Apple Unveils AirPods Max 2 with Major H2 Chip and AI Upgrades
Apple has officially launched the AirPods Max 2, marking a significant upgrade to its premium over-ear headphones after more than five years since the original debuted in December 2020. The new model addresses long-standing feature gaps, introducing advanced technologies previously exclusive to other AirPods lines.
H2 Chip Powers New AI and Audio Capabilities
The centerpiece of the AirPods Max 2 is the H2 chip, replacing the older H1 from the first generation. This silicon, already used in AirPods Pro and AirPods 4, enables a suite of innovative features for the Max series. Key additions include adaptive audio, conversation awareness, and voice isolation, enhancing user interaction and sound clarity.
Notably, the H2 chip supports AI-powered live translation in real time across multiple languages such as Hindi, Japanese, and Korean when connected to an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone. This integration bridges a critical feature divide with the AirPods Pro, offering users a more versatile and intelligent listening experience.
Enhanced Audio Performance and Lossless Support
Apple claims that active noise cancellation (ANC) on the AirPods Max 2 is up to 1.5 times more effective than before, thanks to new computational audio algorithms. Transparency mode has also been refreshed with a digital signal processing algorithm that makes ambient sounds feel more natural and immersive.
Under the hood, a new high dynamic range amplifier improves spatial audio with better instrument separation and tighter bass response. For wired listening, the headphones now support 24-bit, 48kHz lossless audio over USB-C, a first for the series. Apple highlights that these are the only headphones allowing musicians to create and mix in personalised spatial audio with head tracking on Logic Pro.
Design Unchanged; Pre-Orders Open Soon
Visually, the AirPods Max 2 retains the same over-ear design with a mesh canopy headband, available in midnight, starlight, orange, purple, and blue colors. The case design remains unchanged, which may disappoint some buyers given the premium price point.
Priced at Rs 67,900 in India, pre-orders for the AirPods Max 2 open on March 25, with deliveries expected in early April. Apple is bundling three free months of Apple Music for new subscribers who purchase a pair, adding value to the high-end offering.
This launch represents Apple's commitment to advancing its audio technology, combining cutting-edge AI features with superior sound quality in a familiar design.
