Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Apple AirPods Max: Battle for the best headphones

Sony’s latest WH-1000XM5 headphones hold the crown for some of the best active noise canceling (ANC) headphones, especially for those without iOS devices. The older WH-1000XM4 held their own against the Apple AirPods Max, but how does the Sony WH-1000XM5? In this Sony WH-1000XM5 vs AirPods Max showdown, we pit the headphones head to head to see who comes out on top.

Editor’s note: this article was updated on August 2, 2024, to adjust some language and formatting for clarity.

Does the Sony WH-1000XM5 have a better design than the AirPods Max?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 and Apple AirPods Max have a lot in common. Both pairs of headphones have comfortable ear pads and smooth telescoping headband arms for adjusting the fit. Both headphones can rotate the earcups to lay flat, but despite their minimalist designs, neither has folding hinges.

The AirPods Max has a mainly metal build with a stainless steel headband and aluminum ear cups. Plush ear pads encompass the entire ear, and a mesh canopy acts as a cushion for the headband. It’s comfortable, but it is quite heavy, weighing in at 386g. The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a plastic build, making it lighter than the AirPods Max at 250g, though this isn’t particularly light for a headset. On the Sony headset, the ear pads are made of memory foam with a leatherette wrap that makes it comfortable for extended listening sessions.

You don’t get any kind of water resistance from either headset, and you should avoid getting either wet. This is unfortunate for those who live in rainy places, but both pairs of headphones are best suited for indoor use or use in drier climates. If you really want a pair of workout headphones, there are a handful of good and durable options.

How do you control the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the AirPods Max?

The ear cups of both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the AirPods Max have controls, but they operate differently. On the right ear cup of the AirPods Max, you’ll find a Digital Crown that adjusts the volume and playback controls. There’s also a Noise Control button for toggling noise canceling and transparency mode. You can also summon Siri by saying “Hey Siri” or pressing and holding the digital crown button (iOS only).

The Sony WH-1000XM5 uses a touchpad on the right headphone and buttons on the left. If you’re familiar with the controls for the Sony WH-1000XM4, this is the same.

Both headsets have a sensor that detects when you wear or remove them and plays or pauses music accordingly. However, the auto-pause feature on the AirPods Max is exclusive to Apple devices, while with Sony’s headphones, it works with any operating system.

How do the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the AirPods Max connect to devices?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 uses Bluetooth 5.2 and supports the SBC, AAC, and LDAC Bluetooth codecs. Android phones streaming over LDAC will transmit high-quality audio to the XM5 headphones. We recommend the LDAC 660kbps option for the most consistent results. On the other hand, the AirPods Max only uses Bluetooth 5.0 and supports the SBC and AAC codecs.

You also get a few extras with the WH-1000XM5, including analog audio connectivity and Bluetooth multipoint, meaning you can switch between two devices seamlessly with this headset. The AirPods Max lacks analog connectivity and uses a digital Lightning connection instead (Lightning-t0-3.5mm cable not included). If you use it with a modern iPhone, you’ll also need to purchase a 3.5mm-to-Lightning adapter, which totals an extra ~$44. Apple’s headphones don’t have Bluetooth multipoint, but you can seamlessly switch between Apple devices signed into the same iCloud account.

If you care a lot about a stable connection and high-quality listening across platforms, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is the better option.

How do you control the WH-1000XM5 or the AirPods Max?

When looking to buy a new set of headphones, compatibility is key. You can only control or customize the AirPods Max through the Settings app on iOS and iPadOS devices, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 has the Sony Headphones Connect app, which is available on iOS and Android. This means the experience for AirPods Max will lack a lot on Android devices, while the Sony WH-1000XM5 is platform agnostic. For this reason, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is a much more versatile option if you ever plan on using an Android device while you own this headset.

The Sony Headphones app gives you access to features like Sony 360 Audio, an equalizer, ANC optimization, Find My Headphones, and Google Fast Pair. The last two features do require a lot of personal information, like access to personal data and location. These software features really do make a difference, and the app is also important for getting firmware updates.

The iOS or iPadOS Settings app allows AirPods Max owners to access features like Apple’s Spatial Audio, find my AirPods, fast switching between other Apple devices on the same iCloud account, and firmware updates. Since these features are tied to the Settings app, Android users won’t be able to access them. You can’t even get firmware updates for the AirPods Max on Android, so let that be a warning to Android users considering this headset.

Do Apple or Sony’s headphones have better battery life?

The AirPods Max doesn’t have a power button; instead, it enters a lower power mode once inside its case. The battery life of the AirPods Max is close to 21 hours with ANC on, but with battery depletion being an issue, you might not get to enjoy that to the full extent. If you lose the case or hate using it, you may not have enough battery to last you multiple commutes. The AirPods Max comes with a Lightning-to-USB-C cable for charging but doesn’t come with a USB-C charging brick (typical for headphones), so you’ll have to figure out that part on your own.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 lasts 31 hours 53 minutes with ANC on, far outdoing the AirPods Max. The headset charges via USB-C, and if you need to charge it fast, three minutes of charging will give you 180 minutes of playback. If you don’t have your charger on hand, you can listen with a wired 3.5mm connection instead.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is definitely the right choice for battery life since it doesn’t continually drain the battery when not in use. It’ll be reliable for multiple commutes a week, and the wired listening and fast charging options make it even better.

Which has better noise canceling, the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Apple AirPods Max?

Most over-ear headphones can only really block out mid and high frequencies on their own. Low-frequency sounds like droning airplane sounds or trucks passing by get through easily when you’re relying on isolation alone. That’s where active noise canceling comes in.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 has fantastic noise canceling, assisted greatly by impressive isolation. Noise attenuation at frequencies above 1kHz betters the AirPods Max by around 10 dB. That’s a huge difference. Low frequencies like trains and street noise will be reduced to about one-eighth of their original perceived loudness. This makes it a great choice for commuters.

The Apple AirPods Max’s ANC performance is also fantastic. Its ability to cancel out noise up to 2kHz makes for a great distraction-free listening experience. However, its isolation performance means it loses to Sony at higher frequencies.

Comparing the two headsets, both cancel out similarly impressive amounts of low-frequency noise to below 100Hz. While both are good choices for canceling out low, droning noises, the Airpods Max wins out in the mid-range, but the Sony WH-1000XM5 does a better job at handling high-range sounds due to better isolation.

Which headphones have better sound quality?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 sounds great but deviates a little from our target curve in some areas, like the bass range, where there’s some extra emphasis (100-200Hz in particular), and the highs, where there’s some variation. If you’re not into a bass-heavy sound, you may find it to be a bit much, but you can easily adjust the headset’s EQ to your liking.

The AirPods Max also sounds really great, but has different sonic goals to the Sony WH-1000XM5. The frequency response of this headset follows our target curve in a lot of key areas, except for a bit of a dip around 5kHz (to help with spatial cues) and a little bit of a boost in the sub-bass range, below 40Hz. Music generally sounds great in this headset, and it’ll appeal to most listeners.

The chart below shows how the sound of the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Apple AirPods Max were assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

By default, both headsets have good sound quality that most consumers will enjoy, and industry-leading isolation and noise canceling from both headsets ensure you won’t have problems with outside noise affecting how your music sounds. If you want a more bassy sound, the Sony WH-1000XM5 has you covered. The Apple AirPods Max is likely a better choice for those seeking less obvious bass and treble emphasis. Though it is possible to equalize both to your liking, it’s easier to achieve on the Sony WH-1000XM5—particularly if you’re on Android devices.

Which headset has a better microphone?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a great microphone system and standout noise suppression. Wind noises are inaudible in our recording made with simulated wind noise (below), demonstrating its thorough effectiveness. This is due to its eight-microphone array and noise rejection algorithm, which makes for high-quality phone calls whether you’re in your home or outside in noise or wind.

The Apple AirPods Max microphone system is no slouch either, but the overall experience is inferior. Noise and wind aren’t entirely removed, and there are audible processing artifacts. This is further compounded by variable behavior and performance depending on the operating system of your connected device.

Sony WH-1000XM5 microphone demo (Wind):

Apple AirPods Max microphone demo (Wind):

Needless to say, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is the obvious pick here for microphone quality, especially when it comes to sub-optimal conditions. You will get very good microphone quality with very little outside noise intruding, so phone calls and virtual meetings should reliably be clear and intelligible through this headset. Be sure to vote and let us know what you think.

Sony WH-1000XM5 microphone demo (Ideal):

Apple AirPods Max microphone demo (Ideal):

Should you buy the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Apple AirPods Max?

First, it’s important to know your limitations. You should only get the Apple AirPods Max if you own an iPhone. Your experience will greatly suffer without access to the Settings app on an iOS device, and it will absolutely not be worth the money.

However, even if you are an Apple user with no intention of switching, you should wait for the Apple AirPods Max sequel unless you can snag a killer deal on the originals. In that case, you’ll gain some of the niceties of Apple products with the AirPods Max, like device switching (with the same iCloud account) and full integration with iOS. If you don’t care that you can’t turn the headphones off without the case or that wired listening is not possible, this might be the headset for you.

Whether you own an Android or Apple device, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is a fantastic option. The noise canceling is amazing, the noise rejection on the microphone is stellar, and the ability to change your EQ to your liking is great. With great features like speak-to-chat, transparency mode, Sony 360 Audio, ear detection, and multipoint, this pair of headphones is great and worth its price.

What are some alternatives to the Sony WH-1000XM5 vs AirPods Max?

Bose’s latest QuietComfort Ultra headphones occupy a sweet spot in price point, going for $30 more than the Sony WH-1000XM5 and $120 less than the Apple AirPods Max. For the price of $429, Android users get the latest Snapdragon Sound technology, which is set to stay relevant for years to come, and some of the best noise cancelation currently on offer. They also sport spatial audio with head tracking and a better battery life than the AirPods Max.

If you like the sound of the Sony WH-1000XM5 but don’t want to spend quite as much, consider the previous models, the Sony WH-1000XM4 ($278 at Amazon) or the Sony WH-1000XM3 ($349.99 at Best Buy). Both have excellent noise canceling and sound great and are now available at reduced prices since they’re both a few years old. Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Sony WH-1000XM4 article to learn more.

Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless offers better sound quality than either of these headphones, though this product is far poorer at active noise cancelation. Given that the Sennheiser headphones are also less expensive, they may be a better value than the Sony or Apple offerings. You can find it for $289.23 at Amazon.

If you want noise canceling headphones for a more affordable price than any of these options, consider the Monoprice BT-600ANC. It’s only $84.99 at Amazon, has aptX HD and AAC support, and has good battery life on top of the good ANC. This is a great option for students on a budget who want to block out the sound of their commute or the library for a good study session.

If you want a more portable option, consider the Sony WF-1000XM5 or the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). Both are noise canceling wireless earbuds and are better for people who might get caught in the rain, considering they both have IPX4 ratings. The WF-1000XM5 is a good choice for anyone, regardless of which type of phone they use. It uses the Sony Headphones app for firmware updates, EQ, and other customization options.

The Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) is a good option for iPhone owners since you can access the full range of features only if you have an iOS or iPadOS device. Like the AirPods Max, the AirPods Pro isn’t the best for Android users, although the latest version does now support USB-C charging, so they won’t have to buy another cable.

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