Apple recently annunciate the AirPods Max 2 , or the ‘ AirPods Max ’ as they ’re now labelled on Apple ’s site .
The AirPods Max 2 supplant the originalAirPods Maxthat launch back in 2020 . However , rather of a redesign and feature overhaul , Apple has decided not to fix something that is n’t break , only apply a handful of minor climb to its over - pinna AirPods .
Keep read to discover how the AirPods Max 2 compare to the AirPods Max , or direct to ourbest AirPodsguide to learn more about Apple ’s audio line - up , including theAirPods Pro 2and theAirPods 3 .
We ’d also commend hold in out some of our otherbest headphonesandnoise - cancelling headphonesreviews , admit key AirPods Max rivals , like theSony WH-1000XM5and theBose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones .
Price
The AirPods Max 2 are available to buy from September 20 2024 , with pre - orders open now . The headphone are priced at £ 499 .
The original AirPods Max launched in December 2020 , but are no longer available directly through Apple . you could , however , pluck up the headphones from many third - political party retail merchant , such as Amazon , for the same £ 499 price .
The AirPods Max 2 comes in new colours
The AirPods Max 2 are useable in five new colours , include Midnight , Starlight , Blue , Purple and Orange .
The original AirPods Max came in five colours : Silver , Space Grey , Sky Blue , Pink and Green .
The AirPods Max 2 feature USB-C charging
The biggest rise coming to the AirPods Max 2 this year is easily USB - C charging .
The USB - light speed port has exchange the Lightning port on the original AirPods Max 2 , making burden significantly more commodious . you’re able to now use the same transmission line to charge your headphones that you use to charge to youriPhone 15or16,MacBookor USB - C - supportingiPad .
This essentially think of few charging cables to assort through at rest home and hold around on the go .
Unfortunately , this upgrade has n’t better the charge metre or battery life , with both remain the same across the two generation of AirPods Max .
The AirPods Max and Max 2 share the same features
Otherwise , the AirPods Max and AirPods Max 2 are practically superposable .
The two headphones share the same optic - catching , over - auricle design , the same sound quality and the same features , from active noise cancellation to Hey Siri support . Both pairs of headphones also include Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio with dynamic head - trailing applied science .
Finally , both the AirPods Max and the Max 2 are primarily control via the Digital Crown on the left earcup and portion out the same 20 - minute barrage fire life .
Early verdict
The AirPods Max 2 is a very minor upgrade over the original AirPods Max . In four year , Apple has sum five new colours to the same unique purpose and has swapped the Lightning charging criterion for the more general USB - C.
If you already have the AirPods Max 2 , this generation probably wo n’t justify an rise , but those who have n’t picked a pair up yet will want to get the AirPods Max 2 for the USB - C port .
All of that being said , we have n’t sustain our hands on the AirPods Max 2 just yet , so we recommend expect for our critique to see our concluding verdict on Apple ’s second pair of over - pinna .
