Apple AirPods Max 2: A3454 · USB-C
Sony WH-1000XM6: WH series · Over-ear
| Specification | Apple AirPods Max 2 | Sony WH-1000XM6 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | — |
| 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 | 5.3 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 | About 3.5 hours; 9 V / 2.3 A with a USB Power Delivery adapter 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 | Approximately 254 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 | — |
| Accessibility | Live Listen, Headphone levels, Headphone Accommodations Apple | — |
| Driver | — | 30 mm Sony |
| Bluetooth profiles | — | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP; TMAP, GMAP, PBP for LE Audio Sony |
| Codec | — | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 Sony |
| Frequency response | — | Wired and on: 4–40,000 Hz; LDAC 96 kHz: 20–40,000 Hz Sony |
| Impedance / sensitivity | — | Wired, on: 48 Ω, 103 dB/mW; off: 16 Ω, 102 dB/mW Sony |
| Rated battery life | — | Music: up to 30 hours with ANC, 40 hours without ANC Sony |
| Rated talk time | — | Up to 24 hours with ANC, 28 hours without ANC Sony |
| Connections | — | Bluetooth; 3.5 mm audio; USB-C charging Sony |
| Gaming audio | — | GMAP support · firmware 3.1.5 Sony |
| LE Audio requirement | — | LC3; Low latency mode in Sound Connect Sony |
| Water protection | — | Not waterproof Sony |
| Earlier software fix | — | 2.1.0: recording/playback in some iPhone apps and missing call audio Sony |