Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Apple AirPods Max: Which Should You Buy?

Both headphones sit at the top of the over-ear market, but they serve different kinds of listeners.

Noise Cancellation

The Sony WH-1000XM5 uses eight microphones and two processors to deliver industry-leading noise cancellation. In our tests, it blocked significantly more ambient noise than the AirPods Max.

Sound Quality

AirPods Max delivers an exceptionally wide soundstage. Sony counters with LDAC codec support for Hi-Res Audio streaming.

Battery Life

Sony wins with 30 hours of playback versus AirPods Max at 20 hours.

Verdict

For the best noise cancellation and battery: Sony WH-1000XM5. For Apple ecosystem users: AirPods Max.