Apple unveiled the second iteration of its premium AirPods Max over-ear headphones on Monday, setting the price at $549. The new model arrives more than five years after the initial release and represents the first substantial update since the 2020 debut of the line.
According to the company, the AirPods Max 2 are built around Apple’s in-house H2 chip - the same processor that powers the latest AirPods devices. Apple said the headphones will be available to pre-order beginning March 25 in more than 30 countries, with retail sales slated to start early next month.
The refresh centers on performance and feature enhancements. Apple highlighted improvements to active noise cancellation as well as an upgraded microphone system. The new headset also includes a suite of features labeled Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Live Translation.
Live Translation, which Apple first introduced on the AirPods Pro 3 in September, enables users to translate in-person conversations across languages using Apple Intelligence, the company’s artificial intelligence platform. Apple positioned the capability as part of the AirPods Max 2 feature set.
In addition to noise-cancellation and conversational features, Apple said the AirPods Max 2 will support high-resolution lossless audio when connected via USB-C. The company identified music creators and professional users who require higher fidelity audio as targeted audiences for the high-resolution capability.
The premium headphones market remains competitive; Apple noted that the segment is currently largely dominated by Japan’s Sony Group, Bose and Sennheiser. The company’s update appears aimed at competing more aggressively in that premium audio category by combining upgraded hardware and new software-driven features.
Key commercial details disclosed by Apple include the $549 price point, the H2 chip platform, the March 25 pre-order date across more than 30 countries and retail availability starting early next month. Beyond those specifics, Apple emphasized the combination of improved active noise cancellation, an enhanced microphone system and the set of new capabilities designed to broaden use cases for purchasers.