Airpods Max vs. Sony Wh-1000xm4: Which Headphones Reign?
Struggling to choose between premium headphones? You’re not alone. The battle between the Apple AirPods Max and the Sony WH-1000XM4 is a hot topic for audiophiles and everyday listeners alike. Both offer top-tier features, but which one truly deserves a spot on your head?
This in-depth comparison dives into the core aspects of each headphone. We’ll explore their design, sound quality, noise cancellation capabilities, and overall value. Get ready to discover which headphones suit your needs and preferences best.
The AirPods Max, with its sleek design and Apple ecosystem integration, takes on the powerhouse Sony WH-1000XM4, known for its exceptional noise cancellation and comfortable fit. This comparison will help you navigate the features and determine which is the better purchase.
Specs at a Glance
| Feature | AirPods Max | WH-1000XM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Codec Support | AAC | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | No |
| Weight | 384.8 g | 254 g |
| Ear Cup Material | Aluminum | Plastic |
| Headband Material | Stainless Steel, Mesh | Plastic, Soft Touch |
| Charging Port | Lightning | USB-C |
| Touch Controls | Digital Crown & Button | Touchpad |
| Multipoint Pairing | No | Yes |
| Wearing Detection | Yes | Yes |
Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
Design and Build Quality
- Apple Airpods Max: Features a stainless steel frame, aluminum earcups, and a breathable knit mesh canopy. Offers a premium, luxurious feel and solid build. However, the weight can be a concern for some, and the included Smart Case offers limited protection.
- Sony Wh 1000xm4: Constructed from plastic with a more understated design. Feels comfortable and lightweight, making it suitable for extended use. While less premium-feeling than the AirPods Max, it’s more practical and durable for everyday wear.
- Winner: Sony
Sound Quality
- Apple Airpods Max: Delivers a balanced and detailed sound signature with excellent clarity and a wide soundstage. Offers impressive spatial audio capabilities for immersive listening. The sound can sometimes be perceived as slightly bright for some listeners.
- Sony Wh 1000xm4: Produces a warm, rich, and well-balanced sound with a powerful bass response. Offers a customizable EQ via the Sony Headphones Connect app. Some may find the sound less detailed than the AirPods Max, but it’s generally pleasing.
- Winner: Tie
Noise Cancellation
- Apple Airpods Max: Provides exceptional noise cancellation, effectively blocking out a wide range of ambient sounds. Performs extremely well in various environments, from noisy commutes to busy offices.
- Sony Wh 1000xm4: Boasts industry-leading noise cancellation, rivaling the AirPods Max in effectiveness. Does an excellent job of eliminating distractions and creating a quiet listening experience.
- Winner: Tie
Microphone Quality
- Apple Airpods Max: Offers excellent microphone performance for calls and voice commands, with clear and natural voice reproduction. Performs well in noisy environments, minimizing background distractions.
- Sony Wh 1000xm4: Provides good microphone quality, suitable for calls and voice assistants. While not quite as crisp as the AirPods Max, it’s still quite effective and functional.
- Winner: Apple
Controls and Connectivity
- Apple Airpods Max: Features intuitive digital crown and button controls for volume, playback, and Siri activation. Seamlessly integrates with the Apple ecosystem, offering easy pairing and device switching.
- Sony Wh 1000xm4: Uses touch controls on the earcups for playback, volume, and call management, and provides a physical button for power and custom functions. Offers multi-device pairing and supports a wider range of codecs.
- Winner: Apple
Battery Life
- Apple Airpods Max: Offers around 20 hours of listening time with noise cancellation enabled. Provides quick charging capabilities, with a short charge yielding a significant playback boost.
- Sony Wh 1000xm4: Boasts excellent battery life, providing up to 30 hours of listening time with noise cancellation enabled. Offers fast charging and is generally superior in this category.
- Winner: Sony
Price
- Apple Airpods Max: Significantly more expensive than the Sony WH-1000XM4, representing a premium investment. The high price point is a major barrier for many potential buyers.
- Sony Wh 1000xm4: Generally more affordable than the AirPods Max, providing excellent value for the features offered. Represents a more accessible option for a wider range of consumers.
- Winner: Sony
Portability and Accessories
- Apple Airpods Max: The included Smart Case offers limited protection and does not fully power down the headphones, leading to potential battery drain. The design is less compact than the Sony headphones.
- Sony Wh 1000xm4: Comes with a more practical and protective carrying case. The foldable design makes them more compact and easier to transport.
- Winner: Sony
Winner by Category
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Overall Sound Quality | Tie |
| Noise Cancellation | Tie |
| Comfort | Tie |
| Design & Build Quality | AirPods Max |
| Features | Sony WH-1000XM4 |
| Value | Sony WH-1000XM4 |
| Ecosystem Integration | AirPods Max |
What They Have in Common
- Active Noise Cancellation: Both headphones feature excellent active noise cancellation, effectively blocking out ambient noise for an immersive listening experience.
- Bluetooth Connectivity: Both utilize Bluetooth 5.0 for a stable and reliable wireless connection to your devices.
- Transparency Mode: Both models offer a transparency mode, allowing you to hear your surroundings without removing the headphones.
- Comfort: Both the AirPods Max and the WH-1000XM4 are designed with comfort in mind, making them suitable for extended listening sessions.
- On-Ear Detection: Both headphones have wearing detection, automatically pausing and playing audio when you take them off or put them on.
Apple Airpods Max Vs Sony Wh-1000XM4 Buying Guide
Design and Comfort
The Apple AirPods Max sport a sleek, over-ear design with a stainless steel frame and breathable mesh canopy. They offer a premium feel but are significantly heavier than the Sony WH-1000XM4. The earcups are made of memory foam and provide a comfortable fit, though some users find the weight and limited adjustment options less ideal for extended wear. The Sony WH-1000XM4, on the other hand, prioritize lightweight comfort with a plastic build and plush earcups. They are generally considered more comfortable for long listening sessions, and their design is more suitable for portability.
Sound Quality and Noise Cancellation
Both headphones deliver exceptional sound quality and noise cancellation, but with distinct characteristics. The AirPods Max offer a balanced and detailed sound profile with excellent spatial audio capabilities, creating an immersive listening experience. The Sony WH-1000XM4 are praised for their powerful bass response and effective noise cancellation, blocking out a wide range of ambient sounds. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your preferred sound signature. The AirPods Max excel in clarity while the Sony’s lead with customization.
Features and Functionality
The AirPods Max seamlessly integrate with the Apple ecosystem, offering features like automatic device switching, easy pairing, and spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. They also include intuitive controls on the Digital Crown. The Sony WH-1000XM4, while not as deeply integrated with any one ecosystem, offer a wider range of features, including customizable EQ settings, speak-to-chat, and multipoint pairing. The Sony headphones also include a physical button for easy control of the noise cancellation levels.
Microphone and Call Quality
Both headphones provide excellent microphone performance for calls, but the AirPods Max often have a slight edge in clarity and noise reduction, particularly in windy conditions. The beamforming microphones in the AirPods Max effectively isolate your voice, ensuring clear communication. The Sony WH-1000XM4 also offer good call quality, with noise-canceling capabilities that help to minimize background distractions. The controls on the AirPods Max are better placed and more convenient.
Battery Life and Charging
The AirPods Max offer up to 20 hours of listening time with active noise cancellation enabled. They charge via a Lightning port. The Sony WH-1000XM4 provide a longer battery life, up to 30 hours with noise cancellation on, and charge via USB-C. The Sony headphones also have a quick-charging feature that provides several hours of playback with a short charge. The Sony headphones have a more modern charging port.
Price and Value
The Apple AirPods Max are significantly more expensive than the Sony WH-1000XM4. This price difference reflects the premium materials and the seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. The Sony WH-1000XM4 offer excellent value, providing top-tier sound quality, noise cancellation, and features at a more accessible price point. Consider your budget and priorities when making your decision. The Sony is a better value for the features it offers.
Who Should Buy What?
Buy AirPods Max If…
- You’re deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem and prioritize seamless integration with your other Apple devices.
- You value the premium build quality and design aesthetics of the AirPods Max.
- You want a spatial audio experience for an immersive listening experience.
- You prefer the ease of use and simplicity of the Digital Crown controls.
Buy Sony WH-1000XM4 If…
- You prioritize value and are looking for a more affordable option.
- You need multi-device pairing.
- You want a more lightweight and foldable design for portability.
- You prefer a wider selection of codec support, including LDAC, for higher-quality audio streaming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the AirPods Max worth the price?
The AirPods Max are a premium product with a correspondingly high price tag. Whether they are “worth it” depends on your priorities. If you are deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem and appreciate high-fidelity audio and seamless integration, they may be a worthwhile investment. However, if budget is a primary concern, the Sony WH-1000XM4 offer a compelling alternative at a lower cost.
Which headphones have better noise cancellation?
Both the AirPods Max and the Sony WH-1000XM4 have excellent noise cancellation. The Sony WH-1000XM4 are often praised for their effectiveness in blocking out a wide range of ambient sounds, including low-frequency noises like airplane engines. The AirPods Max also provide exceptional noise cancellation, but their performance is very similar to the Sony’s. The Sony’s are probably slightly better.
Do the AirPods Max work with Android devices?
Yes, the AirPods Max can be used with Android devices. However, you will miss out on some of the exclusive features that are designed for the Apple ecosystem, such as automatic device switching and spatial audio. Pairing is done through Bluetooth, and you’ll be able to use the basic functions of the headphones, such as playing and pausing music and taking calls.
Which headphones are better for travel?
The Sony WH-1000XM4 are generally considered better for travel due to their lighter weight, more compact design, and longer battery life. While the AirPods Max offer excellent sound quality and noise cancellation, their heavier build and the lack of a folding design make them less convenient for portability. The Sony headphones are a better choice for air travel.
How do the controls compare?
The AirPods Max feature a Digital Crown and a noise control button for volume adjustment, track control, and activating Siri. The Sony WH-1000XM4 use touch controls on the earcups for similar functions and a physical button for the noise cancellation mode. The Digital Crown is more intuitive, but the touch controls on the Sony’s work well too.
What is spatial audio?
Spatial audio is a feature exclusive to the AirPods Max that creates an immersive listening experience by using dynamic head tracking. This technology adjusts the sound based on your head movements, making it feel like the sound is coming from different directions. The Sony WH-1000XM4 do not offer spatial audio, but they have excellent sound quality.
Which headphones are better for phone calls?
Both headphones offer excellent call quality, but the AirPods Max often have a slight edge. Their beamforming microphones and noise cancellation capabilities help to isolate your voice and reduce background noise, resulting in clearer calls, even in challenging environments. The Sony WH-1000XM4 still offer very good call quality, and are a good choice.
Final Verdict
Both the Apple AirPods Max and the Sony WH-1000XM4 are exceptional noise-canceling headphones. The AirPods Max excels in sound clarity, build quality, and integration with the Apple ecosystem. However, the Sony WH-1000XM4 offers a more balanced package, including superior battery life, a more comfortable design, and a lower price point. For most users, the Sony WH-1000XM4 represents the better value and overall experience.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM4