Apple has introduced the AirPods Max 2, bringing significant upgrades to its premium over-ear headphones with enhanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), improved sound quality and a suite of intelligent features powered by the H2 chip.
The latest generation builds on the iconic AirPods Max design while introducing advanced capabilities such as Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation and Live Translation for the first time. Apple is also positioning the new headphones as a powerful tool for creators, with features like studio-quality audio recording and camera remote functionality.
“With the incredible performance of H2, AirPods Max are upgraded with up to 1.5x more effective ANC for the ultimate all-day listening experience,” said Eric Treski, Apple’s director of Audio Product Marketing. “The sound quality is remarkably clean, rich, and acoustically detailed — and when combined with capabilities like Personalised Spatial Audio, AirPods Max 2 deliver a profoundly immersive experience.”
Stronger Noise Cancellation and Improved Transparency
Powered by the H2 chip and new computational audio algorithms, AirPods Max 2 deliver up to 1.5 times more effective ANC compared to the previous generation. This allows users to better block out environmental noise such as aeroplane engines or urban commutes, creating a more immersive listening experience.
At the same time, Apple has refined Transparency mode, making ambient sounds more natural and realistic. This ensures users remain aware of their surroundings while still enjoying their audio content.
Elevated Sound Quality and Lossless Audio Support
AirPods Max 2 feature a new high dynamic range amplifier, delivering cleaner, more detailed audio across music, movies and games. Improvements include better instrument separation, more accurate bass response and more natural mids and highs.
For audiophiles and creators, the headphones now support 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio via the included USB-C cable. This also enables ultra-low latency audio, making the headphones suitable for professional workflows in apps such as Logic Pro.
Notably, AirPods Max 2 are the only headphones that allow users to create and mix in Personalised Spatial Audio with head tracking, offering new possibilities for music production and immersive content creation.
Intelligent Features for Everyday Use
The H2 chip enables a range of intelligent features designed to make everyday use more seamless.
Adaptive Audio dynamically adjusts ANC and Transparency levels based on the user’s environment, while Conversation Awareness automatically lowers playback volume when the user begins speaking.
Live Translation, powered by Apple Intelligence, allows users to communicate across languages in real time, enhancing in-person interactions. Meanwhile, Voice Isolation improves call clarity by prioritising the user’s voice and reducing background noise.
Additional features include Personalised Volume, which adapts sound levels based on user preferences over time, and Loud Sound Reduction, which helps minimise exposure to harmful noise levels.
Users can also interact with Siri more intuitively, responding to prompts by simply nodding or shaking their head.
Designed for Creators and Everyday Convenience
Apple has expanded the capabilities of AirPods Max 2 for content creators. The new studio-quality audio recording feature enables clearer, more natural vocal capture for podcasts, interviews and music recording.
The addition of a camera remote function allows users to take photos or start and stop video recording on an iPhone or iPad by pressing the Digital Crown, offering added convenience for remote shooting.
Gamers will also benefit from reduced wireless audio latency, resulting in a more responsive and immersive experience when playing on iOS, macOS and iPadOS devices.
Sustainability and Availability
As part of Apple’s Apple 2030 sustainability goals, AirPods Max 2 are designed with environmentally friendly materials. The headphones use 100% recycled rare earth elements in magnets, 100% recycled polyester in the ear cushions, and 100% recycled gold and tin in circuit boards. The packaging is fully fibre-based and recyclable.
AirPods Max 2 will be available to order from March 25 on apple.com/sg/store and in the Apple Store app, with retail availability beginning early next month. The headphones come in five colours: midnight, starlight, orange, purple and blue, and are priced from S$749 in Singapore.
