Home / Compare / Headphones / Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Apple AirPods Max Headphones Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Apple AirPods Max Two premium ANC headphones compared. The Sony XM5 vs the Apple AirPods Max for Mac users.
Quick Winner
Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony XM5 offers better ANC, longer battery, lighter weight, and lower price. The AirPods Max is only better for Apple ecosystem purists.
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Score Sony WH-1000XM5
4.7/5
★★★★★
Apple AirPods Max
4.4/5
★★★★☆
Comparison Table Spec Sony WH-1000XM5 Apple AirPods Max Price $399 $549 ANC Excellent Very Good Battery 30 hours 20 hours Weight 250g 385g Apple Integration Good Perfect Portability Folds Does not fold
Pros Pros $250 cheaper Better ANC Longer battery (30 vs 20 hours) Lighter weight (250g vs 385g) Folds for travel Pros Seamless Apple ecosystem Spatial Audio Premium aluminum build Better iOS integration Cons Cons No Apple ecosystem integration Cons $250 more expensive Shorter battery (20 hours) Heavy (385g) Does not fold No USB-C (Lightning only) Who Wins? All-Apple household Apple AirPods Max Budget priority Sony WH-1000XM5 Travel frequently Sony WH-1000XM5 Long listening sessions Sony WH-1000XM5 Cross-platform (Mac + Android) Sony WH-1000XM5 FAQ Are the AirPods Max worth $250 more? Only if you value seamless Apple ecosystem integration and spatial audio. For most users, the Sony XM5 is the better value.
Which is more comfortable for long sessions? The Sony XM5 is lighter (250g vs 385g) and more comfortable for 6+ hour sessions. The AirPods Max can cause neck fatigue.
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