Apple AirPods Max 2: A3454 · USB-C
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro: Galaxy Buds2 Pro (2022); Graphite, White and Bora Purple. The Galaxy Buds Pro (2021), Buds2 and Buds3 Pro are separate models.
| Specification | Apple AirPods Max 2 | Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2026 | 2022 |
| Model | A3454 Apple | — |
| Announcement and availability | Announced 16 March 2026; orders from 25 March; deliveries from early April Apple | — |
| Colours | Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Orange Apple | — |
| Chip | Apple H2 in each ear cup Apple | — |
| Driver and amplifier | Apple-designed dynamic driver; custom high-dynamic-range amplifier; dual neodymium ring magnet motor Apple | — |
| Noise control | ANC, Transparency mode and Adaptive Audio; up to 1.5x more effective than the previous generation Apple | — |
| Microphones | Nine microphones: eight for ANC, three for voice pickup (two shared) Apple | — |
| Sensors | Optical, position, case-detect and accelerometer in each cup; gyroscope in the left cup only Apple | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, Hall, touch, Voice Pickup Unit (VPU) Samsung |
| Controls | Digital Crown (volume, play/pause, calls, Siri) and a listening mode button Apple | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 Apple | — |
| Wired audio | Lossless and ultra-low-latency audio over USB-C; 24-bit / 48 kHz Apple | — |
| Analogue input | Analogue sources via a USB-C to 3.5 mm audio cable Apple | — |
| Battery life | Up to 20 hours of listening with ANC on Apple | — |
| Quick charge | About 1.5 hours of listening from 5 minutes of charging Apple | — |
| Charging | USB-C; ultra-low-power state when stored in the Smart Case Apple | — |
| Dimensions | 168.6 × 83.4 × 187.3 mm (width × depth × height), including cushions Apple | — |
| Weight | 386.2 g; Smart Case 134.5 g Apple | — |
| Build and cushions | Anodised aluminium ear cups; breathable knit-mesh canopy; stainless steel telescoping arms; memory foam and mesh-textile cushions Apple | — |
| Water and dust resistance | None Apple | — |
| Audio features | Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Personalized Volume, Loud Sound Reduction, Adaptive EQ; Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking Apple | — |
| Live Translation | Beta; needs an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone on iOS 26 or later Apple | — |
| Software requirement | iOS and iPadOS 26.4 or later; current operating system on Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro Apple | — |
| Firmware | 9A348 (latest version in Apple’s list); adds an Equalizer control Apple | — |
| In the box | AirPods Max 2, Smart Case, USB-C charge cable, documentation Apple | — |
| Accessibility | Live Listen, Headphone levels, Headphone Accommodations Apple | — |
| Driver | — | Custom coaxial 2-way speaker (tweeter + woofer) Samsung |
| Sound quality | — | 24-bit Hi-Fi; 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel Samsung |
| Noise cancelling | — | ANC; 3 high-SNR microphones (2 outer + 1 inner); Ambient Sound; Voice Detect Samsung |
| Connectivity and codec | — | Bluetooth 5.3; Auto Switch; Samsung Seamless Codec HiFi, AAC, SBC Samsung |
| Battery | — | Earbuds 61 mAh, case 515 mAh (typical); with ANC on 5 hours / 18 hours with case; ANC off 8 / 29 hours Samsung |
| Talk time | — | With ANC on 3.5 hours / 14 hours with case; ANC off 4 / 15 hours Samsung |
| Water resistance | — | IPX7 (earbuds; up to 30 minutes in 1 m of fresh water) Samsung |
| Size and weight | — | Earbud 19.9 × 21.6 × 18.7 mm, 5.5 g; case 50.1 × 50.2 × 27.7 mm, 43.4 g Samsung |