Apple appears to have left its most expensive headphones, the AirPods Max, as the least technically advanced in its lineup, according to recent developments in their product range.
During Apple’s September Glowtime event, CEO Tim Cook introduced significant updates across the AirPods lineup. VP of hardware engineering Kate Bergeron was brought on stage to make the big announcements. With four years since the debut of the AirPods Max, there was an expectation that these flagship headphones would receive substantial upgrades.
However, the spotlight was directed toward the AirPods 4, which are Apple’s least expensive AirPods at $129. These now come with the option of noise cancellation for an additional $50. Among the new features, Bergeron highlighted the integration of the H2 chip, Apple’s most advanced headphone chip, first introduced in the AirPods Pro 2 in 2022.
The H2 chip brings significant enhancements, including improved noise cancellation capabilities, which Apple claims can block twice as much noise compared to the original Pro model. For the AirPods 4, Apple has stated that the H2 chip improves sound quality substantially and unlocks a range of intelligent features, enhancing how users make calls, interact with Siri, and more.
These advancements are attributed to the machine-learning capabilities of the H2 chip. Bergeron detailed several of these features during her presentation, including Siri Interactions that allow users to respond with nods or shakes, Adaptive Audio that adjusts noise cancellation and transparency modes based on the user’s environment, and Conversation Awareness that lowers audio during conversations and raises it afterward.
Additional features include Personalized Audio, shorter Siri summoning times, and Voice Isolation for clearer calls.
In contrast, the AirPods Max, which still use the older H1 chip, received minimal updates. Apple introduced new colors and a USB-C connection, omitting many of the cutting-edge features now incorporated into the cheaper AirPods 4.
