Apple AirPods Max 2: A3454 · USB-C
Sony WF-1000XM5: WF-1000XM5 · Black, Platinum Silver, Smoky Pink; colours share the same hardware
| Specification | Apple AirPods Max 2 | Sony WF-1000XM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2026 | 2023 |
| 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 Apple | Bluetooth 5.3; about 10 m range; multipoint Sony |
| 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 | Earbuds about 1.5 hours; case about 2 hours over USB; wireless charging on the case Sony |
| Dimensions | 168.6 × 83.4 × 187.3 mm (width × depth × height), including cushions Apple | — |
| Weight | 386.2 g; Smart Case 134.5 g Apple | About 5.9 g per earbud (with M tips); case about 39 g Sony |
| 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 | Charging case, Noise Isolation foam tips, reference guide, USB cable Sony |
| Accessibility | Live Listen, Headphone levels, Headphone Accommodations Apple | — |
| Type | — | Closed, dynamic true wireless in-ear; active noise cancelling Sony |
| Driver | — | 8.4 mm Sony |
| Frequency response | — | 20–20,000 Hz (44.1 kHz); 20–40,000 Hz with LDAC at 96 kHz / 990 kbps Sony |
| Codecs | — | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 Sony |
| Battery (music) | — | Up to 8 hours with noise cancelling on, 12 hours with it off Sony |
| Battery (calls) | — | Up to 6 hours with noise cancelling on, 7 hours with it off Sony |
| Sound features | — | DSEE Extreme, Ambient Sound mode, Quick Attention Sony |
| Water resistance | — | IPX4 equivalent Sony |
| Case size | — | About 64.6 × 40.0 × 26.5 mm Sony |
| Staying connected in the case | — | Earbuds may stay connected while in the case Sony |