AirPods Max 2 features
The first model of Apple’s current AirPods series is the AirPods Max. After releasing the AirPods Max in December 2020, it has been over three years, and reports of the company releasing a new model the following year have only lately started to surface.
Reliable Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman claims that Apple plans to release a new version of the AirPods Max at the end of 2024. Here are our expectations for the upcoming iteration of Apple’s high-end over-ear headphones, followed by a few anticipated but unconfirmed features for the AirPods Max 2.
AirPods Max 2024: What to Anticipate
USB-C
Gurman claims that Apple is going to switch out the Lightning port on the current version of AirPods Max with a USB-C port. This will add uniformity to the company’s AirPods lineup and guarantee that the headphones meet European laws.
Naturally, the AirPods Max 2 will come with a USB-C to USB-C charging cable instead of a Lightning wire. Apple will need to provide a USB-C to 3.5mm audio accessory connector for AirPods Max 2 users.
Bluetooth version 5.3
The most recent Apple Watch models, the iPhone 15 range, and the AirPods Pro 2 already support the Bluetooth 5.3 standard. All Mac models introduced in 2023 also support it. Thus, it’s very likely that the newest Bluetooth standard will also be included in the second-generation AirPods Max.
Bluetooth 5.3 improves energy efficiency and connection reliability. The specification includes LE Audio, although Apple hasn’t introduced it to any of its products yet.
Fresh Shades
Fresh colors for the second generation AirPods Max will be available from Apple, per a Bloomberg story from October 2023. Though at this point it’s unclear what those hues could be.
Currently, Space Gray, Silver, Green, Sky Blue, and Pink are the available colors for AirPods Max; however, numerous color combinations are possible thanks to the removable ear cushions. Apple charges $69 for a set of stand-alone ear cushions.
AirPods Max 2024: What to Expect
Although Apple’s plans might always change between now and when the AirPods Max 2 are released in late 2024, the most recent speculations indicate that no further significant changes are anticipated for the device. These are the enhancements and modifications that we hope Apple will eventually implement.
H2 Chip
It would seem logical that Apple’s own silicon processor, the H2 chip, intended especially for earbuds and headphones, would be included in the AirPods Max 2. The H2 chip allows for superior computational audio, which boosts battery life and energy efficiency in the current version of AirPods Pro.
Gurman’s most recent report indicates that Apple may not be planning to incorporate the H2 chip, even though it was first introduced with the AirPods Pro. This would mean that the AirPods Max 2 would not have H2-specific features like Adaptive Audio, Personalized Volume, and better noise cancellation and battery life.
U2 Chip and Accurate Location
The most recent iPhone 15 series, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 all use Apple’s U2 Ultra Wideband processor, which enables Precision Finding in the Find My app.
Not only do the latest AirPods Max lack the U1 chip from the previous generation, but they also only offer little compatibility for Find My. Therefore, if Apple were to include a U2 chip in the AirPods Max 2, it would make it possible to locate the headphones considerably more precisely when they are close by.
Redesigned Smart Case
When Apple first revealed the $549 AirPods Max, the included Smart Case generated a lot of online discussion due to its peculiar design and inadequate overall protection in comparison to other high-end headphones’ traditional hard covers.
Apple’s much-discussed case gave rise to a deluge of memes that mockingly linked it to a variety of objects, including lingerie, handbags, and even bodily parts. Although a patent for Apple suggests that a future model might include a case that provides more conventional portable housing, there are no reports that the company intends to change the case.
