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Apple’s AirPods Max headphones made quite the impression when they launched in 2020, instantly attracting fans like Timothee Chalamet, Dua Lipa, and JENNIE with the product’s sleek and elevated look, while earning thumbs up from tech journalists for crisp and immersive audio.
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Now, Apple is hoping lightning strikes twice with the launch of the AirPods Max 2, the next generation in the venerable tech brand’s over-ear wireless headphones.
NEW RELEASE
Apple AirPods Max 2 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
“Midnight” colorway
Released March 25, the new headphones feature the same instantly-recognizable over-ear design as the original AirPods Max, but with improved Active Noise Cancellation technology (ANC), enhanced audio and intelligent features all powered by Apple’s H2 chipset.
The most impressive update is on the noise cancellation prowess of the AirPods Max 2, with Apple reporting that the new headphones “deliver ANC that’s up to 1.5x more effective than the previous generation.” You’ll notice it when you’re on a plane and the whiz and whirl of the airplane engine suddenly fades away; or when crossing an intersection in a bustling city, and the crowd and traffic noise dissipates.
I live on a second-floor unit in an apartment building located on a main road in Los Angeles, and I’ve found the original AirPods Max headphones to be a lifesaver for when I want to put on some tunes to focus on work and not hear the honking and screeching of cars below. The AirPods Max 2 promise an even more immersive experience, by detecting and canceling out background noise before it even hits your ears.
Of course if you still need to pay attention to your environment — i.e., in the office or when walking in traffic — you can set the cups to Transparency Mode, which filters in some natural sounds so you’re not completely unaware or zoned out to what (or who) is around you. Voice Isolation technology automatically moves your voice to the forefront during calls while blocking out ambient noise. And if you’re listening to a playlist or podcast, Apple’s Adaptive Audio feature automatically adjusts the noise cancellation levels depending on how noisy your environment is so there’s always a balance of music with organic outside sounds.
A new feature we like is “Conversation Awareness,” which automatically lowers the volume of what’s playing in your ears to make it easier to hear and talk to those around you.
AND ALSO AVAILABLE
Apple AirPods Max 2 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
Orange colorway
Music-wise, the AirPods Max 2 continue to support Spatial Audio for a more natural-sounding listening experience and lossless audio which lets you stream the highest-quality tracks. Apple says a new high dynamic range amplifier offers “even cleaner audio,” and you can also personalize your headphones to suit your ear shape and the way your head moves so that music is always directed at you rather than say floating off somewhere in the distance.
One other new feature we like: Live Translation, which does exactly as the name suggests by letting you read or listen to an English-language translation of a conversation when you are talking to someone who’s using another language. The same feature is available in Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 model which I tested last fall; while it took me some time to set up Live Translation (mostly making sure my phone was updated), once I got it to work it was pretty intuitive.
The AirPods Max 2 retain the same premium look and feel as its predecessor with the flexible mesh headband for breathability and cushy pillow-like earpads for comfort (Apple has also increased their sustainability efforts by using 100% recycled polyester in the ear cushion). What I liked: you won’t sweat through these headphones even when wearing them for long periods of time. As someone who wears glasses, I found that the headband wasn’t squeezing my temples at all. The exterior has the clean and minimalist look I love; Apple has these headphones available in five colors online including the orange colorway that was so popular with users of the iPhone 17.
The AirPods Max 2 wireless headphones are available to purchase online now with a suggested retail price of $549. In my opinion, Apple’s got another winner on its hands with the AirPods Max 2 offering that perfect balance of audio and aesthetics to deliver another pair of headphones that will be topping everybody’s must-have list this year.
