If you’re looking to drop a lot of money on wireless headphones, there are likely at least two big names on your radar: Apple and Sony. While the AirPods Max 2 are well-known for being a wallet-buster at $550, Sony’s 1000X the Collexion (or the WH-1000XX) are actually more expensive at $650.
Given that hefty premium over AirPods Max 2, the inevitable question will be which pair should you really shell out for? Or more precisely, are Sony’s WH-1000XX really giving you $100 more value in terms of sound, noise cancellation, and comfort? Having tested both pairs thoroughly, I’m here to give you some answers.
SonyWH-1000XX vs. AirPods Max 2: Design
One of the biggest differences you’ll notice immediately between the WH-1000XX and the AirPods Max 2 is in the look. While Sony’s wireless headphones, an anniversary pair for 10 years of the 1000X line, are fairly understated, the AirPods Max 2 (despite their minimalist design) stick out. You could argue that the WH-1000XX are boring, but then again, you could say the same for the AirPods Max 2. In my opinion, the WH-1000XX play it very safe, which might be a plus for someone who wants a pair that disappears on their head.
One of the main disparities is the size. AirPods Max 2 have a big footprint, and there’s no denying that these are big cans—and heavy, too. The AirPods Max 2 weigh 66g more than the WH-1000XX, which may not sound like much, but it’s definitely noticeable once they’re on your head.
Then there are the materials. Apple goes with a more obvious aluminum finish on the earcups, whereas Sony goes big on vegan leather in the WH-1000XX, including stainless steel accents on the headband and earcup hinges. If you’re not a fan of either metal or vegan leather, you can make your choice accordingly, but personally, I find the WH-1000XX to be more versatile and capable of blending better with my style.
Hardware-wise, I’ll give Apple the edge in the button department since it has the “digital crown,” which is a rotating knob for volume and other inputs like play/pause. Sony goes with three simple buttons for power and noise modes. That being said, Sony makes up for its less imaginative buttons by having some of the best touch/swipe controls on any wireless headphones I’ve ever used—seriously, it’s no contest. The touchpad on the right earcup of the WH-1000XX is smooth, responsive, and intuitive.
In a design standoff, I’m giving the WH-1000XX the nod here because they’re significantly more compact, and despite the very safe design, they still manage to look premium in a The North Face vest kind of way. If you’re looking for versatility in the looks department and something with a low footprint on your head, the WH-1000XX are the easy pick.
Winner: WH-1000XX
Sony WH-1000XX vs. AirPods Max 2: Sound
Let’s get to the stuff that really matters in a pair of wireless headphones: the sound. In the sound department, these two pairs of wireless headphones are among the best money can buy. The WH-1000XX were designed to expand on the excellent sound of WH-1000XM6 with bespoke carbon drivers and software enhancements like DSEE Ultimate, which is Sony’s top-tier upscaling algorithm.
The result of the drivers in particular is palpable when listening to the WH-1000XX, which are particularly good at handling treble and have a generally “warm” tuning with great stereo separation and a big soundstage. These wireless headphones aren’t bassy, by any means, but that’s okay in my book since pairs that accentuate low end tend to do so at the cost of clarity. Sony’s WH-1000XX, on the other hand, are very clean and clear.
The WH-1000X get even better when you enable custom EQ through the Sony app, too, which can tailor tuning to your specific taste/hearing.
The thing is, Apple’s AirPods Max 2 are known equally for their sound quality. Like the WH-1000XX, the AirPods Max 2 have great stereo separation and a wide soundstage—frequencies in the midrange sound rich and clear, and bass is present, rendered tastefully, and isn’t overpowering. While Apple doesn’t make you do a hearing test to activate its custom EQ, it does have Adaptive EQ, which runs in the background and adjusts sound based on the fit and the shape of your ear.
Because both pairs have EQ features to take advantage of that can affect sound, I decided to compare the WH-1000XX with custom tuning activated, and the result is… a tie. To be honest, they’re both great-sounding wireless headphones, and with Sony’s custom tuning on (it accentuates higher frequencies in my case), I couldn’t personally say that one pair sounded markedly better than the other.
Despite being a tie, this might actually be more of a win for Apple since the WH-1000XX cost a full $100 more.
Winner: Tie
Sony WH-1000XX vs. AirPods Max 2: Comfort
Comfort is a major category where wireless headphones are concerned, since there’s just more contact with your head than with other gadgets. Again, both of these pairs are known for prioritizing comfort, but there are some notable differences that might sway your opinion on which to buy.
Let’s start with the WH-1000XX, which Sony tweaked to be more comfortable than the WH-1000XM6. One of the main differences is in the headband, which has more padding compared to the WH-1000XM6. The earcups are redesigned compared to the WH-1000XM6 to be more compact, but also roomier inside to allow for more room for your ears. This helps ensure sound isn’t obscured and also makes them feel more breathable.
The WH-1000XX are among the most comfortable wireless headphones I’ve put on my ears and might be even more comfortable than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), which literally have comfort in the name.
AirPods Max 2, though they have a much bigger footprint, are still very comfortable. Instead of the memory foam and vegan leather used on the WH-1000XX, the AirPods Max 2 make copious use of mesh in the earcups and headband for breathability. The mesh headband won’t be for everyone, though, since it’s not necessarily a cushion as much as it’s meant to be minimally invasive and malleable. It’s also likely meant to help reduce the weight of the AirPods Max 2, which, as I mentioned before, are a good deal heavier than the WH-1000XX.
Both are very comfortable pairs of wireless headphones, but if I were to choose (and today I am choosing), I’m going with the WH-1000XX here due to the extra cushion, lower weight, and the roomy earcups that still manage to keep the overall profile low.
Winner: WH-1000XX
Sony WH-1000XX vs. AirPods Max 2: Battery life and features
Close calls abound in the battle between the WH-1000XX and the AirPods Max 2, and battery life/features continue that heated rivalry.
Let’s talk battery first: the WH-1000XX get 24 hours of battery with ANC on, while the AirPods Max 2 get 20 hours. In battery life, more is more, and Sony beats Apple here, though not by a ton.
Features, however, are a different story. Both pairs have adaptive ANC, transparency, conversation awareness, and spatial sound, but not all of those are created equal. Apple’s transparency, for example, feels significantly more refined when it comes to transparency in particular—microphones make audio passthrough from your environment sound less tinny and artificial, making transparency generally less jarring to use.
Both pairs also have spatial sound with dynamic head tracking, but Apple wins here too, in my opinion. I’m not a huge fan of spatial sound in general, but Apple’s AirPods Max 2 do a better job of adding a 3D element without ruining the mix. Sony’s 360 Upmix technology is just too jarring for me and not something I would care to use much.
Both pairs also have custom EQ, though Apple’s runs in the background, whereas Sony’s is a test that you have to take in its dedicated app. It’s hard to say which works better since you can’t really turn Apple’s version off, but I do like that Apple’s adaptive EQ is on by default. If the feature really works, why not just give me the best possible sound at all possible times?
Let’s not forget that, if you have an iPhone, Apple’s AirPods Max 2 feel seamless to use, too. Sony still enables a lot through its Sound Connect app, but the experience of using it just isn’t ever going to be as integrated as a first-party Apple product. No fault of Sony’s here, but Apple has tight control over its own dominion.
It’s another close call, but I’m going to give AirPods Max 2 the point here since the features feel a little more refined. I think the added sophistication in the software department is worth sacrificing a few hours of battery life for.
Winner: AirPods Max 2
Sony WH-1000X vs. AirPods Max 2: ANC
The ability to block out noise is a major consideration for every pair of wireless headphones nowadays, but for a pair that you’re shelling out upwards of $500 for, it’s even more important. The good news is that both Sony and Apple are known for excellent ANC, and the AirPods Max 2 and WH-1000XX don’t disappoint.
The WH-1000XX might technically be less adept at ANC than the WH-1000XM6, by Sony’s own admission, but they’re still far superior to most wireless headphones on the market. I wore the WH-1000XX on the subway in New York City and got some noise (rumbles and screeching), but not enough to take me out of my music. In quieter settings, the WH-1000XX are pretty overpowered. I can’t hear myself typing on a laptop or people speaking when I have them on, and they block out the vast majority of street noise when I walk down the sidewalk.
The AirPods Max 2 are a similar story. They ANC is 1.5x more effective than the original AirPods Max, and I put them through all of the same paces as the WH-1000XX. Like Sony’s premium wireless headphones, I could barely hear the loud subway, and conversations were completely drowned out when I had the AirPods Max 2 on.
To my ears, the battle between Sony and Apple is too close to call. I think either pair will be enough for the vast majority of people, and both rise to the level of excellence that you would expect for a pair of wireless headphones that makes your wallet shiver in fear.
Winner: Tie
Our winner
So, what we’ve established is that both pairs of wireless headphones are great. They both have excellent sound, they both have excellent ANC, and they share a lot of the same features.
Which pair appeals to you will depend on your priorities. I think the WH-1000XX beat AirPods Max 2 in terms of comfort and looks, but then again, the margin isn’t huge. The AirPods Max 2 are still comfortable, despite their size, and if you have the head to pull them off, they can also look pretty clean. Even if the WH-1000XX technically beat or tie the AirPods Max 2 in some categories, they’re $100 more expensive, which means you’ll really have to weigh if the advantages are worth the extra cost.
For me, sound and ANC are still the most important things at the end of the day, and the AirPods Max 2 deliver with the same level of excellence in those categories for $100 less, so if you can deal with the extra bulk that AirPods Max bring, Apple feels like a good place to drop an eye-watering amount of money.
