch moves the connection between signed-in Galaxy devices automatically. Samsung
Controls and sensors	—	Pinch and swipe (Force & Touch) controls; VPU, SWIR, accelerometer, Hall sensor The SWIR infrared sensor detects whether an earbud is worn; the Hall sensor detects the case opening and closing. Samsung
Water resistance	—	IP57 (earbuds only) IP57 means dust-protected and resistant to brief immersion; the charging case is not covered. Samsung
Compatibility	—	Android 10 or later with more than 1.5 GB of memory Some features are not available on non-Samsung devices. Samsung
Size and weight	—	Earbud 18.1 × 20.4 × 31.9 mm, 4.7 g; case 58.9 × 48.7 × 24.4 mm, 46.5 g Samsung