Apple unveils AirPods Max 2. What to know about upgraded features

When will AirPods Max 2 be available?
What colors are the AirPods Max 2 available in?
AirPods Max 2 price
New AirPods Max 2 features

When will AirPods Max 2 be available?, What colors are the AirPods Max 2 available in?, AirPods Max 2 price, New AirPods Max 2 features

Apple is keeping the streak going. Hot off the release of six new items, including a new iPhone 17e, an iPad Air with M4 and the MacBook Neo, the tech giant announced its AirPods Max were getting an upgrade.

The new AirPods Max 2 offer "better Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)," than its predecessor, "elevated sound quality, and intelligent features" such as "adaptive audio, conversation awareness and voice isolation," according to a March 16 news release. It will also feature live translation for the first time in AirPods Max.

The company said the over-ear headphones "will also unlock creative possibilities for podcasters, musicians, and content creators, with useful features like studio-quality audio recording and camera remote."

In a statement, Eric Treski, director of Audio Product Marketing at Apple, said the sound quality of the new AirPods "is remarkably clean, rich, and acoustically detailed — and when combined with capabilities like Personalized Spatial Audio, AirPods Max 2 deliver a profoundly immersive experience."

Here's what to know about Apple's newest release, which comes more than five years after the ‌first version's launch.

When will AirPods Max 2 be available?

Apple's newest drop will be available to order online on the Apple Store starting Wednesday, March 25, and will be delivered and available in stores beginning early April.

What colors are the AirPods Max 2 available in?

The AirPods Max 2 is available in the following colors, according to the press release:

Midnight
Starlight
Orange
Purple
Blue

The new AirPods Max 2 are available in five colors including midnight, starlight, orange, purple, and blue.

AirPods Max 2 price

The price for AirPods Max 2 starts at $549, according to the news release.

Apple said new subscribers may get free Apple Music for three months with the purchase of AirPods Max 2, subject to terms and conditions.

New AirPods Max 2 features

Apple said the new AirPods will have several upgrades and features, including:

Better active noise cancellation: AirPods Max 2 will deliver ANC that’s up to 1.5x more effective than the previous generation, thanks to H2 and new computational audio algorithms. "This reduces even more noise — like airplane engines or commuter trains — so users can fully immerse themselves in music, work, or phone calls," Apple said, adding transparency sounds will be even "more natural so users can stay aware of their environment and those around them."
Highest-fidelity listening experience: A new high dynamic range amplifier in AirPods Max 2 allows for "even cleaner audio while maintaining the incredible sound signature of AirPods Max," Apple said. Additionally, with "improved localization of instruments, more accurate and consistent bass response," spatial audio content sounds better than ever, with more natural-sounding mids and highs.
Conversation Awareness with lower content volume and reduced background noise when a user starts speaking to someone nearby.
Live Translation: Powered by Apple Intelligence, this feature offers users to communicate across multiple languages in person.
Voice Isolation blocks out ambient noise and prioritizes voice during calls using advanced computational audio.
Camera remote to capture content at a distance.
Loud sound reduction to help prevent exposure to loud environmental noise.
Personalized Volume based on users' preferences over time.
Enhanced Siri Interactions.