As mentioned above, Apple is working on touch controls for AirPods Max 2, which would be a brand new feature to the headphones. Should Apple decide to tweak the case too, we could be looking at a way to turn the headphones off, without the daft magnets in the case and a “low power” mode. Evidence of this concept can be seen in the final ‌AirPods Max‌ design. Users can easily remove the headband from AirPods Max without any disassembly of the headphones. To do this, users simply need to remove the magnetic ear cushions, fold the earcups flat, and insert a SIM card ejector tool into a small hole above the speaker. Apple's AirPods Max launched over two years ago, but rumors about a successor remain thin on the ground, so what exactly can we expect from ‌‌AirPods Max‌‌ 2? Bloomberg's Mark Gurman seems to echo Kuo's assessment, stating in a recent October 2023 newsletter that as part of Apple's new AirPods product roadmap, the AirPods Max would gain not only new colourways but USB-C charging, too, in late 2024. This would be in line with the iPhone 15 and AirPods Pro 2 switching to USB-C ports in 2023, but it's still unclear whether this means it's the current Max model (which hasn't been updated since 2020) will get these light updates or if they will be integrated as part of the new 2nd generation model. According to a patent Apple holds, the company is working on touch controls rather than the Digital Crown. Apparently, this feature was intended for AirPods Max the first time around, but Apple couldn’t get it quite right. Assuming Apple is working on this again, expect the loss of the Digital Crown to be a big design differentiator.

That's about it on the rumours front, but here are four other features we'd like to see on the AirPods Max 2: Yet another patent (spotting a trend?) explains that Apple is working on new optical audio transmission technology. It’s a fancy new alternative to Bluetooth, which would allow Apple to deliver lossless audio wirelessly. Other alternatives for lossless audio support include an AirPlay-esque feature. While it seems likely that the next-generation ‌AirPods Max‌ will gain many of the above features, there have been surprisingly few rumors about the device. In May 2021, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple was not actively working on second-generation AirPods Max, and previous talk of a color options refresh for the first-generation seems to have diminished. Finally, there’s a reason to suspect that the AirPods Max 2 could get touch controls. A patent application suggests Apple is working on a way to process gestures on a touch-sensitive surface. Many headphones and wireless earbuds have intuitive touch controls, so it would make sense that they could come on the next version of AirPods Max. Apple AirPods Max 2: What we want to see At least one new AirPods product has launched every year since 2019. To date, Apple seems to wait two and a half to three years to update each AirPods device and, since 2019, a different AirPods product line has been updated each year. According to this pattern, ‌AirPods Max‌ should be the next AirPods device to receive a refresh, perhaps somewhere between June and November 2023.In fact, it took me years to slowly research and upgrade both my own Hifi and headphone systems. I now understand and truly appreciate that, better sound quality is such a wondrous and joyous experience. And as with most things in life, higher quality comes with a cost - although at a certain price point and above, the difference starts to become a lot more granular and one of personal taste. And of course there are the brands that try price gouge but they invariably don’t last long. Power button: While the AirPods Max have a low-power mode for when they’re paused for several minutes or stowed away in the magnetic smart case, we wish there was a way to completely power down the AirPods Max. For the AirPods Max 2, we’d like a real power button. But who knows? Maybe Apple can make the change to the existing AirPods Max with a software update.

Currently, the AirPods Max earn plenty of style points thanks to sleek aluminum cups, extendable arm bands and a mesh headband. They’re a bit hefty compared to the Sony WH-1000XM5 vs. AirPods Max, but we like how substantial they feel. More supported audio formats: In terms of sound resolution and detail, the AirPods Max best output is Apple's current wireless codec, AAC. Rival companies like Sony, though, have implemented wireless transmission codecs for higher sound quality, and then of course there's the new aptX Lossless Audio codec already supported by some mobile devices. Our kids' and junior Air Max trainers are designed for running wild. Whether they're taking their first steps or heading out on adventures, our Air Max junior shoes are built to help them soar. Inspired by our adult-sized icons, these are the designs you love—rebooted for the next generation. We think this is quite late for AirPods Max 2 and we’re quite convinced that the reality is somewhere in between. If we had to bet on it, we’d say that late 2023 is still a likely scenario – despite them not arriving alongside the iPhone 15 in September. Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Compatible device and internet access required. Mobile data charges may apply.

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AirPods Pro‌ (second-generation): September 2022 (two years and 11 months after previous generation) Finally, who could talk about AirPods Max without mentioning the controversial case? While designed for convenience, the bra/purse-like design has received much criticism. Admittedly, the case does look a little silly and doesn’t offer much in the way of protection. Works with iPhone 8 or later and iPod touch (7th generation) with the latest version of iOS; and 12.9‑inch iPad Pro (2nd generation or later), 11‑inch iPad Pro, 10.5‑inch iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation or later), iPad Air (3rd generation or later) and iPad mini (5th generation or later) with the latest version of iPadOS. AirPods (3rd generation) are sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise, and are IPX4 rated. Sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions.