AirPods Max 2: all the rumors, possible release dates and what we want to see

AirPods Max in green, shown from above, looking past the mesh headband to the earcups.

Apple's AirPods Max 2 have been tipped to land, strongly rumored and all of the other phrases we use to say "we've heard a bit more about them, they must be here soon" for a long time now. And that is because 2020, when the original Apple AirPods Max launched, is decades ago in wireless headphone years.

And guess what? Apple's 'Awe inspiring' event on September 9, 2025, came and went with no sign of them, again. Harrumph – although we did see the new AirPods Pro 3 and Apple claims you'll get an "over-ear type experience" from those (we'll reserve judgement on that, but it's quite the claim) so it's not all bad news.