Headphones · 2026 · Apple

Apple AirPods Max 2

Wireless over-ear headphones with Apple’s H2 chip. They have ANC, Transparency and Adaptive Audio. Lossless audio and low latency come only over a USB-C cable. Reviews praise the noise cancellation; weight, the 20-hour battery and limited features on non-Apple devices are the recurring reservations.

A3454 · USB-C

Apple AirPods Max 2 — Apple AirPods Max 2 in blue; manufacturer image (front and side views).
Apple AirPods Max 2 in blue; manufacturer image (front and side views).

Specifications

SpecificationValue
ModelA3454

Listed in Apple’s model table as AirPods Max 2, introduced in 2026.

Announcement and availabilityAnnounced 16 March 2026; orders from 25 March; deliveries from early April

US and more than 30 other countries and regions.

ColoursMidnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Orange
ChipApple H2 in each ear cup
Driver and amplifierApple-designed dynamic driver; custom high-dynamic-range amplifier; dual neodymium ring magnet motor

The manufacturer pages read give no frequency range or impedance.

Noise controlANC, 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.

MicrophonesNine microphones: eight for ANC, three for voice pickup (two shared)
SensorsOptical, position, case-detect and accelerometer in each cup; gyroscope in the left cup only
ControlsDigital Crown (volume, play/pause, calls, Siri) and a listening mode button

No separate power button is listed.

Bluetooth5.3

The manufacturer does not state supported audio codecs.

Wired audioLossless 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.

Analogue inputAnalogue sources via a USB-C to 3.5 mm audio cable

The cable is not listed among the box contents.

Battery lifeUp 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.

Quick chargeAbout 1.5 hours of listening from 5 minutes of charging
ChargingUSB-C; ultra-low-power state when stored in the Smart Case
Dimensions168.6 × 83.4 × 187.3 mm (width × depth × height), including cushions
Weight386.2 g; Smart Case 134.5 g

Apple says size and weight vary by configuration and manufacturing process.

Build and cushionsAnodised aluminium ear cups; breathable knit-mesh canopy; stainless steel telescoping arms; memory foam and mesh-textile cushions
Water and dust resistanceNone

Apple lists this feature as not applicable to AirPods Max 2.

Audio featuresAdaptive 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.

Live TranslationBeta; 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.

Software requirementiOS 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.

Firmware9A348 (latest version in Apple’s list); adds an Equalizer control

Apple’s page gives no release date for this version.

In the boxAirPods Max 2, Smart Case, USB-C charge cable, documentation
AccessibilityLive Listen, Headphone levels, Headphone Accommodations

Requires the latest iOS or iPadOS.

From the manufacturer

Apple says ANC is up to 1.5x more effective than the previous generation and credits the H2 chip and new computational algorithms. This is a manufacturer claim; test conditions and fit change the result. Apple

Strengths and limitations

  • In SoundGuys’ test ANC removed about 89.4% of outside noise by perceived loudness, against 88% for the first generation. The authors called the “1.5x” claim a bit of a stretch. With ANC off, slight low-end noise below 150 Hz was audible. Battery lasted 21 hours 31 seconds at 75 dB SPL with ANC on; the only codecs are SBC and AAC.

    Single test unit; firmware not stated. Published 3 April 2026 and updated with battery results on 27 May.

    SoundGuys — Harley Maranan, Christian Thomas: Apple AirPods Max 2 review

  • GSMArena’s Prasad measured 21 hours 36 minutes of playback with ANC on. He rated noise cancellation very good but oppressive in quiet rooms. On sound he noted emphasised sub-bass, a dip in the upper mids and lower treble, and sibilance in the upper treble. He criticised the 386 g weight and firm clamp, and wrote that the microphone does not work in wired mode on any platform.

    Tested with iPhone 15 Pro and M4 Mac mini on firmware 8E251; 1 May 2026. One unit; the microphone finding is not in Apple’s documents.

    GSMArena — Prasad: Apple AirPods Max 2 review

  • The 6 Months Later team used them for six months, including four flights. They wrote that the knit cushions and mesh canopy kept their ears from sweating and that ANC was neck and neck with the best from Bose and Sony. They noted that putting the headphones in the case does not always trigger deep sleep, so the battery can still drain. Clamping force on their pair felt stronger than on the Lightning model; they suspected unit-to-unit variation and advised returning a unit that feels too tight. Moving the jaw while eating could break the ANC seal.

    The team’s own single pair; colour and firmware not stated. Review dated 16 October 2026. The unit-variation point is the authors’ suspicion.

    6 Months Later — Josh Teder: AirPods Max 2, six months on

  • The Headphones.com team bought a pair and measured it on a B&K 5128 and on-head with in-ear microphones. They described the sound as familiar from the original AirPods Max, with essentially the same sound with ANC on or off. A broken seal can lose bass with ANC off.

    Opening post of a forum thread, 3 April 2026; one unit, firmware not stated. The page showed six posts.

    Headphones.com Forum: Apple AirPods Max 2 official thread

  • Expert Reviews finds the active noise cancelling almost level with the Sony WH-1000XM6; on the London Underground the Sony stayed ahead by a very small margin. Sound is rated excellent over wireless and USB, while bass is a little laid back and smooth; lossless listening works only over a USB-C cable and is capped at 24-bit/48 kHz.

    Single review and the author's ears; the noise cancelling comparison is by ear, not measured.

    Expert Reviews: Apple AirPods Max 2 review

  • The review lists the weight and loose fit as negatives: the headphones slide when bending over and the mesh canopy gets baggy over time. It finds the 20 hours with ANC on weak against rivals with 30 hours, and notes extra drain when left out of the case.

    Single user; the 20 hours is the manufacturer figure, not separately measured by the review. Fit may vary with head size.

    Expert Reviews: Apple AirPods Max 2 review

Owner experiences and issues

  • On Apple Community, lukegabriel wrote that their AirPods Max 2 showed as connected to the phone after leaving the case but played no sound, several times within a week. Holding the Digital Crown and noise control buttons until the light turned amber fixed it temporarily. ITSTHEGUTSY reported the same problem on a unit bought that day and on a second unit, with a reset helping only one. Another poster in the thread said a similar problem with their first-generation AirPods Max went away after updating to macOS Tahoe 26.4.1.

    Reports from three people in one thread, 7–11 April 2026; AirPods firmware and colour not stated. Cause and prevalence unknown; the macOS fix was reported for the first-generation model.

    Apple Community: AirPods Max 2 has connection issues

Tags

2026ANC

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Sources

  1. Apple: AirPods Max 2 technical specifications
  2. Apple Support: AirPods Max 2 tech specs
  3. Apple Newsroom: Apple introduces AirPods Max 2 (16 March 2026)
  4. Apple: AirPods Max 2 product page
  5. Apple Support: Identify your AirPods model
  6. Apple Support: About firmware updates for AirPods
  7. Apple Support: Connect and use your AirPods Max
  8. Apple Support: Live Translation with AirPods
  9. Apple Türkiye: AirPods Max 2 technical specifications
  10. SoundGuys — Harley Maranan, Christian Thomas: Apple AirPods Max 2 review
  11. GSMArena — Prasad: Apple AirPods Max 2 review
  12. 6 Months Later — Josh Teder: AirPods Max 2, six months on
  13. Headphones.com Forum: Apple AirPods Max 2 official thread
  14. Apple Community: AirPods Max 2 has connection issues
  15. Expert Reviews: Apple AirPods Max 2 review