Apple has officially announced AirPods Max 2 and it's powered by the new H2 chip, the same silicon behind AirPods Pro 2, bringing a significant upgrade in noise cancellation, audio fidelity, and intelligent convenience features to the iconic over-ear form factor.
Active Noise Cancellation: Up to 1.5× More Effective
The headline improvement in AirPods Max 2 is a substantial leap in Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Thanks to H2 and new computational audio algorithms, Apple says the new headphones deliver ANC that is up to 1.5× more effective than the original AirPods Max — cutting through loud environments like airplane engines and commuter trains more decisively than before.
Transparency mode has also been refined. A new digital signal processing algorithm optimized for H2 and the headphones' microphone array makes the passthrough sound more natural, helping users stay aware of their surroundings without harshness or artificiality.
Lossless Audio and Elevated Sound Quality
AirPods Max 2 feature a new high dynamic range amplifier for cleaner audio reproduction. Spatial Audio content benefits from improved instrument localization, more accurate bass response, and more natural-sounding mid and high frequencies.
For professional and audiophile use, the headphones support 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio when connected via the included USB-C cable. This also enables ultra-low latency, making AirPods Max 2 the only headphones Apple says let musicians both create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking — fully compatible with Logic Pro and other music creation apps.
Wireless gaming also benefits: for users with AirPods Max 2 and Game Mode enabled, iOS, macOS, and iPadOS games are more responsive thanks to reduced wireless audio latency.