AirPods Max Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Pro-Level Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Personalised Spatial Audio, USB-C Charging, Bluetooth Headphones for iPhone, Blue ​​​​​​​

Music will understand the importance of picking a new set of headphones, in most cases these will be living on your head for two to three thousand plus hours over the years that you will own them. For the last year and a half I have been using Sony WH1000XM5s (XM5s) as my daily headphones and have racked up 1400 hours on them so far. Two weeks ago I switched these out for a pair of Apple AirPods Max. Here’s my honest thoughts of the two, and my recommendation for which you should buy. # Noise Cancelling When comparing the noise cancellation the AirPods Max have the clear win, with both excellent cancellation of constant noises such as the drone of an airplane and sporadic noises such as cars, passers by etc which most lower end noise cancelling headphones struggle with. The XM5s feature some seriously impressive noise cancelling, which is a very close second to the AirPods Max. The AirPods Max take the win here due to much better cancellation of wind noises. # Transparency Mode For me, transparency mode is just as, if not more important than noise cancellation. I love being able to enjoy the listening experience of a premium pair of headphones such as the AirPods Max or XM5s while being able to hear discussions around me at work and not be completely isolated. The transparency algorithms on the AirPods Max and XM5s have clearly taken different approaches here. Both have crystal clear transparency when indoors or in a quiet environment, with the AirPod Max’s having a slight edge over the XM5s - but as with noise cancellation, wind causes problems here. When the wind picks up, the XM5s take the approach of attempting to replicate the wind, which can be overwhelming but is just an amplified version of reality. The AirPods Max take the opposite approach by reducing the wind noise, and almost blocking it out entirely in most cases, which means that all other sounds passed through are muffled. This leaves a strange semi-transparent experience. I personally prefer the approach taken by the XM5 of letting it all in, but this preference will vary person to person. # Sound Quality While neither of these headphones will be replicating studio quality wired headphones due to the fact that most users will be connecting wirelessly, there is no debate here - both the AirPods Max and XM5s qualify as some of the best headphones you can buy. Out of the box the AirPods Max put the XM5s to shame, giving a much more hifi-esque and balanced sound profile. The XM5s have a much more bass leaning sound profile. The XM5s allow users to specify a custom EQ using the Sony Connect app, which is when the XM5s start to shine and get very close to the AirPods Max. I am by no means an audiophile but both headphones are phenomenal after reducing the bass then increasing the mid and higher ranges of the XM5s EQ - although the AirPods Max always seem to have a ”wider” sound. This is most likely due to their 40mm drivers compared to the XM5s 30mm drivers. It is worth noting that Apple has recently added support for true lossless audio to the Apple AirPods Max, which requires a USB C to USB C cable to be connected from the headphones to a compatible Apple device. # Build Quality There is no discussion or competition to be had here, the AirPods Max are a premium, extremely well built pair of headphones as would be expected from Apple. The XM5s feel well put together, but use a fully plastic construction that does not feel comparable to the AirPods Max’s metal build - the AirPods Max are as hefty as their price tag. The only area of build quality that Sony has won here is the carry case. The XM5 case feels premium and protects the headphones well, compressing slightly when not in use. The AirPods max case does not even cover the headband and feels out of place when compared to the quality of the headphones, leaving users disappointed and often buying a third party case. # Software If you have an Apple device - which you almost have to if you are considering the AirPods Max then you will be sufficiently impressed by how easy the AirPods Max are to set up and use. To connect these for the first time you have to take them out of the case, put them on and Apples magic will connect them to your iPhone automatically. This is taken to the next level when you also use a Mac, iPad, Apple Watch or Apple TV, with the headphones automatically and seamlessly switching depending on the device you are using. The best software feature of the AirPods Max is spatial audio, transforming stereo to a surround experience which can be further enhanced with head tracking powered by the AirPods Max’s built in accelerometers and gyroscope. This is where the tricks end for the AirPods Max, but the XM5s have a whole host of additional features. The Sony Connect app is great, and has gotten significantly better in the year and a half that I have been using these headphones. The app boasts features such as a usage tracker that logs your listening hours and a noise level monitor for hearing protection. The XM5s also support Sonys version of spatial audio but this is limited to certain music providers and I haven’t had the chance to try this out. One of the most useful features of the XM5 is their speak-to-chat feature, which automatically pauses noise cancelling, and your music whenever the headset detects you speaking, to allow you to have a conversation. The headphones will even resume playback and noise cancelling once you are done. # Controls The AirPods Max feature two controls: an extremely nice to use digital crown for playback control, as featured on the Apple Watch, and a button to toggle between transparency mode and noise cancellation. Everyone loves to complain about the lack of power button on the AirPods Max but in all honesty - I don’t care, don’t miss it and haven’t noticed any issues yet. The XM5s, once again, go in the other direction from the AirPods and feature a power button and transparency / noise cancelling toggle button on the left ear cup and a touch pad on the right ear cup. The touch pad is fairly responsive and allows for playback control. The touch pad also enables a pretty cool feature where holding your palm over the ear cup switches from noise cancellation to transparency mode and reduces the volume of your music to almost silent until you take your hand away. # Battery Life The XM5s will get about 30 hours with a mix of transparency mode and noise cancellation from personal experience. The AirPods Max will do about 20 hours in the same conditions. It is worth noting that the XM5s seem to charge much quicker than the AirPods Max. Charging from 10% to 90% on the XM5s will take about 20 minutes whereas the AirPods Max will take about 50 minutes - both using a 100W charger which is more than either of these headphones is capable of accepting. # Price The price will make this an easy choice for most buyers here. The XM5s are £299 and the AirPods Max are £499 (both RRP). To worsen this price difference the XM5s are frequently on sale for £229-£249 with the AirPods Max on sale much less often. # Conclusion Lets be honest, if you are invested in the Apple ecosystem, you are probably almost decided on the AirPods Max; but I want you to consider both headphones here carefully. The Sony XM5s and the Apple AirPods Max are really fighting it out here and are very comparable, but take two different approaches to being top tier headphones. If you want feature packed headphones that are function over form, go for the XM5s. If quality, looks and Apple magic are what you are looking for, its an easy win for the AirPods Max. I did struggle to decide myself; I am fortunate enough to be able to choose from both and I do find myself going for the AirPods Max most of the team due to the better sound quality / noise cancelling and their stylish it girl design, but still lean towards the XM5s for longer listening sessions due to their lightweight build. Either way, you’ve chosen an excellent pair of headphones.

The AirPods Max deliver excellent audio quality, strong ANC, and a premium metal build that feels durable and comfortable. Spatial Audio adds real depth to movies and supported music, and the controls and connectivity work seamlessly across the Apple ecosystem. The main drawbacks are the weight during long sessions and the included case, which doesn’t offer much protection. Battery life is solid but depends on using the case for low-power mode. Overall, they’re worth the money if you’re already using Apple devices and want top-tier sound with smooth, effortless integration.

Apple really packed this product extremely well but, given the exceptionally high price, they no doubt need to ensure it arrives to customers in pristine condition. I have lately been looking at wireless headphones since my hi fi is at the other end of the room, doesn't have a bluetooth option, and I didn't fancy an extra-long cable running across the floor. The headphone model I was particularly interested was out of stock (everywhere, not just on Amazon) but all independent reviews I've been reading put the AirPods Max to the top of their lists. In spite of the huge price, I decided to order a pair for myself and check them out. I won't go into full specifications since these are available on this Amazon page and the Apple webpages. I will say that I investigated the possibility of an upgrade since Apple frequently upgrades its products and it is generally thought it could be around 2 more years at least before there are any changes to the specs of this product. I chose not to wait for that length of time. I ordered the blue colour (okay, yes, to more match the blue tone of my new iMac) and was impressed, not only with the excellent packaging (all recyclable if you need to dispose of it) but with the feel and the weight of the headphones. Unlike other headphones that are suited also to conversation on an iPhone, these AirPods Max have only two buttons on the top right - nothing could have been simpler! I expanded the headband both sides by about 3cm or so to match the usual size of headphones but that made them too big and so I had to push them back into the original size. These are clearly not designed for people with quite small heads so fit coud be problem for some people. Pairing to the iPhone took seconds and it was all set up ready to use - and, as expected, the AirPods Max were also immediately ready for use with the iMac without any need to do more "work". This is perfect for people who might be using one item and then want to move away and use the other. I selected an assortment of single tracks to listen to, ranging from classical, folk, pop to rock (I have a wide range of music interests) and played some on the iPhone (instead of using the AirPods Pr 3 I have just bought) and then switched to the iMac. Audio quality? I was impressed. I did have to make an adjustment to the balance since I have better hearing in one ear than the other, and I did have to adjust the volume knob on the AirPods Max because the iPhone volumes are always lower than the iMac volumes (caution, beware of loud volumes over extended periods, it will damage your ears). Result? The bluetooth connection held steady throughout and I deliberately walked around my apartment so at times I was around 25m away from both the phone and the computer, and there was no drop in signal or interference. The audio quality was better than I would have expected, it was nicely balanced through the musical ranges without being overloaded in bass or treble. I was hearing sounds in the "background" that my own equipment had never given me, which actually matched comments made by professional reviewers. I also tested with ANC off, half way (which is my preference) and fully on. A "smart case" comes with the headphones. This is, essentially, just a cover for the ear pieces but it is important since when the AirPods are returned to this "case" they go into low power mode and so save battery life. To be honest, when I saw smart case as part of the product I was expecting a solid, fitted case but that is not what we get. Instead, it is a protective cover for the vital parts of the AirPods Max and using it dispenses with the need for an on/off switch. All in all, a nice touch from Apple. As I mentioned, full specs are available on the Apple website and this Amazon page has more than enough to satisfy curiosity. The audio sound (for me, at least) is the most important and I was more than happy with what I heard on the variety of tracks I played. Yes, these are massively expensive but, as many professional reviewers have pointed out, these might not be the best looking headphones, nor the smallest, but you pay for the sound. I will certainly be keeping these and can certainly recommend them.

After reading several reviews and seeing that some people have had mixed reviews I finally decided to take the plunge and invest in the AirPod Pros and I’m so glad that I did. I have to admit I’m deep into the Apple ecosystem so the connectivity and quality of the product was very important to me and definitely didn’t disappoint. Connection to my iPhone and iPad was seemless as is switching them. The headphones are extremely well made and so comfortable to wear. I’ve worn these for several hours and have actually forgotten that I was wearing an over the head pair of headphones. The quality of sound is next level and the noise cancellation is literally perfect. Overall I know they are pricey, but honestly it’s worth the price to have a premium experience.

Les AirPods Max d’Apple offrent une qualité exceptionnelle grâce à leur conception premium en aluminium et maille respirante. Le casque circum-aural délivre un son riche et détaillé, avec des basses profondes, médiums nuancés et une spatialisation immersive via l’audio spatial. La puce H1 ajuste en temps réel le rendu sonore pour une expérience hi-fi sans fil. La réduction active du bruit (ANC) est de niveau professionnel, surpassant de nombreux concurrents grâce à une isolation passive correcte et un traitement logiciel ultra-efficace. Le mode transparence est naturel et sans distorsion. Confort et autonomie Malgré leur poids, ils restent confortables sur longue durée, avec un arceau rotulé et des coussinets aimantés remplaçables. L’autonomie atteint 20 heures en ANC + audio spatial, avec recharge rapide (1h30 pour 5 min). Points forts pour un casque haut de gamme Qualité de fabrication irréprochable, commandes physiques intuitives et excellente polyvalence pour musique, appels et films. Idéal pour l’écosystème Apple.

Die Apple AirPods Max überzeugen auf ganzer Linie. Die Klangqualität ist herausragend – extrem klar, ausgewogen und mit kräftigem Bass, ohne dabei Details zu verlieren. Das aktive Noise Cancelling gehört zu den besten auf dem Markt und blendet Umgebungsgeräusche nahezu vollständig aus. Besonders beeindruckend ist auch der Transparenzmodus, der sich sehr natürlich anfühlt. Die Verarbeitung ist hochwertig, das Design edel und der Tragekomfort auch bei längerer Nutzung sehr angenehm. In Kombination mit Apple-Geräten funktioniert alles nahtlos: Koppeln, Wechsel zwischen Geräten und Bedienung sind kinderleicht. Zwar sind die AirPods Max preislich im oberen Segment angesiedelt, die Qualität und das Nutzererlebnis rechtfertigen den Preis jedoch absolut. Klare Kaufempfehlung!

I enjoy the spatial audio. I use it for movies with apple tv 4k and don’t have any noticeable lip sync issues. Noise cancelling works really well. So it’s a really good solution to have great audio while not disturbing the kids while they sleep.

Very comfortable and good sound!

Uso queste Apple AirPods Max da un po’ e la prima cosa che colpisce è la qualità costruttiva: materiali solidi, sensazione premium e attenzione ai dettagli davvero alta. A livello audio siamo su un altro livello rispetto a molte cuffie consumer. Il suono è pulito, ben bilanciato e mai “sparato”. I bassi sono presenti ma non invadenti, medi e alti molto definiti. Perfette per chi vuole ascoltare musica in modo più fedele, non solo “potente”. La cancellazione del rumore è tra le migliori che abbia provato: in viaggio o in ambienti rumorosi ti isola davvero tanto. Anche la modalità trasparenza è fatta benissimo, sembra quasi di non avere le cuffie. L’integrazione con l’ecosistema Apple è comodissima: passaggio automatico tra dispositivi e connessione immediata, tutto molto fluido. Detto questo, non sono perfette: • sono abbastanza pesanti, dopo sessioni lunghe si sentono • la custodia è discutibile, più un accessorio estetico che realmente protettivo • prezzo alto, chiaramente La batteria è buona e copre tranquillamente una giornata di utilizzo normale. In sintesi: cuffie eccellenti per qualità audio, comfort iniziale e cancellazione del rumore, ma vanno scelte sapendo che sono più “oggetto premium Apple” che soluzione pratica per tutti. Se siete già nell’ecosistema Apple e volete il massimo, difficilmente rimarrete delusi.