AirPods Max 2: Enhanced sound and features

It has only taken a little over 5 years, but the AirPods Max – Apple’s flagship over-ear wireless headphone – finally has a successor.

It’s called the AirPods Max 2, and while it may look identical to its predecessor, there are some important updates under the proverbial hood.

It now comes with the H2 chip, which enables a number of new features and improvements. To start, Apple claims that active noise cancellation is now 1.5x more effective. It also says that Transparency mode on the AirPods Max 2 should sound even more natural.

Having the H2 chip also means it has Adaptive Audio, the in-between mode that automatically adjusts the level of noise cancellation and Transparency to ensure owners get the best audio experience depending on their environment.

Live Translation will also be available on these headphones. This can be activated by pressing and holding on to the listening mode button.

The drivers appear to be unchanged, but they are now paired with a new “high dynamic range amplifier”, which Apple says delivers “cleaner audio” and improved spatial audio.

Fussy listeners will be happy to know that the AirPods Max 2 continue to support hi-res lossless audio of up to 24-bit/48kHz when used in wired mode. In wired mode, the headphones also have ultra-low latency audio.

Availability and pricing

The AirPods Max 2 is S$749 and will be available to order starting 25 March 2026. Customers who pre-order will start receiving them in early April. It comes in five finishes: Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, and Orange.

You can order them at the Apple Online Store, Lazada, and Shopee.