Many people consider them to be the best headphones available, therefore we’re hoping that the AirPods Max 2, Apple’s replacement for the company’s well-liked and exclusive over-ear headphones, will be released in late 2024.
When it comes to AirPods Max 2 release date, since last December, there have been internet rumors regarding the new AirPods Max 2. These rumors gained momentum when Mark Gurman, a writer for Bloomberg, stated that the new AirPods Max would be introduced this year.
Though, to be honest, we weren’t anticipating one, neither Apple’s iPad-focused event in June nor the WWDC 2024 conference let us see anything. About AirPods Max 2 release date, Nonetheless, September will see the release of the upcoming iPhone, which means that now would be a good time for “one more thing.”
Up to that point, Techopedia was able to put together a portion of the puzzle using documents, news, and outside sources related to the AirPods Max 2 release date.
A variety of colors and a USB-C charging port in the casing are anticipated new features.
Key Takeaways
- Apple has not formally shared any information on the AirPods Max 2 and AirPods Max 2 release date.
- Certain modifications for the Apple Airpod Max 2, such as new colors and the transition to a USB-C connector, are inevitable based on analysis, sources, and research.
- Additionally, according to patents, Apple may drastically alter and swap out the AirPods Max’s “Crown Dial,” which serves as the main user control center, with touch-surface and hand-gesture technologies.
- The likelihood of Apple updating the AirPods Max 2 with an H2 chip is pointing toward a “no-change H1 chip” outcome.
- But if Apple does choose to improve the processor in the forthcoming AirPods Max 2, the headphones might come with more capabilities and enhanced functionality.
When Will AirPods Max 2 Come Out?
Expected Release Date: Second Half 2024 — First Half 2025
Although the AirPods Max 2 release date has not been officially announced, it is anticipated that the device would be unveiled sometime between 2024 and 2025 in conjunction with the 2024 Apple new AirPods launch.
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, worldwide shipments of the redesigned AirPods and AirPods Max are anticipated to start in the second or first half of 2024.
Analyst Jeff Pu also states that he anticipates USB-C to be the main new feature with a late 2024 debut timeline.
He claims that the AirPods Max 2 release date will be assembled in China by Hon Teng and Luxshare ICT. As a major supplier to the Apple supply chain, Luxshare has put together a number of Apple goods, such as the new Vision Pro, Apple Watch, and iPhone.
Any resistance might set out the AirPods Max 2 release date until 2025. Supply chain constraints and shortages of essential components, such as CPUs, have affected many technology products in the modern era.
An Apple staff in-store responded as follows when Techopedia questioned about the AirPods Max 2 release date:
“Though nothing official, there are some whispers that a new iteration of the AirPods Max is in the works.”
What 1st Gen Issues Do the AirPods Max 2 Aim to Fix?
The $549 AirPods Max are advertised as high-end headphones.
But the inadequate carrying case has received a lot of flak for its awkward shape, poor performance, scant security, and incapacity to conceal the headband. Users are left desiring a more cost-effective solution without having to spend more money on aftermarket alternatives as a result.
An additional layer of aggravation is added when an airline’s entertainment systems for the dreaded red-eye flights do not accept conventional audio cables for wired listening.
The unfortunate fact is that the original AirPods Max over-ear headphones were extremely heavy and quickly became uncomfortable after a few hours of use.
And lastly, since the initial iteration, there has been a dependence on a proprietary Lightning port rather than the ubiquitous USB-C. Anticipate Apple to use a universal cable with their upcoming AirPods Max model, despite their reluctance.
Thus, what can we anticipate from the AirPods Max 2 release date?
AirPods Max 2 Tech, Specs, & Features
The USB-C Connector
There is no doubt that the new AirPods Max 2 will require a USB-C connector rather than a Lightning-based one in order to abide with legislation in the European Union.
This connector, specifically a USB Type-C port, is made enable European consumers to charge all of their mobile devices with a single charger. Even though Apple only reluctantly recognizes the EU’s legislation, creating a single model for the world makes sense from a production, cost, and branding perspective—even though it is not required elsewhere.
Will Gesture and Touch-Surface Replace the Crown Dial?
If a patent obtained by Patently Apple is implemented for the next generation of AirPods Max, which are expected to be released in December 2020, it might significantly alter the original and only AirPods Max.
The primary control unit of the original AirPods Max was a “Digital Crown,” an Apple invention that is also crucial to the Apple Watch’s design.
The digital crown on the original AirPods Max 2 can be rotated and depressed like a button to carry out a number of functions, including volume control, playing or halting music, unmuting other people when on a call, ending calls, and skipping tracks.
But according to Apple patent application number 20220038820, the corporation may have been developing touch and gesture technologies to replace the digital crown in the new AirPods Max 2.
The patent describes a technology that provides touch-sensitive surfaces and gesture processing through the employment of many components. The AirPods Max 2 headset will feature a touch-sensitive surface, sensors, memory storage, a CPU, and new software if this patent is applied to it.
Users could do a variety of actions, like calling Siri, adjusting the volume, or ignoring a call, by merely making motions or tapping on a designated surface.
Will the AirPod Max 2 support this technology? We’re not sure. But since this patent expires in 2022, Apple has time to incorporate it into a later line of products.
Hopefully, an H2 Chip
The dual H1 chips that power the current generation of AirPods Max are located in each ear cup. This configuration stands in contrast to Apple’s later use of the H2 chip in the AirPods Pro 2nd generation. It is widely acknowledged that the H2 chip dramatically enhances overall performance, energy efficiency, and audio processing.
Many are arguing online whether Apple would include the H2 chip in the upcoming AirPods Max version as excitement mounts. Although the majority of tech media seem to agree that the new model does not include an H2 chip, there is a noteworthy argument why it would be a mistake to do so.
This viewpoint is shared by several in the tech world, who highlight the possible lost chance to improve device speed and user experience.
By incorporating the H2 processor, the AirPods Max 2 may become more capable and meet the most recent technological benchmarks set by their in-ear equivalents. This update would be a smart step to preserve uniformity throughout Apple’s audio product line as well as an appealing technological improvement.
If the AirPods Max 2 is to be equivalent to its smaller AirPods Pro siblings, it will require H2, which includes:
- Adaptive Noise Control: Adaptive Noise Control combines the features of transparency mode and active noise cancellation. With the help of this feature, users may continue to lose themselves in their music while keeping an ear out for changes in the surrounding noise.
- Personalized Volume: An additional function made feasible by the H2 Chip. Users of AirPods can adjust the media volume according to their preferred level and the surrounding environment thanks to this capability. It’s interesting to note that the technology can figure out what a user prefers to listen to and adjust settings accordingly.
- Conversational Awareness: When a user wears AirPods and is conversing with someone, this H2-driven function recognizes it. It smoothes down the level automatically and amplifies the voices in front of the user. The tech immediately increases the volume and goes back to the pre-set noise control settings as soon as it senses that the discussion is done.
The AirPods Max already have spatial audio because of tiny gyroscopes and sensors that feed into a dynamic head-tracking technology that adapts music. This is one of the other feature additions that the H2 can optimize.
Even though it’s obvious that people would benefit from a processor improvement, Apple is holding its cards tight.
Analyzing Apple’s “New Color” Strategy for the AirPods Max 2
When releasing next generation tech models, there is no less expensive approach than adding a few additional hues.
Technology products don’t need their interior engineers reorganized or their interior components changed in order to add new colors. Furthermore, color variations have the power to boost sales and become quite popular with customers when they strike the appropriate chord. Apple has repeatedly used this tactic, as shown in the introduction of the iPhone Watch, Mac laptops, iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, and many more products.
Given Apple’s history of using the “new-color” business model, there’s a good chance that the new AirPods Max 2 hues and accessory colors will be released.
The New AirPods Max 2 Case
The case for the AirPods Max is something that users have said they don’t like about them. Many people have problems with the case, including the way it looks, the fact that it doesn’t fully protect the headphones because it doesn’t hold the whole headset, and charge problems.
Fans of AirPods Pro, on the other hand, love that their headphones and case can handle dust, sweat, and water. The AirPods Max 2, on the other hand, don’t have these features.
To make the Max 2 headset waterproof and dust-proof, a big and expensive design change would have to be made. Many people would have been happy if Apple had updated the case to look more like the original AirPods Case after hearing what users had to say.
What Will the Battery Life of the AirPods Max 2 Be?
The 20-hour battery life of the AirPods Max is not as good as the 30 hours of listening time of the AirPods 3rd generation and the more than 24 hours of listening time of the AirPods 2nd generation.
The new AirPods have longer battery lives in part because the H2 Chip uses computer techniques to make the battery life more efficient. Even though the AirPods Max have two H1 chips, they still can’t match the battery life of H2 chips.
The Apple Max 2’s battery life would obviously get a lot better if it came with the H2 chip.
But if you want to make batteries last longer in the next generation of goods, you don’t have to add faster processors. If you need to, you can just add more battery capacity.
The Price of the AirPods Max 2
Estimated Price: $449 – $549
The AirPods Max costs $549 from Apple right now, which is a lot more than the $169 price of the AirPods 3rd version. There are a few reasons why the AirPods Max 2 will cost more than any other AirPod. One is that it has more parts and is bigger.
The new Apple over-ear headphones might cost a little less, though. Over the past few years, Apple has also been making low-entry (cheap) versions of its most popular products to bring in new customers and markets.
Bloomberg noted in September 2023 that this strategy works well for Apple, as seen by the high demand for its least expensive iPhone 15.
Also, Apple has used a low-price plan to boost sales of the AirPods Max more than once. It was reported by Yahoo in 2022 that Apple sold them for $449, and Variety reported in 2023 that Apple sold the AirPods Max for the same sales price.
A number of price cuts for the AirPods Max have led some experts to say that the new AirPods Max 2 might be less expensive than the first version.
But since sales of the AirPods Max were steady even though they cost $549, a cheap AirPods Max 2 doesn’t seem likely. Apple has kept the price of its first- and second-generation AirPods Pro the same, according to the media, including Sound Guys. This means that it makes sense for the first- and second-generation AirPods Max to have the same price as well.
Even so, this doesn’t mean that there won’t be any more “promotional price” promotions for the Apple AirPods Max 2.
The New AirPods Max 2: Bridging Expectations with Reality
If you don’t want to be disappointed, you might want to hold off on getting too excited about the latest reports and speculation about the AirPods Max 2.
People who are more realistic about their opinions think that the AirPods Max could come out in September along with the iPhone 16. Moving to a USB-C port is a step toward charging on all devices, but it’s important to keep in mind that big steps forward in technology, like Adaptive Audio, might not happen with this release.
A lot of people think that the AirPods Max 2 will still have the H1 chip. This means that the second-generation AirPods Pro will probably be the only ones with this cool new feature that adjusts sounds based on how loud other sounds are.
Some might see the upcoming AirPods Max 2’s lack of such a feature as a missed chance to make them better, but it’s important to understand the plan at play. Apple seems to want to keep things the same and make sure people are happy with the current AirPods Max specs, so they chose a more conservative version.
Some people may want the cutting-edge experience that Adaptive Audio promises, but Apple’s choice shows that most people are happy with how the AirPods Max work and where they stand in the market right now. The AirPods Max might not change much in terms of how they work, but the type of port they use might change, and there may be more color choices.
The Bottom Line
The development and design of the AirPods Max 2 are kept very secret, just like most Apple goods. The people who are officially working on the project are the only ones who know what the new headphones look like and how they work. What happens in Cupertino at Apple HQ stays in Cupertino.
But it looks like a USB-C charger, a consistent pricing plan, and new accessory colors are all going to be a part of the future.
If Apple decides to change the H1 chips with H2 chips, the new Max 2 could have a lot of benefits, such as a longer battery life and features that are already in the AirPods, like Conversational Awareness, Adaptive Noise Control, and Personalized Volume.
Apple might change the case for the AirPods Max, but no one knows for sure. If they do, it would be a big improvement that users would love.
Last but not least, Apple could surprise everyone by releasing new technology for the Max 2 that makes motions and touch surfaces better.
Apple will say for sure about all of these improvements when they release the AirPods Max 2. Everyone, including Apple fans, will have to wait until then.
Conclusion
Finally, tech fans and Apple fans alike are getting more and more excited about the AirPods Max 2 release date. Apple hasn’t officially said when the AirPods Max 2 release date will be, but leaks and reports say it might happen later this year. People are looking forward to the AirPods Max 2 release date because they think the sound quality, battery life, and general performance will all get better. Stay tuned for official information from Apple as the release date gets closer, and get ready for what looks like it will be a great addition to the AirPods Max line.
FAQS
Q1. When is the AirPods Max 2 release date?
A. The exact AirPods Max 2 release date has not been confirmed, but it is anticipated to be announced later this year.
Q2. What new features can we expect in the AirPods Max 2?
A. The AirPods Max 2 is expected to feature improved audio quality, enhanced battery life, and possibly new design elements.
Q3. Will the AirPods Max 2 have better noise cancellation?
A. Yes, the AirPods Max 2 is rumored to have upgraded noise cancellation technology for a more immersive listening experience.
Q4. How much will the AirPods Max 2 cost?
A. Pricing details for the AirPods Max 2 are not yet available, but it is likely to be in a similar range as the original AirPods Max.