I compared the best headphones to Apple, Sony, Bose and Sonos: Here is how AirPods win maximum

Over the years, Bose, Sony, Sonos and Beats have issued premium headphones to compete with each other and Apple. Airpods Max,

I wore all airpods Max’s top contestants, and they excel in each different categories. But for a big dog in this fight, Airpods Max Still kicking. Since his 2020 release (and 2024 re -als), Max has not received several important software or hardware updates, new colors, separated from a USB-C port and support for defective audio through USB-C.

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So, five years later, set on the background of a potential successor in this decline, is the airpods maximum still worth buying? After testing the best headphone in the market, here is my purchase advice.

The Good: Design, device interoperability and great sound

One thing is undisputed: Airpods is a beautiful pair of Max headphones. They are simple, smooth and often copy – yet is never repeated. Stainless steel accents give it an elevated look, no logo or branding makes them look sophisticated, and the digital crown successfully replaces several buttons that can be confused with each other.

Also: Here is how a free software upgrade made Sonos Ace worth her value tag.

In the design category, Sonos is the closest rival to Ace Max. They are also defined by clean lines, a simple design, metal accents and removable magnetic ear pads, but thin earcups and a mild construction. Ace facilitates its own tech on a digital crown with an equally working material key, but is placed in an easy-to-front place on the ear cup.

Ultra Sports from Bose’s calmness enhanced aluminum yoke for durability, but most of the headphones are made of plastic. Similarly, Sony’s XM6 is mostly made with plastic – although with materials that are highly durable.

For Apple users, Airpods Max are fixed over-ear headphone options, thanks to your automated pairing with your iPhone, iPad, MAC or Apple TV. Even when they near their fifth birthday, Airpods Max seems incredible from today’s standard. Apple’s personal spatial audio works beautifully, creating a broad soundstage that is not very computerized.

Also: Why these headphones are still best than Bose – even if they are one year old

In the spatial audio department, Sonos Ace and Beats Studio Pro are fierce contestants, providing equal spatial hearing experiences.

Airpods Max have a lot of noise ability, which is due to their performance with eight microphones for active noise cancellation (ANC). Sonos Ace only performs the maximum in cancellation of environmental noise, but Bose’s coolness is Ultra and Sony’s Kings of the WH-1000xm6 ANC.

However, even after five years, Airpods Max still has a leg on the transparency mode of all its rivals. Apple’s transparency mode is the most obvious, most transparent and most natural-sounding.

Apple headphone’s Aries ear pads, while different from other brands, have also conducted well. They are firm without being rigid, providing a tight yet comfortable seal around your ears for immersion. Polyurethane leather deficiency on the ear pad combines their expenses and user experience simultaneously.

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My colleagues, Kerry Wan, Managing Editor of ZDNET, say that Max’s Aries Kan Pad is one of the best things about him. He said, “I have found that the momi is better than the silicone-based covers found on the silicone-based cover competitive headphones to improve the ears of the Aries style of the Airpods Max, the ears of the Aries style of Max,” they say.

And I have to agree; Aries pads feel better against my skin and manage heat buildup better. But there is great responsibility with great power. Aries pads absorb sweat, oil and odor rather than placing on the surface like the ear pads of the contestants. Thus, you can either throw them into a wash every time or spend money to replace them.

Bad: Software, all things battery life, and an ode to relax

I still respect Apple’s H1 audio processor, but it is clear that it cannot keep the industry with more advanced software features. This is why Airpods Max users appear out of the window for a long time when AirPods Pro 2 users get all cool software updates every September.

These days, cancellation of adaptive noise is all anger. The headphone processors are intelligent enough to hear your environmental noise levels and employ the appropriate amounts of cancellation of noise. This feature can preserve battery life, help with statusal awareness, and can usually be more convenient than manually switching ANC mode.

Also: Sony WH-1000xm6 vs Bose Shantcomfort Ultra: How to choose the best noise-making headphones

I often rip Bose Shantcomfort Ultra’s small 24-hour battery life, but Apple has 20 hours less. Airpods Max have a bad endurance compared to their rivals, testing for about 30 hours with Sonos Ace and Sony XM6 tests.

My advice is that if you do not have at least one apple product, then you should not buy airpods max, and I often explain that to pay for the features you cannot use, such as searching me and personal spatial audio.

Additionally, without a fellow app, the software updates are wrapped in iOS updates, making it impossible to update your airpods without iPhone, iPad or Mac. The Kerry Wan of ZDNET is mainly an Android user, although he accepts shamelessly to update the headphones and hold an iPhone to test the latest features. This is clearly not a case for most users.

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Another surprising warning is that Airpods are a large pair of Max headphones. They are heavier than all their challenges, and their thin net headbands do not work enough as a counterweight for heavy earcips when I wear them longer. Sonos Ace and Bose Quitcomfort Ultra have luxurious earcups and stardier headbands, and when I travel or work on my desk they are better suited to wear for a long time.

ZDNET purchase advice

In form of Airpods Max Prepare to celebrate their fifth anniversary, it is impressive that they are still in the dialogue of premium headphones; This is a will for their performance and future evidence. I have better than bad things to say about them, but I don’t think they are for everyone, not even for a fan of every apple.

If you never deviate from iOS ecosystem and prefer design, great sound, and good noise cancellation, then AirPods Max will serve you well. Just make sure to buy them on sale; it is often.

Consider if you give importance to an airpods maximum-inspired design, comfort, sound and iOS and Android, Sonos IkaIf rest and noise cancellation is at the top of your list, then try Bose Qi UltraIf there is an imperfect sound, it is necessary to cancel the noise of the industry-component, go with you Sony xm6,

And if you want a headphone with a simple, clean design that provides aspects of Apple’s user interface and supports native Android features, Beats Studio Pro Are for you