Tech

Artemis II Astronauts Get Personal About Historic Mission

Published

3 weeks ago

9 April 2026

The astronauts aboard the Artemis II mission are called a crew, but they really regard themselves as a team, right down to just getting around the Orion spacecraft’s cabin. But they have been intently focused on the overall success of the Artemis program, as there is a lot at stake because it’s the first crewed deep-space flight in more than 50 years. And the astronauts are acutely aware of that and how what they will impact future moon missions.

“Part of our ethos as a crew and our values from the very beginning were that this is a relay race,” Mission Specialist Christina Koch said during a virtual news conference with reporters Wednesday evening. “In fact, we have batons that we bought to symbolize physically that. We plan to hand them to the next crew. And every single thing we do is with them in mind.”

Koch referenced tasks she and the Orion crew have performed so far during their mission, such as manually piloting the spacecraft and ensuring that procedures are as they should be.

Watch this: Getting Personal With the Crew of Artemis II | Tech Today

19:07

“We’re always thinking from the perspective of what is the next crew going to think about this, how will this help them to succeed,” stated Koch.

It also takes teamwork just to live in such a small space. Koch said that the Orion’s cabin feels bigger in microgravity than what she expected, even though the astronauts are constantly bumping into each other “100% of the time.” Moving around the cabin, even to perform simple tasks, requires them to narrate their exact movements to one another to avoid colliding with crewmates.

“Everything we do in here is a four-person activity, but it’s also really fun,” joked Koch.

That insight was among the personal details the Artemis crew shared from space on Wednesday evening — the eighth day of their mission — as they prepare for their return to Earth on Friday after a historic 10-day journey around the moon. The first crewed deep-space flight since 1972 saw the Orion Integrity spacecraft carry the crew 252,756 miles from Earth — the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from our planet.

Watch this: Watch NASA’s Artemis II Launch to the Moon

12:49

During the mission, the astronauts also shared an emotional moment with viewers back on Earth when they proposed naming one of the craters on the moon “Carroll,” in memory of Commander Reid Wiseman’s late wife, a nurse who died of cancer in 2020 at the age of 46. Wiseman opened up about his feelings in that moment when asked during the press conference. Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen made the proposal to Mission Control to name the crater on Orion’s lunar flyby.

“When Jeremy spelled Carroll’s name C A R R O L L, that’s when I was overwhelmed with emotion. I looked over and Christina was crying. I put my hand down on Jeremy’s hand as he was still talking. (It was right there on that rail.) And I could just tell he was trembling,” remembered Wiseman. “We all pretty much broke down right there. And just for me personally, that was the pinnacle moment of the mission for me.

Wiseman went on to say the moment was “where the four of us were the most forged, the most bonded, and we came out of that really focused on that day ahead.”

Earth seen as a bright blue and white crescent just over the dimly lit brown surface of the moon — Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the moon. On Earth’s day side, swirling clouds are visible over the Australia and Oceania region. On the moon in the foreground, the Ohm crater has terraced edges and a flat floor interrupted by central peaks.
NASA

The crew is also focused on the journey back to Earth — and has been for more than three years, as Pilot Victor Glover pointed out to reporters.

“We’ve actually been thinking about entry since April 3, 2023, when we got assigned to this mission, and one of the first press conferences, we were asked, ‘What are we looking forward to?’” Glover said. “And I said, ‘splash down.’ And it’s kind of humorous, but it’s literal as well, that we have to get back. There’s so much data that you’ve seen already, but all the good stuff is coming back with us.

He explained that there are so many more pictures and stories that the Artemis II crew still has to share. Glover also admitted that he hasn’t even begun to process everything the astronauts have been through over the past week.

“We’ve still got two more days, and riding a fireball through the atmosphere is profound as well,” Glover exclaimed.

The Artemis crew is scheduled to return to Earth on Friday, with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at 5:07 p.m. You can follow the conclusion of the mission on CNET. You can also watch the entirety of Wednesday’s press conference on NASA’s YouTube channel.

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There’s Already A Way To Mount Your Smartphone To A Steam Controller

Published

9 minutes ago

1 May 2026

NewsAdmin

Mechanism, the company behind a “gaming pillow” for the Steam Deck and a growing list of grips for handheld consoles and PCs, already has its first Steam Controller accessory ready. Valve’s new controller will be available to purchase on May 4, and that same day Mechanism will start selling the Basegrip for Steam Controller, an accessory that will let you attach the controller to a smartphone and plenty of other mounts the company already sells.

The Basegrip for Steam Controller is contoured to fit snuggly over the back of the controller while leaving room for its magnetic charging puck to still attach. And because most of Mechanism’s accessories are designed to work together, with the Basegrip attached, you could connect the Steam Controller to a large number of the company’s existing mounts, including a phone mount that lets you magnetically attach a smartphone to the top of the controller. With a phone and controller together, you theoretically have a little handheld console for playing games.

Or, well, you could, some day. Valve has been fairly clear that the Steam Controller is only designed to work with Steam and the Steam Link app, which is why Mechanism notes that “the controller doesn’t work across all of iOS or Android yet.” You could use your smartphone, Steam Controller and the Steam Link app to stream your PC games, but you might struggle to play more than that. Future software updates could improve support, but it does make using the Steam Controller with a smartphone right now a bit less useful. That shouldn’t detract from the other accessories Mechanism offers, though, particularly its planned Steam Controller Dock, which proudly displays the controller when you’re not using it, and incorporates its charging puck to keep it powered, too.

Mechanism says the Basegrip for Steam Controller will be available on May 4 for $9 or at a discounted priced when bundled with other accessories. The Steam Controller Dock doesn’t have a final price yet, but Mechanism says it will ship in June and you can join a waitlist to buy it now.

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Apple Appears To Have Discontinued Its Cheapest Mac Mini

Published

24 minutes ago

1 May 2026

NewsAdmin

The AI industry’s demand for memory, storage and powerful chips has finally come for the Mac mini. Apple has stopped selling its cheapest $599 model of the Mac mini, based on changes to the company’s store page spotted by MacRumors. Only configurations that come with at least 512GB of storage and up are available, which means the Mac mini now effectively starts at $799. The tiny desktop’s popular use as a home for local AI agents likely played a part in the change.

Engadget has contacted Apple for confirmation that it’s discontinuing the entry-level Mac mini. We’ll update this article if we hear back.

When Apple started selling the redesigned Mac mini for $599 in 2024, it was one of the best deals the company had offered in years. With options for multiple tiers of Apple’s M4 chip, at least 16GB of RAM, at least 256GB of storage and enough ports to get things done, the Mac mini was remarkably capable. That also made it popular among the AI crowd, first for its ability to run local large language models, and later as a dedicated computer for AI agents like OpenClaw. A combination of demand from AI tinkerers and growing constraints around sourcing things like memory and storage may have motivated Apple to remove its cheapest model, at least for now.

CEO Tim Cook suggested as much during Apple’s most recent earnings call. “We think, looking forward, that the ‌Mac mini‌ and ‌Mac Studio‌ may take several months to reach supply demand balance,” Cook said. “Both of these are amazing platforms for AI and agentic tools and the customer recognition of that is happening faster than what we had predicted, and so we saw higher than expected demand.”

Apple has been better than most at weathering “RAMaggedon,” or at least hiding its effects across its product lines. When the company updated the MacBook Air with its M5 chip, it also bumped the storage to 512GB and the starting price to $1099, possibly in light of the changing cost of RAM and storage. In that case, the blow was softened by the availability of the MacBook Neo, which offered a lot of the power of Apple’s Macs for a much more affordable $600. There’s currently no equivalent for the Mac mini, though, and it’s not clear when, if ever, Apple will start selling something similar for that same cheap starting price.

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Adapting A 100-Year-Old Lens To A Modern Camera

Published

38 minutes ago

1 May 2026

NewsAdmin

You can get all kinds of fancy lenses for modern cameras, with all sorts of mechanical and electronic wizardly to make them shoot better images. But what if you paired a vintage lens with a modern camera? It would take some work, as [Mathieu] found out, but you’d also get some interesting results.

The optic in question is a 100-year old lens—a Foth 50 mm f2.5 to be precise, originally used with a folding film camera. It was sourced from a market for just 3 euros. Notably, the lens was not designed for modern cameras, and so lacks an aperture and focusing mechanism. [Mathieu] thus had to fabricate something to fit the lens to a Sony FX3. A first attempt used an aperture adapter from Amazon and an elcoid adapter, but there were vignetting problems due to the lens placement in this case. Ultimately, [Mathieu] went with a special macro adapter that allowed him to control focus and tuck in an ND filter behind the lens, which made up for the lack of an aperture.

The vintage glass isn’t the sharpest lens out there, but that’s kind of what’s fantastic about it. The center of the frame is certainly focused, but it fades out softly towards the edges of the image, giving a cinematic, dreamlike effect. The bokeh in the background are particularly charming, too. As far as 3 euro lenses go, this one was a hit.

You can slap just about any lens on anything if you get creative with how you do it. Video after the break.

[Thanks to Stephen Walters for the tip!]

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The Mac Mini is sold out for "several months" as AI developers snap them up for local agent workloads

Published

51 minutes ago

1 May 2026

NewsAdmin

“On the Mac Mini and Mac Studio, both of these are amazing platforms for AI and agentic tools,” Cook said. “And customer adoption of that is happening faster than we expected.”
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Apple's success is running into a familiar problem: not enough chips

Published

1 hour ago

1 May 2026

NewsAdmin

The quarter showed how dependent Apple has become on its silicon strategy. The iPhone 17 lineup, built on advanced processors made by TSMC using a variant of the manufacturing technology behind leading AI chips, continues to drive the bulk of revenue. iPhone sales reached $56.99 billion, slightly missing estimates, but…
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Are Red Light Cameras The Same As Speed Cameras?

Published

1 hour ago

1 May 2026

NewsAdmin

PixelBiss/Shutterstock

We see them every day with alarmingly increasing frequency — cameras that pop up on the side of the road or at intersections. Whether they’re used to issue tickets in speed and construction zones or relay license plate information, let’s face it: These aren’t going anywhere. It’s best to keep informed as to what they do, what they look like, and where to find them so you can avoid a potentially hefty fine.

You’ll find no fewer than four types of traffic camera in the United States: Traffic-monitoring cameras, automated number-plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, speed cameras, and red light cameras. The first two cannot issue tickets, so we’ll be brief about them. A traffic-monitoring camera’s job is to detect where cars are to precisely time traffic lights and govern automated signage according to conditions. The ANPR camera identifies a car by its license plate, acting as a monitor to track movements.

Speed cameras and red light cameras, on the other hand, both function in similar ways in that they’re designed to prosecute drivers for disobeying traffic laws. The main difference between the two is simply where they’re placed and what laws they uphold. A red light camera, as the name suggests, sits at an intersection and monitors red light offenses. Speed cameras are typically situated at the sides of roads prone to speeding, like back roads and highways. These cameras issue automated tickets, which the registered vehicle owner receives in the mail. It’s a system not without its faults; for instance, a woman’s license plate matched a common novelty plate, and she was issued 15 traffic tickets. Let’s dive deeper and explore more about how these systems differ and what they can and can’t do.

How red light cameras work

Red traffic signal with overhead camera mounted on its own pole

Bill Uko/Getty Images

Traffic-issuing red light cameras operate through a hard link to the traffic signal itself. When you pull up to the red light, the camera takes a picture of your car as it moves into position, then detects if the vehicle moves past the point where it’s then in the intersection. If the light is red in both phases, i.e. the car blew the red light, then the camera photographs the car a second time as it goes through the light. It then issues a citation to the registered owner of the vehicle.

This system was first implemented in New York City in 1994, a metropolitan area we all know for its infamous gridlock. The New York Department of Transportation took a hard look at statistics, recording fatalities occurring at intersections and asking the question, “Would an automated red light camera help stop speeders?” New York champions the system today with plans to expand it to 600 intersections. If you blow a light in the City and your car is captured by this camera, expect a $50 ticket in the mail.

Typically you’ll find red light cameras situated at busy intersections, near school or work zones, or in major cities. They’re identified by the secondary camera unit that captures a picture of the car as it goes through the light, typically mounted on its own pole overlooking the intersection. The legality of red light cameras is often called into question, with specific rules varying on a per-state basis. Some states exclude them outside of metropolitan areas, and others don’t allow them at all.

How speed cameras are different

Speed camera tracking three vehicles, two with green square overlay and one with red square overlay

AntonSAN/Shutterstock

Speed cameras function the same in principle — if you’re speeding, it’ll take a picture of your car and mail you a ticket. But there are actually several types of speed cameras, each one operating using different methods. Most modern systems use a form of LIDAR and infrared photography to track and capture a car’s image, either by measuring its speed between two fixed points or by measuring its speed at a specific point — much like the ones used in Colorado. These are your fixed units, designed to run autonomously, as opposed to mobile units, which are set up by officials and, as the name suggests, are not static.

These types of cameras are generally what you’ll see in places like construction areas or school zones — any place with a consistent, reduced speed in comparison to the usual flow of traffic. Other areas include high-speed expressways and suburban areas with excessive rates of speeding violations. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, their presence has reduced crash frequency by 54%, and accidents involving injuries and fatalities by 47% and 20%, respectively.

Different cameras operate using different methods, making detection an exceedingly difficult proposition. For instance, some speed cameras use lasers, whereas others use different bands of radar. Apps like Waze and Google Maps typically state fixed speed trap locations as a heads-up, but you’ll often find surprise mobile units in front of construction zones and the like. Just like red light cameras, the person who receives the ticket will be the one to which the vehicle is registered.

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Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers for May 2 #1056

Published

2 hours ago

1 May 2026

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Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is all over the place, My fellow journalists, pay special attention to words hidden in four words. They’ll end up in a journalism-related purple category. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Sixth sense.

Green group hint: Bravo!

Blue group hint: Government groups.

Purple group hint: Extra, extra!

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Clairvoyant.

Green group: Staged performances.

Blue group: U.S. cabinet departments.

Purple group: Starting with newspaper names.

What are today’s Connections answers?

The completed NYT Connections puzzle for May 2, 2026.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is clairvoyant. The four answers are extrasensory, mental, psychic and telepathic.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is staged performances. The four answers are ballet, musical, opera and play.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is U.S. cabinet departments. The four answers are Education, Interior, State and Treasury.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is starting with newspaper names. The four answers are globetrotter, heraldry, Post-It and times tables.

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AI Performances And Screenplays Won’t Be Eligible For Oscars

Published

2 hours ago

1 May 2026

NewsAdmin

Still of an AI-generated Val Kilmer from the upcoming film

First Line Films

Sorry, Val Kilmer fans, but the late actor’s Oscar ship has officially sailed. On Friday, Reuters reported that AI-generated acting and writing won’t be eligible for Academy Awards. The new rules from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will take effect beginning with next year’s presentation, scheduled for March 2027.

The Academy’s updated rules state that while filmmakers can use AI tools, “synthetic” performers can’t win any awards. Ditto for AI-written screenplays, which must be “human-authored.” The Academy can request more information from submissions to confirm that they were created by humans.

A “performance” that won’t need further clarification is Kilmer’s fully AI-generated appearance in the upcoming indie film, As Deep as the Grave. The actor was initially cast in the movie but had to back out due to medical concerns. (He died in April 2025.) Although Kilmer never stepped foot on set, he will appear in “a significant part” of the movie, according to Variety.

“His family kept saying how important they thought the movie was and that Val really wanted to be a part of this,” said Coerte Voorhees, the film’s writer and director. “He really thought it was [an] important story that he wanted his name on. It was that support that gave me the confidence to say, okay let’s do this. Despite the fact some people might call it controversial, this is what Val wanted.”

Perhaps even more jarring than the AI-generated likeness of a dead actor is the work of a ByteDance tool that has also raised some alarm in the industry. A two-sentence prompt using Seedance 2.0 was all it took to generate a highly convincing 15-second clip of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt duking it out on a rooftop. (C’mon, Pitt would totally kick his ass.)

The cinematic clip went viral, Hollywood experienced existential panic, and Washington even weighed in. The latest? ByteDance reportedly paused the tool’s rollout while the entertainment industry braces for a future where typing a few words could be all it takes to churn out a feature film.

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AirPods Max 2 review one month: Price, features, specs

Published

2 hours ago

1 May 2026

NewsAdmin

A month after Apple’s AirPods Max 2 went on sale, there’s a lot to like, but little of it is new, and there’s not much reason to upgrade from the original model.

That’s the uncomfortable truth that I came to after spending a few weeks with Apple’s premium headphones. But it also shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone who took even a cursory glance at the specs sheet.

Any second-generation product takes what the first-gen model did well and then builds upon it. But with AirPods Max 2, Apple took the easy way out. And it’s a real shame that it did.

AirPods Max 2 do improve upon the original model, bringing some AirPods Pro features along for the ride. Still, too many first-gen problems persist, setting users up for the same frustrations.

And that’s the problem here. Those buyers will spend $549 for a pair of AirPods Max 2 headphones. What they’ll get is great audio, but with issues that shouldn’t be there.

If you’re shopping for great audio with some striking design issues, I have good news for you. There are likely some great OG AirPods Max deals available. You should probably buy those instead.

AirPods Max 2 review: Familiar look, familiar mistakes

When I say that AirPods Max 2 look familiar, I’m not kidding. I’m not even exaggerating, because they’re identical.

That even extends to the colors on offer. There are still five for you to choose from. And they’re still Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, and Orange.

Two pairs of matte black over ear headphones lying side by side on a colorful retro style desk mat with sunset and city skyline graphics and a keyboard in the background

AirPods Max 2 review: Space Gray and Midnight side-by-side

I’ve been using the Midnight headphones, and they have a slightly different hue from my original Space Gray model. Those also have a Lightning connector, but apart from that, they’re almost impossible to tell apart.

AirPods Max 2, of course, have a USB-C port for charging this time around. You can also use a USB-C to USB-C cable if you want to enjoy lossless audio.

Like the original and mid-cycle USB-C refresh, AirPods Max 2 use metal as their material of choice. That means they’re still heavy, weighing in at 386.2 grams or 13.6 ounces.

As someone who isn’t a fan of plastic headphones, I’m happy with the metal construction Apple uses. I also don’t mind the weight because it adds an air of quality to the headset.

What I don’t like is Apple’s continued use of a mesh headband. It’s notorious for stretching and sagging, and there’s little to suggest that AirPods Max 2 buyers won’t have the same issue.

The good news is that there are aftermarket accessories that help here. They attach to the headband and use another material to distribute the weight. You’ll likely spot one on my AirPods Max in some of the photos here.

Controls-wise, nothing has changed here. You’ll find holes for the microphone and for air movement on the left ear cup. On the right, there’s a USB-C port on the bottom.

Up top, Apple’s familiar Digital Crown is used for volume and playback controls. The remaining button is used to cycle between the active noise cancellation (ANC) and Transparency modes.

Finally, there’s the case. It’s the same as the original AirPods Max case and one of the main things I expected Apple to fix with this second generation.

Alas, it chose not to. And this case still does almost nothing to protect the headphones during transit. The top and bottom of the metal ear cups are left bare.

Unfortunately, the case is also the only way to put the AirPods Max 2 to sleep. Leave them out, and they’ll never slip into the deep sleep mode that preserves battery life.

That means you’ll need to fiddle with the case and its magnetic flap a lot. The lack of a way to sleep the headphones outside of the case is another issue I expected to be fixed this time around.

Again, alas.

AirPods Max 2 review: The H2 makes its presence felt

One of the few places where Apple has tweaked things is the use of a new H2 chip. The same chip first debuted in Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 from 2022, so it’s not new technology.

Black over-ear headphones in a protective case resting on a laptop keyboard, with a bright pink and blue abstract wallpaper on the screen and a black speaker in the background

AirPods Max 2 review: The familiar Smart Case makes a return

It’s new to Apple’s headphones, though, and brings with it some new features. Apple says the new chip is capable of improved audio processing. But as Andrew O’Hara said in his initial review, you’ll be hard-pressed to tell the difference.

Apple also says that AirPods Max 2 offer 1.5x more active noise cancellation than the previous generation. I can’t refute the claim, but AirPods Max were already class leaders here, and I’ve found AirPods Max 2 to be just as good.

Thankfully, you will notice a difference if you use any of these new features:

Adaptive EQ adjusts the sound based on the fit and seal between the ear cups and your head.

Live Translation that translates languages as someone speaks

Adaptive Audio that adjusts the ANC and Transparency modes based on the volume of your environment.

Conversational Awareness that lowers the volume when someone speaks to you and raises it when they’re done.

Personalized Volume automatically adjusts the volume after learning your preferences.

Head gestures so you can control Siri by shaking and nodding your head.

A Camera Remote feature means you can press the Digital Crown to take a photo using your iPhone.

Remember that these features are also available on AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3. Some are even present on the entry-level AirPods 4 as well.

The H2 also handles all of the features AirPods owners have become accustomed to. Instant device pairing and switching are still present, and as welcome as ever.

Rounding out the features, Apple’s H2 helps AirPods Max 2 run for up to 20 hours between charges, even with ANC and Spatial Audio enabled. I’ve found that to be a reasonable expectation, and they charge quickly using a USB-C cable.

AirPods Max 2 review: Apple’s audio chops shine again

Apple knows how to make great audio. It’s proven it with all of its most recent AirPods wireless earbuds, and it proved it with the original AirPods Max.

With AirPods Max 2, it’s once again proven that few can compete with its wireless audio capabilities.

AirPods Max 2 sound excellent. They benefit from new high dynamic range amplifiers this time around, marking the one hardware change besides the H2 chip.

Black over ear headphones in a protective case resting against a closed Apple laptop on a wooden desk, with monitor, speakers, and colorful mouse pad in the background

AirPods Max 2 review: Apple’s best-ever headphones, just like its last

The result is the familiar, rich AirPods Max sound. Except, dare I say, turned up to 11 this time around.

Music sounds warm and full of body thanks to a strong bass performance when the audio calls for it. The highs may be a little on the brighter side than some might like, but that’s nitpicking.

With the excellent ANC enabled, AirPods Max 2 make it easy to fall into an album. It envelopes you. In a desert of lackluster wireless headphones, AirPods Max 2 are an oasis of crisp, clear sound.

But then, so are AirPods Max. Even over five years after their 2020 release, I’ve yet to find wireless headphones that have bettered them.

And yes, that applies to AirPods Max 2 as well. They’re every inch as good as AirPods Max, but better? I’ve yet to experience it, unfortunately.

Rounding things out on a more positive note, AirPods Max 2’s ANC and Transparency modes don’t disappoint. Again, Apple’s headphones surely sit at the top of the pile in both regards, although Sony continues to give it a run for its money.

AirPods Max 2 review: A missed opportunity

As I sit here, writing this review while listening to AirPods Max 2, I find myself disappointed. Not because they don’t live up to the original, but because Apple had such a solid foundation to build upon.

And yet, it chose not to.

As great as AirPods Max 2 sound, and as much as I enjoy listening to them, they’re almost impossible to recommend.

For existing AirPods Max owners, there’s little here to warrant spending so much money to upgrade. Not unless one of the new H2-powered features calls to you, and not when all of the same mistakes have been made.

They’re an easier sell to anyone considering AirPods Max 2 as their first Apple headphones. But you absolutely need to be aware of the problems before you put down your $549.

As I write this in 2026, AirPods Max 2 are likely the best-sounding wireless headphones I’ve ever worn. But whether they’re the best, overall, is a harder question to answer.

Over ear wireless headphones, a smartwatch with metal band, and a white earbud case resting on a colorful retro style mouse pad with a sunset and city skyline design

AirPods Max 2 review: Handy “L” and “R” markings help orientation

At $549, they’re a costly purchase. They don’t have a real case to keep them safe, and there’s no way to turn them off. They’re also heavier than most people will be used to, and the headband mesh will likely sag much sooner than it should.

If you’re still happy to throw down $549 for AirPods Max 2 with that in mind, more power to you. You’re going to get a pair of headphones that sound great with excellent ANC for your money.

Or you could save a hundred dollars or more and get the original. They’ll sound great.

AirPods Max 2 review: Pros

No wireless headphones sound better

Industry-leading ANC and Transprency mode

H2 chip adds some nice-to-have features

Instant pairing and device switching

AirPods Max 2 review: Cons

They still won’t sleep outside of the case

Smart case offers little protection

Same colors as last-gen model

Costly at $549

AirPods Max 2 rating: 4 out of 5

Scoring something like AirPods Max 2 out of five is difficult. Scoring anything out of five isn’t easy, but when you’re reviewing the successor to a previous release, things get more complicated. In the case of AirPods Max 2, Apple has a good pair of headphones on its hands. They sound great, and are about as premium-feeling as these things get.

On the other hand, AirPods Max 2 don’t improve upon AirPods Max in ways that I think they should have. The improvements that have been made are unlikely to change the game for most headphone buyers, too.

In choosing a score, I’ve gone with a 4 because, in isolation, AirPods Max 2 are a quality product. If AirPods Max didn’t exist, they’d easily get a 4 for their sound and build quality.

If you already own AirPods Max, consider the review score a 3 or 3.5, instead. AirPods Max 2’s score would be reduced by the lack of meaningful improvements to the original’s shortcomings.

For AirPods Max owners, there is little, if any, reason to upgrade to AirPods Max 2.

Where to buy AirPods Max 2

AirPods Max 2 are on sale now at Apple and other retailers, with Amazon and Walmart discounting the headphones slightly.

You can also pick up first-gen AirPods Max with USB-C for $449 at B&H Photo and Walmart while supplies last.

Our AirPods Max Price Guide offers easy price comparison across popular Apple resellers as well.

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Today’s NYT Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for May 2 #1778

Published

2 hours ago

1 May 2026

NewsAdmin

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle is a medium-tough one, with a few letters I rarely guess. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.