I compared the best headphones from Apple, Sony, Bose, and Sonos: Here's how the AirPods Max wins

3 hours ago 13

In the past few years, Bose, Sony, Sonos, and Beats have released premium headphones to compete with each other and Apple's AirPods Max.

I've worn all of the AirPods Max's top competitors, and they each excel in different categories. But for an older dog in this fight, the AirPods Max are still kicking. Since their 2020 release (and 2024 re-release), the Max haven't received many significant software or hardware updates, aside from new colors, a USB-C port, and support for lossless audio via USB-C.

Also: The 12 best headphones of 2025

So, five years later, set on the backdrop of a potential successor this fall, are the AirPods Max still worth buying? After testing the best headphones on the market, here's my buying advice.

The good: design, device interoperability, and great sound

One thing is indisputable: the AirPods Max are a beautiful pair of headphones. They are simple, sleek, and often imitated -- yet never replicated. The stainless steel accents give it an elevated look, no logos or branding make them appear sophisticated, and the Digital Crown successfully replaces multiple buttons that can be confused with one another.

Also: Here's how a free software upgrade made the Sonos Ace worth their price tag

In the design category, the Sonos Ace are the Max's closest rival. They're also defined by clean lines, a simple design, metallic accents, and removable magnetic ear pads, but have thinner earcups and a lighter build. The Ace feature their own take on the Digital Crown with a similarly functioning Content Key, but placed in an easier-to-reach spot on the ear cup.

Sonos Ace Content Key and AirPods Max Digital Crown

Bose's QuietComfort Ultra sport aluminum yokes for enhanced durability, but most of the headphone is made of plastic. Similarly, Sony's XM6 is built with mostly plastic -- albeit with materials that are highly sustainable.

For Apple users, the AirPods Max are the definitive over-ear headphones option, thanks to their automatic pairing with your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV. Even as they near their fifth birthday, the AirPods Max still sound incredible by today's standard. Apple's Personalized Spatial Audio works beautifully, creating a wider soundstage that doesn't sound too computerized.

Also: Why these headphones are still the best from Bose - even though they're a year old

In the spatial audio department, the Sonos Ace and Beats Studio Pro are fierce competitors, providing a similar spatial listening experience.

The AirPods Max have great noise-canceling abilities, owing to their performance with eight microphones for active noise cancellation (ANC). The Sonos Ace perform just as well as the Max in canceling environmental noise, but Bose's QuietComfort Ultra and Sony's WH-1000XM6 are the kings of ANC.

However, even five years later, the AirPods Max still have a leg up on all of their competitors' Transparency Modes. Apple's Transparency Mode is the clearest, most transparent, and most natural-sounding.

The mesh ear pads of the Apple headphones, while different from those of other brands, have also held up well. They're firm without being hard, providing a tight yet comfortable seal around your ears for immersion. The lack of polyurethane leather on the ear pads simultaneously adds to their expense and user experience.

Also: I replaced my Bose UltraComfort headphones for the Sony XM6 - here's how it went

My colleague, Kerry Wan, ZDNET's managing editor, says the Max's mesh ear pads are one of the best things about them. "I've found the AirPods Max's mesh-style ear cushions to relieve pressure and sweat build-up better than the waxy, silicone-based covers found on competing headphones," he says.

And I have to agree; the mesh pads feel better against my skin and manage heat buildup better. But with great power comes great responsibility. The mesh pads absorb sweat, oils, and odors instead of keeping them on the surface like the competitors' ear pads. Thus, you can either throw them in the wash every once in a while or spend the money to replace them.

The bad: Software, all things battery life, and an ode to comfort

I still respect Apple's H1 audio processor, but it's clear that it can't keep up with the industry's more advanced software features. That's why AirPods Max users look longingly out the window when AirPods Pro 2 users get all of the cool software updates every September.

These days, adaptive noise cancellation is all the rage. Headphone processors are intelligent enough to listen to your environment's noise levels and employ the appropriate amount of noise cancellation. This feature can preserve battery life, help with situational awareness, and generally be more convenient than manually switching ANC modes.

Also: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Bose QuietComfort Ultra: How to choose the best noise-canceling headphone

I often rag on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra's short 24-hour battery life, but Apple's is shorter at 20 hours. The AirPods Max have poor endurance compared to their competitors, with the Sonos Ace and Sony XM6 testing for around 30 hours with ANC on.

My advice is that you shouldn't buy the AirPods Max if you don't have at least one Apple product, and I often attribute that to paying for features you can't use, like Find My and Personalized Spatial Audio.

Additionally, without a companion app, software updates are wrapped into iOS updates, making it impossible to update your AirPods without an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. ZDNET's Kerry Wan is mainly an Android user, though he shamelessly admits to keeping an iPhone around to update the headphones and test the latest features. That's obviously not the case for most users.

Also: Five iOS 26 features I already can't live without - and how to access them

Another unsurprising caveat is that the AirPods Max are a hefty pair of headphones. They're heavier than all of their challengers, and their thin mesh headband doesn't act as enough of a counterweight for the heavy earcups when I wear them for long periods. The Sonos Ace and Bose QuietComfort Ultra have plushy earcups and sturdier headbands, and they're better suited for long-term wear when I travel or work at my desk.

ZDNET's buying advice

As the AirPods Max prepare to celebrate their fifth anniversary, it's impressive that they're still in the premium headphone conversation; that's a testament to their performance and future proofing. I have more good than bad things to say about them, but I don't think they're for everyone, not even for every Apple fan.

If you never stray from the iOS ecosystem and prioritize design, great sound, and good noise cancellation, the AirPods Max will serve you well. Just be sure to buy them on sale; it happens often.

If you value an AirPods Max-inspired design, comfort, sound, and full compatibility with iOS and Android, consider the Sonos Ace. If comfort and noise cancellation are at the top of your list, try the Bose QC Ultra. If impeccable sound, industry-leading noise cancellation are your must-haves, go with the Sony XM6.

And if you want headphones with a simple, clean design that offers aspects of Apple's user interface and supports native Android features, the Beats Studio Pro are for you.

Read Entire Article