Apple introduced the new AirPods Max 2 headphones with the advanced H2 chip and improved capabilities for active noise cancellation and adaptive sound, but it kept the general design and most of the internal parts without any significant change. The new headphones retain the same industrial design as the first version, which includes aluminum ear cups, a stainless steel headband frame, telescopic arms and a woven mesh canopy, so the dimensions, weight and general construction are completely identical, which means that the headphones provide the same familiar look and feel as previous versions despite criticism of the mesh canopy that it may stretch over time.
Apple neglected to update the Smart Case to continue using the same design that first appeared in 2020. This case covers the ear cups while leaving the headband exposed, and puts the headphones in a very low power mode when stored inside them. However, this case has faced harsh criticism since its first launch due to its unusual appearance and the limited protection it provides compared to traditional headphone cases available in the market, as well as constant user complaints about its material being exposed to damage and quick wrinkling. With frequent use.
The AirPods Max 2 lack a dedicated power button, which makes placing them inside the Smart Case the only reliable way to force them into standby mode with minimal power consumption. The headphones remain active for long periods and their battery drains quickly when left outside this case. Despite all this criticism and continuous demands from users to provide better practical solutions to protect the headphones and conserve energy, Apple chose not to redesign the smart case or replace it with a more efficient alternative in this awaited new generation.
The internal audio hardware looks essentially identical across the different generations of the series. The new headphones continue to use custom 40mm dynamic drivers and retain the same basic audio architecture as the original model, but add a new dedicated HDR subwoofer with updated digital signal processing, meaning that the noticeable sonic improvements are mostly due to changes in amplification and software processing rather than from redesigning the audio drivers themselves to deliver a pure listening experience.
Apple has maintained identical color options across the last two versions of these headphones. The colors that appeared with the USB-C port update in 2024, which include starlight, night sky, blue, purple, and orange, continue in this new version to be an alternative to the previous original lineup, and the battery life has remained constant without any change, so that the headphones continue to provide about 20 hours of listening time when the active noise cancellation and spatial audio feature is activated, thus matching the original estimates that the company previously announced to users.
