It took Apple six years to properly update the AirPods Max, and at first glance, it might seem like a fairly minor update. After all, the new AirPods Max 2 still look the same, come with the same case, and are even sold in the exact same five colors as their predecessor.

The new features mainly revolve around Apple’s H2 chip, which has unlocked several smart features, as well as improved active noise cancellation (check our initial coverage for a rundown of what’s new).

Having browsed through Apple’s official tech specs, however, we’ve found that the new AirPods Max 2 have quite a bit new functionality that might not be apparent at first glance. Here’s five hidden features we’ve found:

1. It’s ‘Siri’ not ‘Hey Siri’

When you need to invoke Apple’s smart assistant on the new AirPods Max 2, you can just say “Siri” to do so. On AirPods that sport the old H2 chip, you need to say “Hey Siri.” It’s a small difference, but it saves time (for some, at least; I’ve gotten so accustomed to the “hey” part that I’ll probably just keep saying it).

The buttons are the same as before. But you might not need to touch them as often, as Siri Interactions are now supported.
Credit: Apple

You can now also respond to Siri via head gestures; just nod or shake your head for a “yes” or “no” answer.

2. Loud Sound Reduction

The Loud Sound Reduction feature, already present in the latest AirPods Pro, helps you prevent exposure to loud environmental noise, such as a car horn.

While Apple highlighted this one in its press release accompanying the AirPods Max 2 launch, we’re mentioning it here because it does not show up in Apple’s comparison tool. It is, however, listed in the official tech specs for AirPods Max 2.

The Loud Sound Reduction feature is on by default in Transparency and Adaptive Audio listening modes.

3. Bluetooth 5.3 vs. 5.0

The AirPods Max 2 come with Bluetooth 5.3, as opposed to Bluetooth 5.0 on the AirPods Max with USB-C. In theory, this should mean lower power usage, improved connectivity, and quicker connections with other devices. Wireless audio latency has also been reduced, which is great news for music creators and gamers.

4. New high dynamic range amplifier: Yes, but, what can it do?

Apple mentioned that the AirPods Max 2 have a new high dynamic range amplifier, but the company only said this enables “even cleaner audio while maintaining the incredible sound signature of AirPods Max”.

Cleaner sound at higher volumes.
Credit: Apple

While that’s pretty vague, we can tell you that the high dynamic range amplifier’s job is to amplify an audio signal while keeping noise and distortion low. We can also take a look at the latest AirPods Pro 3, which also feature a new, custom high dynamic range amplifier. In our review, we found they sound significantly better than their predecessor.

Based on that, and given that the AirPods Pro 3 also feature Apple’s H3 chip, we can predict that the AirPods Max 2 will not only have cleaner audio, but also an improved soundstage, accurate sound reproduction at higher volumes, and the benefits should also be audible in Spatial Audio.

If you dig into Apple’s “learn more” bits on the AirPods Max 2 official page, you’ll find an explanation that matches the above. “Modeled after those in high‑end floor‑standing speakers, the driver’s dual‑neodymium ring magnet motor minimizes total harmonic distortion across the entire audible range. With the new high dynamic range amplifier, the result is consistently clear playback, even at higher volumes,” it says.

5. Your old case still fits

Perhaps the worst, or at least most divisive, features of the AirPods Max are their odd, bra-like case that doesn’t really do a great job of protecting the headphones. Yes, you get it included in the price, but it’s just…odd. Fortunately, there’s a number of great, third-party cases that are compatible with Apple’s sleep mode, meaning the AirPods Max won’t drain too much battery when they’re in the case.

If you have the old AirPods Max and are thinking of upgrading, and you’re wondering whether your old third-party case will fit the new ones, we’ve got good news. We’ve compared the weight and size specs for the AirPods Max 2 and the original AirPods Max headphones, and they’re exactly the same: 187.3 x 168.6 x 83.44 mililmeters, weighing exactly 386.2 grams. We’d prefer it if Apple shed some of that weight, but at least your old case will fit.

For far too long, video games have been besieged by the scourge of Dad Games. Things like the recent God of War entries and The Last of Us have popularized the idea of giving players some kind of paternal duty over a young, mostly helpless companion. It’s played out and boring, among other things.

That’s one of the reasons why I’m so into what I’ve seen of Capcom’s upcoming Pragmata so far. This sci-fi third-person shooter, originally announced six years ago, has a similar enough premise to those other games I mentioned. You play as a guy named Hugh who finds himself needing to protect and work with a strange little girl named Diana as they try to escape a space station full of angry robots.

The difference, though, is that I would categorize Pragmata as more of an Uncle Game than a Dad Game. I got to play about 90 minutes of Pragmata at a press event recently, and it seems like a totally kick-ass action game with a really neat hacking-based hook, but the lighthearted interplay between Hugh and Diana was also significantly more endearing than the heavy-handed self-seriousness of something like The Last of Us.

Pragmata is basically Resident Evil 4 with an air dash

The hacking aspect of ‘Pragmata’ is extremely sick.
Credit: Capcom

In case you haven’t been following along with Pragmata’s marketing (there’s also a free demo available on every platform), the main thing to know is that it’s a space-based third-person shooter with similar gameplay guts to that of the more action-oriented entries in Capcom’s Resident Evil series.

Of course, Pragmata is not a horror game, so the vibe is pretty different. But at its core, this is still a game about carefully positioning yourself in the middle of overwhelming fights and trying to precisely line up shots on the weak points of enemies who (mostly) creepily move towards you in a slow manner. An obvious difference is that Hugh can also sprint, jump, and dash around the environment, giving it a much more fast-paced feel than you’d get as Leon S. Kennedy of the Resident Evil series.

These guys suck to fight.
Credit: Capcom

The real meat of Pragmata‘s combat comes from Diana’s hacking abilities. She sits on Hugh’s shoulder at all times, and aiming at an enemy will bring up a square-based hacking grid that you navigate using the face buttons. In essence, you’re doing a hacking mini-game while also running and shooting, and successfully hacking an enemy can open up weak spots or stun/slow them down. It is absolutely key to success, and the first time you do it, you’ll immediately understand why it’s a cool idea.

All of that had been known about Pragmata prior to this recent hands-on opportunity, though. One major new thing I got to see this time around was the game’s hub area, which you can travel to from any checkpoint in the world. It’s got a training range, upgrade stations, and even a friendly robot named Cabin who exists to help you do whatever you need to do in that space. Just from the demo I played, Pragmata seems like it’s got a pretty satisfying upgrade loop to it. You collect different kinds of currency from exploring levels and defeating enemies, which you then use to upgrade Hugh’s core functions like health, as well as all the different guns he uses along the way.

It’s straightforward enough, but Capcom is one of the best purveyors of this type of single-player action game. I think they know a thing or two about player progression, and it showed in the demo I played.

Pragmata also has a ton of personality

Of course, there are fun costumes to unlock.
Credit: Capcom

While the actual gameplay side of the demo didn’t show me a ton I didn’t already know about Pragmata, it was set in a substantially more interesting environment than we had seen previously. Specifically, I got to run around a weird, 3D-printed simulacra of Times Square in New York City, but inside a space station. Billboards and ads were full of fun references to other Capcom games like Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, while the buildings and storefronts sometimes faded halfway out of existence because they clearly weren’t fully completed before…whatever happened in this space station.

Going back to the whole “Uncle Game” thing, what impressed me most about Pragmata is the amount of heart there is in all of Hugh and Diana’s interactions. She’s never been to Earth, so Hugh spends most of the NYC level explaining various Earth concepts to her to sate her infinite curiosity on the subject. I especially dug a bit where Hugh mentioned that the fake NYC wasn’t nearly as dirty as the real one.

Cabin’s a cool dude.
Credit: Capcom

Most importantly, I didn’t get a ton of paternal energy from what I saw between Hugh and Diana. There was one scene where he had to save her from her own curiosity, but other than that, what I played was bereft of Hugh scolding, lecturing, or otherwise acting like much of a parent towards Diana. Rather, he feels a bit more like an uncle who’s been tasked with watching a kid for a weekend. Just like any good uncle, you can even find gifts in the world and give them to Diana in the hub area, at which point she will adorably go and play with them.

At this point I’ve only played about two combined hours of Pragmata at various press events, but every time I see it, I want to play the final game more and more. I really think Capcom has stumbled onto something very cool here, between the sweaty, stressful sci-fi combat and the cute interplay between its two leads. We’ll find out pretty soon whether or not it holds up over the course of a full game.

Pragmata launches on April 17 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series consoles, and Nintendo Switch 2.

TL;DR: Live stream Sporting vs. Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The next round of Champions League fixtures includes some really interesting matchups, including Sporting vs. Bodo/Glimt.

Bodo/Glimt have been the story of this Champions League. They’ve already created history, beating some of the biggest names in European football. And now they hold a 3-0 advantage coming into this huge second-leg matchup with Sporting. The Portuguese side will need to produce something special to come back into this contest, but we’ve seen it all before. Anything is possible in this competition.

If you want to watch Sporting vs. Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Sporting vs. Bodo/Glimt?

Sporting vs. Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on March 17. This fixture takes place at the Estádio José Alvalade.

How to watch Sporting vs. Bodo/Glimt for free

Sporting vs. Bodo/Glimt is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Sporting vs. Bodo/Glimt for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Sporting vs. Bodo/Glimt without committing with your cash. This isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

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