After years without internal changes, the next upgrade carries more weight than usual.
Apple’s most expensive headphones are also its most neglected. The AirPods Max launched in December 2020 with an H1 chip from 2019. The only refresh since then swapped in USB-C and new colors but left the internals untouched.
Now, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects a lighter version to enter mass production in 2027, setting up a seven-year gap between real upgrades. For a $549 product, that wait has no precedent.
Here’s what the leaks say, what users actually want, and whether $549 still makes sense.
When Is the AirPods Max 2 Release Date?
If the next real AirPods Max upgrade does not enter mass production until 2027, the soonest you would realistically see a launch is late 2027 or early 2028.
That timeline comes from supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who shared the prediction on May 18, 2025. His supply-chain calls are widely followed, which is why this forecast is worth taking seriously, even though it is still just a forecast.
What makes the 2027 window feel especially slow is what has happened around it. In the time the AirPods Max have gone without a meaningful internal update, Sony has shipped three generations of flagship noise-canceling headphones.
Apple, meanwhile, has not confirmed anything. Bloomberg reported in November 2024 that the company had no concrete plans for a major update
“Too popular for Apple to stop selling them, and not popular enough for the company to invest a ton of time and money into creating a new version,” said Mark Gurman.
So for now, Kuo’s 2027 prediction is the only specific timeline on the table.
What Will the AirPods Max 2 Look Like?
At 386 grams, the AirPods Max re heavier than most premium competitors by a wide margin. Sony’s WH-1000XM6 and Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra sit around 254 grams, so the Max can feel noticeably more fatiguing over time.
That weight gap comes from Apple’s materials choice. The aluminum cups and stainless steel components give the Max a build quality that plastic rivals do not match. However, this same construction also makes them one of the least forgiving options for extended listening.
Owners have also reported that the headband mesh can stretch after about a year, eventually pushing the weight onto two harder bands that press against the head.
If Apple does change the physical design, the only credible detail so far is that it will be lighter.
Ming-Chi Kuo has said a lighter version is expected to enter mass production in 2027. But, he did not attach a target weight or describe what Apple would change to get there.
Beyond that, several basics are still missing for a $549 flagship, and there is no solid reporting that Apple plans to address them in the next version. For one, the AirPods Max still lack any official water-resistance rating, and as of early 2026 they are still built around a 2019-era H1 chip.
What Features Can We Expect From the AirPods Max 2?
Outside of a lighter build, Apple has not confirmed any new features for the next AirPods Max. Most of what’s being discussed falls into two categories: features that already exist on cheaper AirPods, and upgrades users assume must arrive after such a long gap.
Here are what we’re expecting:
Newer chip, better processing
The AirPods Max still rely on Apple’s 2019 H1 chip, even though the AirPods Pro 2 moved to H2 in 2022. That gap shows up in missing features the Max should already have, including Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Personalized Volume, and Voice Isolation.
Noise cancellation is another place where the aging silicon shows. The Max have been running essentially the same ANC tuning since launch, while competitors like Sony continue to refine processing and microphone arrays with each generation.
A newer platform would also modernize the wireless side. The Max are still stuck on Bluetooth 5.0, and moving forward would likely improve efficiency and enable interaction features already common across Apple’s audio lineup.
There is also a chance Apple skips H2 altogether. If the Max 2 arrive after the rumored AirPods Pro 4 in 2026, they would more plausibly debut with Apple’s next-generation chip instead.
Improved battery life
Right now, the AirPods Max aRight now, the AirPods Max are rated for 20 hours with ANC enabled. That is a weak number in 2026 for a premium model, especially next to Sony’s 37 hours and the Sennheiser Momentum 4’s 56-hour battery life.
A chip refresh and efficiency gains could narrow that gap, but Apple has not signaled any battery target, and no reliable leak has tied a specific figure to the next generation.
Lossless audio improvements
If there is one feature request that dominates discussions, it is wireless lossless. Apple has not acknowledged a plan for it, and the technical reality is that Bluetooth AAC tops out well below what true lossless needs.
Apple did enable 24-bit/48 kHz lossless playback over USB-C via a March 2025 firmware update, but that is still wired.
Wireless lossless would likely require new hardware support or a proprietary wireless approach, and until something concrete leaks, it remains the biggest “want” with the least certainty.
What Do Users Want From the AirPods Max 2?
Kuo predicted a lighter version. Forum users aren’t sure that’s the right priority. Reactions in MacRumors discussion threads reveal a community with a longer wish list than any single leak can satisfy.
- Lower price. Many posters argue the current asking price is the bigger problem than comfort, especially with internals that have not meaningfully changed since 2020.
- Wireless Apple Lossless. This is the most repeated request across threads. Users want true wireless lossless support, not just wired lossless over USB-C.
- Updated chip and feature parity. Commenters frequently point to the missing H2-era features and expect the Max to catch up with cheaper AirPods at minimum.
- Lighter weight. Still a common request, and the one item Kuo actually backed, but not always treated as the top priority.
- Folding design. Travel comes up often, with users wanting a hinge or collapsing frame instead of a fixed, non-folding build.
- A real case. The Smart Case is widely seen as inadequate protection for a premium product, and a fully enclosed design is an easy “quality” fix.
Some reactions also underline how long the wait feels.
How Much Will the AirPods Max 2 Cost?
Apple still sells the AirPods Max at $549, and there are no credible pricing leaks for a second-generation model. However, Apple rarely moves its list price, even when retailers temporarily drop the street price. So, discounts may come and go, but the official number tends to stay put.
The bigger issue is what that price buys right now. Sony’s WH-1000XM6 sits at $449 and Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra at $429, while Apple’s Max remain positioned above both.
Without a meaningful internal update, that premium gets harder to justify each year.
If Apple keeps the AirPods Max 2 at $549, the next version will need more than a lighter frame to earn it.
A chip upgrade, stronger battery life, and a clearer answer on lossless audio are the kinds of changes people expect when a flagship goes this long without a true refresh.
But if those do not arrive, the only way to make the value argument easier is to bring the price closer to the rest of the category.