Apple’s new AirPods Max 2 wireless headphones are scheduled to hit ears in the U.S. and more than 30 other countries and regions in early April, will have a firmware update ready to apply right out of the box. The updated firmware is version number 8E251.
The AirPods Max 2 include the H2 chip, an upgrade over the H1. The H2 brings several new features like Live Translation, Adaptive Audio, Loud Sound Reduction, Voice Isolation, and more. The new firmware likely optimizes some of these new features.
While there isn’t any way to manually update the firmware of the earbuds, the new software will be installed over the air while the AirPods are connected via Bluetooth to an iOS device.
If you place the AirPods in their case, connect them to a USB-C power source via its cable, and then pair them to an iPhone or iPad, they should update in 30 minutes or so.
How to Check Your AirPods Firmware
Here’s how to check the firmware version of your AirPods Pro earbuds:
- Make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone or iPad.
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap “General.”
- Tap “About.”
- Scroll down to “AirPods,” and tap that.
- Read the number next to “Firmware Version.”
The new AirPods Max 2 brings improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), better sound quality, and intelligent features.
The new headphones are powered by Apple’s H2 chip, offering features like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation for the first time on the AirPods Max. The new headphones also provide useful features for podcasters, musicians, and content creators, with useful features like studio-quality audio recording and camera remote.
The H2 works with new computational audio algorithms to deliver ANC that’s up to 1.5x more effective than the previous generation. Meanwhile, a new digital signal processing algorithm optimized for H2 and the microphone array on AirPods Max provide transparency that sounds even more natural.
A new high dynamic range amplifier provides cleaner audio, as well as Spatial Audio that make content sound better than ever, offering improved localization of instruments, more accurate and consistent bass response, and more natural-sounding mids and highs.
The new AirPods Max support 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio when connected with the included USB-C cable. Using the USB-C cable, AirPods Max 2 allows musicians to create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking.
For gamers using AirPods Max 2 and playing in Game Mode, iOS, macOS, and iPadOS games feel even more responsive and immersive, thanks to reduced wireless audio latency.
If you haven’t already pre-ordered your AirPods Max 2, you can take advantage of the Midnight color option being available for $529.00, down from the usual $549.00.
While $2o isn’t a huge score, it’s better than paying full price, and it’s the lowest price we’ve seen so far.
(The link in this article is an affiliate link, meaning if you buy, I get a small cut of the action, but at no cost to you.)
