Apple launches AirPods Max 2 (finally!) – Australian price and what’s new
After 6 long years, Apple has finally unveiled the AirPods Max 2, now with better active noise cancellation.
There was no teaser or event. Apple simply announced the new AirPods Max 2 on its website and sent out a media blast.
Before we get into the features, here's a quick run-through of its pricing and availability.
How much do the AirPods Max 2 cost in Australia?
You can get the AirPods Max 2 for $999 in the colours blue, purple, midnight, starlight and orange.
You can order the latest model via the Apple Store website or app from 26 March 2026.
This is the same price as when the AirPods Max originally launched.
I haven't tried them yet, but they are definitely on the expensive side.
For example, I love the Sony WH-1000XM6 - the noise cancellation in particular is fantastic. However, when on sale, you can get them for under $600.
What's new with the AirPods Max 2?
The original AirPods Max launched in 2020. The only major update since then was the switch to a USB‑C charging port in 2024.
That's why the AirPods Max 2 have felt so overdue.
The new model finally brings features we've come to expect from Apple's earbuds.
Here's what you can expect:
- Active noise cancellation gets a boost with the new H2 chip. Apple says it's up to 1.5× more effective and delivers an even more natural‑sounding Transparency mode. I'm not a big fan of the Transparency mode on the earbuds, so it would be interesting to see if the feature is any better on the over-ear headphones.
- Enhanced sound quality, which is "clean, rich, and acoustically detailed - and when combined with capabilities like Personalised Spatial Audio, AirPods Max 2 deliver a profoundly immersive experience."
- There's a new high dynamic range amplifier that offers cleaner audio.
- Apple says Spatial Audio sounds better than ever, with clearer instrument placement, more accurate bass, and more natural mids and highs.
- You can get Apple Intelligence features such as Adaptive Audio, Live Translation, Personalised Volume and Conversation Awareness (so you don't have to fumble or take your headphones off to talk to someone who starts a conversation).
- Lower wireless audio latency is expected to make games feel more responsive and immersive on AirPods Max 2 in Game Mode across iOS, macOS, and iPadOS.
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Get a $300 Visa gift card when you sign up to any Optus iPhone 17 plan through Finder.
You can check out the plans in our table.
Choose one, hit the "GO TO SITE" button, create a Finder account, and you'll be redirected to Optus's website to finish the sign up process.
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