Apple AirPods Max 2: A3454 · USB-C
Sony WF-1000XM6: WF-1000XM6/B · black · in-ear
| Specification | Apple AirPods Max 2 | Sony WF-1000XM6 |
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2026 | 2026 |
| 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 | Adaptive ANC and ambient sound Sony |
| 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 | — |
| 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 | About 1 hour of music from 5 minutes Sony |
| 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 | Approximately 6.5 g per earbud; 47 g case 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 | — |
| Accessibility | Live Listen, Headphone levels, Headphone Accommodations Apple | — |
| Announcement / sales year | — | 12 February 2026 / 2026 Sony |
| Processors | — | QN3e and Integrated Processor V2 Sony |
| Codecs | — | SBC, AAC, LDAC; LC3 over LE Audio Sony |
| AAC / SBC battery | — | Up to 8 hours with ANC; 12 hours without Sony |
| LDAC battery | — | Up to 5 hours with ANC; 8 hours without Sony |
| LC3 battery | — | Up to 7 hours with ANC; 11 hours without Sony |
| Battery conditions | — | EQ, DSEE Extreme and speech detection can shorten runtime Sony |
| Full charge | — | Earbuds approximately 1.5 hours; case 2 hours Sony |
| Wireless charging | — | Qi-compatible case Sony |
| Multiple connections | — | Two-device multipoint Sony |
| Gaming audio | — | GMAP over LE Audio Sony |
| Tips | — | Four sizes of noise-isolation tips Sony |
| App | — | Sony Sound Connect; 10-band EQ Sony |
| Operating temperature | — | 0–40 °C Sony |