The New AirPods Max 2 Are $40 Off Right Now

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Credit: Ian Moore

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The AirPods Max finally got their anticipated upgrade—and no, I'm not talking about the 2024 refresh when they added a USB-C and called it a "new" version. These are the AirPods Max 2, with improvements that warrant putting that "2" after the name. Now, the new AirPods Max 2 are getting their first decent discount, currently $509.99 (originally $549.99), their lowest price yet after their recent release, according to price-tracking tools. Yes, they're still expensive, but these are Apple's latest flagship headphones and the best Bluetooth headphones an Apple user can buy.

The biggest upgrades on the AirPods Max 2 are the new "dynamic range" amplifier and Apple's H2 chip (no longer the H1). But there are many other upgrades that are also worth noting. The amplifier makes the audio cleaner and bass thumpier with virtually no distortion, as well as better instrument separation, which makes spatial audio a better experience for music or movies. The H2 chip improves many features, notably Apple's Voice Isolation feature, which uses the headphone's microphone to isolate your voice in noisy environments. Transparency mode, spatial audio, and ANC are all improved as well.

One of the most exciting features is the addition of Live Translation, which is exactly as it sounds—you can hear real-time translation of what someone is saying in another language right through your headphones. You can also control your iPhone camera with buttons on the AirPods. The ANC is now adaptive, meaning it will increase/decrease the level depending on the ambient noise around you. There are many more features you can read in detail on CNET's review.

If you're looking for the best and latest headphones you can seamlessly use with your iPhone or Apple products, get the AirPods Max 2. They don't go on sale very often.