The Cost of Apple’s (AAPL) New AirPods Might Shock You

FomoAnxiety · 2026-03-16T19:49:13+00:00

Apple has launched the second-generation AirPods Max headphones, priced at $549. Featuring enhanced noise cancellation, an H2 chip, and new functionalities like Live Translation, they will be available for order from March 25.

FomoAnxiety

2026-03-16 19:49:13

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Consumer electronics giant Apple AAPL +1.03% ▲ has unveiled its latest AirPods, and the tiny head phones come with a big price tag that might shock some consumers.

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The second generation premium AirPods Max over-ear headphones have a starting price of $549 and hit the market more than five years after the first version’s launch back in 2020. Apple says the expensive price tag is warranted as the new AirPods Max come with several new features.

Highlights include improved noise cancellation to compete in the premium headphones space. The newest AirPods are also powered by Apple’s in-house H2 microchip, which runs all of the company’s current AirPod devices.

Release Date for the New AirPods

the new headphones will be available to order from March 25 in more than 30 countries, with retail availability beginning early next month, the company said.

Upgrades to the AirPods Max 2 include better active noise cancellation, an improved microphone system and a range of new features including Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness and Live Translation.

Live translation, first introduced on the AirPods Pro 3 in September, enables users to translate in-person conversations across languages using Apple Intelligence, the company’s artificial intelligence platform.

AirPods Max 2 also supports high-resolution lossless audio when connected via USB-C, targeting music creators and professional users who require higher fidelity audio, Apple said.

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