Apple upgrades have been quite controversial in recent times, especially with the latest launch of the iPhone. Yet crowds go crazy every time the company promises to bring out ‘something new’. Call it brand charisma or debatable consumerism, one thing is for sure: music lovers are going to go wild after the AirPods Max 2nd Generation this year!
But the question is; should they? For all you know, this new version could be as disastrously useless as the Pods 3. At the same time, it could be as revolutionary as the Pods Pro 2. So which side of the coin is it; the good or the bad; there sure isn’t any middle ground to settle here.
Being experts on this subject matter, we’ve decided to conclude this query through facts (and rumors) discharged by insiders. This way you can be a better judge of whether you should or should not buy the new Apple Airpods. So, let’s get into it.
Airpods Max 2 - Overview & Launch Date
The Airpods Max Gen 2 are eighth in line of the earphone series and second to the headset duo. Like all advanced Gens, this baby is also considered an improved variation of the Max Gen 1. However, the 1st Gen isn’t that big of a deal in the market right now, thanks to its outdated processor and mediocre sonic quality.
So consider the second variation a total revamp with a new system in the old structure. These were launched in Late 2024 just as they are called the AirPods Max 2024.
Updates in the Second-Gen Airpods Max
Color Options
The thing with Apple is that it often tries to hide its flaws behind design aesthetics. This time, it’s not going to happen because the Gen 2 is an exact replica of the Gen 1, in terms of build. However, there is going to be a slightly wider variety of colors to choose from this time.
The original product comes in only five colors; space gray, silver, sky blue, green, and pink - the classics! Customers have the option to customize from the 25 color combinations. Generation 2 will be available in these plus four new hues; midnight blue, purple, orange, and starlight, with over 100 combinations to choose from. These colors are predicted to be all the rage this year, and we can sense dupes in the making.
Charging Options
Users of the iOS ecosystem can relate to the problem of finding a compatible charger in a crowd. The lightning cable has become a strain on the neck of users, likely because they have to carry it everywhere. The same was the case with the Gen 1; either you charge it with a lightning cable or you don’t.
Thankfully, the biggest upgrade in the Max 2 is the replacement of lightning cable charging by USB-C cables, which are easily accessible in public places. So no longer will you have to carry multiple chargers as an Android user with these headsets. A certain rumor even says that there will be both lightning and USB-C options available but we’ll pass this news as unbelievable, at least for now.
Noise Cancellation
The noise cancellation of the Airpods Max Gen 1 was considered decent and even good by most users at the start. But then the ANC of the Pods Pro 2 proved everybody wrong, labeling the original as ‘trashy’. Thank the makers that these headphones have a mimicked sound-blocking structure of the Pods Pro 2 and 4 ANC.
Its built-in microphones assess the ambient waves and retaliate with an artificially generated sound wave of its own to cancel the incoming one. This leads to an anti-noise and calm listening experience. The best part is the transparency mode which switches off the noise cancellation so you can be aware of your surroundings.
Voice Isolation
Despite no major changes in the new design, rumors lead us to believe that Apple will be making a few changes in the cushioning. It’s speculated that the new ear padding would be lighter, and comfier, but denser than the previous one. And the major pro of dense cushioning is voice isolation.
Since the headphone cup wraps around your ear, a lot of the distant voices are minimized, but you can still sense the yelling from nearby. The advanced cushioning will block this type of unpredictable human voice, cutting down distractions.
Processor Swap
One of the most important features of an Airpod is its processor, which processes the major functions. The Previous model of the Airpods Max had a Headphone H1 Chip which was overall pretty solid. However, it had a few downsides like limited Siri interactions, weak connectivity, and poor inter-switching between devices.
Luckily, the newer version is equipped with a state-of-the-art H2 Headphone Chip which works against all the negatives of the H1. Its wireless audio latency is spot-on and the acoustics are also more improved. The voice-calling performance is extraordinary and we get all this from the performance of this chip while embedded in the Pods Pro (Gen-2).
Sound Quality
Sonic quality is the deciding factor in whether one headphone is better than the other. While the sound quality of the Max-1 is clear and comfortable to hear, the bass is not as deep as one would like. This low action cancels out certain frequencies and leads to limited pitch, due to which the previous model users had to rely on high volume.
The Max 2nd Gen is said (by experts) to have a deeper, crisper bass. This leads to amazing voice quality with realistic notes, extra depth, and more impact. Not to mention, the bass-full sound profile rocks the rock genre of music.
Final Verdict
Is the Airpods Max worth the hefty price tag? We don’t know. Is the Airpods Max 2nd Generation better than the 1st? Most definitely! And we highly recommend giving it a try once it sees the daylight. For starters, you’re getting noise cancellation and voice isolation like no other. If that doesn’t impress you, the H2 chip alone is a huge upgrade from the one in the original version. So, if you’re used to wearing a headset while performing your routine activities, this upgrade is going to be game-changing for you.
