Apple’s newly announced AirPods Max 2 are already seeing their first price cut, with the premium headphones selling for about $19 off their $549 retail price just a day after preorders opened.
The modest discount comes as retailers begin competing for early adopters, a familiar pattern for high-end Apple accessories following launch. While the savings are relatively small, there’s no reason to pay more than necessary.
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AirPods Max 2: Apple premium headphones
Powered by the H2 chip, AirPods Max 2 delivers improved high-fidelity audio with deep bass, expansive mids, and crisp highs for an unparalleled listening experience.
Up to 1.5x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation, fully immersing you in every sound.
The AirPods Max 2 mark Apple’s first major update to its over-ear headphones since the original debuted in 2020, and they arrive with a familiar look but significantly upgraded internals. Powered by Apple’s H2 chip, the new model delivers improved active noise cancellation — up to 1.5 times more effective than the previous generation — along with enhancements to transparency mode and adaptive audio features.
Sound quality has also been upgraded with a new high dynamic range amplifier and improved computational audio, resulting in clearer highs, richer mids and deeper bass. The headphones now support lossless audio over USB-C and introduce features carried over from newer in-ear AirPods, including live translation, conversation awareness and personalized volume adjustments.
Despite these improvements, Apple largely kept the design unchanged, retaining the aluminum ear cups, mesh headband and signature digital crown controls. Battery life also remains at around 20 hours with noise cancellation enabled.
Already discounted just days after launch
With shipments set to begin April 2, the early $19 discount is far from dramatic, but it offers a small incentive for buyers eager to get Apple’s latest — and most expensive — AirPods without paying full price.
So head to Amazon for this AirPods Max 2 deal. Don’t go to Apple or Best Buy, where you’ll pay full price.
Powered by the H2 chip, AirPods Max 2 delivers improved high-fidelity audio with deep bass, expansive mids, and crisp highs for an unparalleled listening experience.
Up to 1.5x more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation, fully immersing you in every sound.
Or save with 2024 AirPods Max deal
With the 2026 version now taking over, it’s no surprise the 2024 version that replaced the lightning port with USB-C can be found with considerable discounts. Amazon has especially low prices, though these vary by color.
Consider the blue option at $423 — that’s 23% off!
Apple's AirPods Max are among the best-sounding consumer headphones you can buy. They offer pro-level active noise cancellation and advanced features like Adaptive EQ and Personalized Spatial Audio. Treat your ears!
- Superb sound
- Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation
- Long battery life (and now USB-C)
- Much-hated Smart Case
- On the heavy side
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That’s because he’s a “tablet first” type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don’t try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
