When the AirPods Max 2 came out, I wrote an article comparing them to the original AirPods Max for Apple users who were considering upgrading. But some folks seemed more interested in my thoughts on how the Max 2 compare to Sony's WH-1000XM6, which are among the very best noise-canceling headphones out there right now.
Both headphones earned CNET Editors' Choice awards -- and both are expensive. The AirPods Max's high price was a source of contention when the original model launched in 2020, and the Max 2 also lists for $549. Pricing consumer headphones at more than $500 was a little shocking six years ago, but that didn't stop people from buying the Max and setting a new benchmark for premium noise-canceling headphone prices, with top models from Bose, Sony and Bowers & Wilkins all receiving price hikes in recent years.
It's a bit early for significant discounts on the Max 2, but later this year, they should settle in around $500 on Amazon, so you're looking at about a $100 to $150 price bump to get them instead of the XM6, which retail for $450, but are typically discounted to around $400 in flash sales.
You can read my AirPods Max 2 review and Sony WH-1000XM6 review at those links.Â
Design
On the outside, anyway, the Max 2 are exactly the same as the Max USB-C, which came out in late 2024, and they're available in the same five color options.
You can argue about which design is better and which model is more comfortable, but I'd have to give the Max 2 the advantage for pure build quality. These are headphones with a stainless steel frame, aluminum-clad earcups, smooth telescoping arms and swanky earpads that adhere magnetically and are easily replaceable. And then there's that sweet digital crown to adjust volume and control playback.
The Max 2's digital crown controls playback and allows you to answer and end calls. You can also answer or decline a call with head gestures.Â
Aside from their minimalist smart case, which I don't love, the Max 2 have a more luxurious and durable design than the XM6. The Sonys are made primarily out of high-tech plastic and carbon-fiber composite, and their hinges aren't immune to cracking despite their metal reinforcements, according to some user reports. The problem doesn't seem nearly as prevalent as it was with some earlier Sony models, and I haven't had any issues with my XM6. But online, you will find some photos of cracked or broken XM6 hinges and arms.  Â
The trade-off for build quality is weight. The Max 2 weighs 386.2 grams or 13.6 ounces, while the XM6 weigh 254 grams or 9 ounces. The Max 2 are well-balanced and do a nice job distributing that extra weight on your head, with their breathable mesh knit canopy that spans the top of the headband. They don't seem as heavy on your head as they feel in your hand. Most people will find both headphones quite comfortable, but you can't get around the fact that the Max 2 are on the weightier side for headphones, and that may be a downside for some people, whether they're on your head or in a bag, which you have to carry around with other things, such as a laptop.
The WH-1000XM6 folded in its case.
It's also not a good idea to drop the Max 2 on pavement because the aluminum can get dinged up or scratched. I'm pretty good about not dropping my headphones, but I put clear plastic earcup covers on my original Max as a precaution, especially after my daughter kept borrowing them from me. I should also note that the earpads and canopy can get a little stained and dirty if you're not careful, especially the lighter colors. My kids don't treat their headphones as well as I do, so I ended up having to replace the earpads for $69, though I did make my daughter pay for those replacements with her own money.
Winner: AirPods Max 2 win for build quality and durability, but the Sony WH-1000XM6 are well designed and will appeal to those looking for lighter headphones. The XM6 also have a dual-hinge design that allows them to fold up and flat (the Max 2 simply folds flat). I grade this a draw. Â
Features
The Max 2 have the edge in features as well, especially after Apple upgraded the Max 2 with the H2 chip, which essentially adds all the features found in the AirPods Pro 3 to the Max 2. These include Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, Live Translation and Siri Interactions that allow you to use head gestures to answer and ignore calls or dismiss audio notifications. The Max 2 also support studio-quality audio recording and Apple's camera remote feature using the digital crown. Both are useful for content creators.
Conversation Awareness is a feature that lends itself well to the AirPods Max 2.Â
The XM6 also offer a strong set of features, including Sony's Speak-to-Chat feature, which preceded Apple's Conversation Awareness feature. While they have different names, they both automatically lower the volume of the audio you're listening to and shift the headphones from noise-canceling mode to transparency mode as soon as you start talking, letting you have a conversation without taking your headphones off.
But the AirPods Max 2 are designed to work with Apple products, and they automatically switch audio between devices on your iCloud account. Also, Apple's spatial audio with head-tracking is arguably superior to Sony's 360 Audio with head-tracking, which only works with Android devices, as Apple's only works with Apple devices.Â
Now, if you're an Android user, I'd be having a different conversation. Yeah, the AirPods Max 2 can be paired with Android devices, but they lose many of the Apple-exclusive features that set them apart. So if you're an Android/Windows user and don't have any Apple devices, you should opt for the XM6, which also support Sony's high-quality LDAC audio codec if you pair them with an Android device. Or maybe Bose's QuietComfort Ultra 2nd Gen or Bowers & Wilkins' PX7 S3.
Winner: While the Sony WH-1000XM6 has a robust feature set available for Apple and Android devices, the AirPods Max 2 eke out a win on features for Apple users. The XM6 win for Android fans. Â
Noise canceling
With Apple's H2 chip and software completely rewritten for it, both noise-canceling and voice-calling performance have improved with the Max 2. Apple says the noise canceling is 1.5x better, and you can definitely hear the difference compared to the ANC on the original Max. But the Sony XM6's noise canceling is top-notch, and it's hard to tell whether the XM6's or the Max 2's ANC is better. Ultimately, it's very close, and both are quite impressive.
The Max 2 have a slight edge as far as their transparency mode goes. While Sony has improved its ambient sound mode that lets you hear the outside world, Apple's transparency mode is still the gold standard, and stellar on the Max 2.
Winner: Tie
Testing the WH-1000XM6's noise canceling on the subway.
Voice-calling performance
Both have excellent voice-calling performance and do an impressive job of reducing background sound while isolating your voice. In my initial tests, I found the Sonys did a slightly better job in the noisy streets of New York, as callers said my voice sounded a little clearer and more consistent. But both headphones almost completely eliminated background noise during calls and are top-tier in the voice-calling department.
Winner: Tie
Sound qualityÂ
While both headphones sound superb for wireless headphones, they do sound different. Which one sounds better will likely depend on your personal tastes. Â Â
The Max 2 and Max 1 have a similar sound signature that's balanced and pretty accurate. However, the Max 2's upgraded dynamic range amplifier, coupled with Apple retuning its Adaptive EQ for the H2 chip, allows for a cleaner, more natural sound that's nearly distortion-free.
The Max 2 do offer more clarity and dynamic sound, while the XM6 are a little warmer and more forgiving. My ears tend to gravitate toward more revealing headphones, such as the Max 2, but they can make badly recorded tracks sound even worse.
Without listening to the Max 2, you'd probably think the Sony's sound is nicely detailed and accurate, with very good bass definition. But flipping back and forth between the two headphones, the Max 2 come across as more aggressive and intimate, while the XM6 are a little more laid back.
You can tweak the XM6's equalizer settings in their companion app, which some people prefer. The Max 2, however, rely exclusively on their Adaptive EQ to optimize sound quality. The lack of flexible tuning bothers some people, but most don't seem to mind the automatic tuning. Â
I didn't notice that much of a change to the highs and mids between the Max 1 and Max 2. But whenever I hit a track with a harder bass line -- or just more bass in general -- the quality of the bass jumped out at me. Not only did it seem to hit harder, but it was tighter and more natural sounding.Â
The Max 2 sound a little more precise overall than the first-gen and have slightly better separation between instruments, so you can hear them a little more distinctly. That extra bit of precision helps with spatial audio, whether you're listening to music or watching movies.
As I said, both the Max 2 and XM6 sound excellent in their own way. You can't go wrong with either of these headphones for sound. But if you're looking for a little more articulate headphones with slightly better clarity, the Max 2 have the edge in my book.
Winner: AirPods Max 2 win in a photo finish.
Wired listening
I'll finish with a couple of smaller but still important items that may make a difference for some people. Note that the AirPods Max 2 have support for USB-C audio, which means you can plug the included USB-C cable into them and use them in wired mode with PCs, phones and tablets. The XM6 do not support USB-C audio.
However, the XM6 come with an analog headphone cable with a 3.5mm connector, so you can plug them into a headphone jack for wired mode (or use them with a USB-C-to-3.5mm adapter). This cable comes in handy when you need to plug into an in-flight entertainment system.
You get a slight sound bump with a wired USB-C connection with the AirPods Max 2.
The Max 2, on the other hand, don't include a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable for plane use, which is disappointing given their high price. You can buy the cable for around $35, but note that you have to use Apple's official cable, not a generic USB-C-to-3.5mm cable.
Winner: The AirPods Max 2 technically have more robust wired-listening capabilities, but they get a points deduction for not including a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable, so I grade it a draw.Â
Battery life
Lastly, the XM6 do have the Max 2 beat on battery life. The Sonys are rated for up to 30 hours at moderate volume levels with noise canceling on, while the Max 2 are rated for up to 20 hours.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM6
AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000XM6 final thoughts
Honestly, it's hard to declare a true winner between these two great but expensive headphones. Each has some advantages and some small disadvantages.
Earlier this year, when the Max 2 hadn't been released yet, I would have told you to get the XM6. But now that the Max 2 are here and the upgrades turn out to be a little more significant than I initially thought, it's a tougher choice. They do offer some real advantages to Apple users from a features standpoint, so as long as you like the Max 2's fit, they're a pretty safe choice if you can afford them.
