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Head to head · for music listening
Sony WH-1000XM4 vs Apple AirPods Max
More people recommend the Sony WH-1000XM4 overall (133 vs 44). None of the 88 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 88
- Say they own both
- 5
- Choose the WH-1000XM4
- 0
- Choose the AirPods Max
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 88 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 25 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $298cheaper | $549 |
| Overall rank | #2higher | #16 |
| People who recommend it | 133more | 44 |
| Say they own it | 196more | 45 |
| Mentions | 1,151more | 802 |
| Type | wireless ANC over-ear | wireless ANC over-ear |
| Known for | CommuteNoise cancellingBattery | CommuteiPhoneNoise cancelling |
| Best for | Recommended for daily commuting on trains and buses by people who want one headphone that does everything. | Recommended to iPhone and Mac people who want one pair that just appears on every device. |
| Buy | Amazon · $298 | Amazon · $549Direct |
#2 overall
Sony WH-1000XM4
9 of the 88 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- By far the most-recommended commuting headphone: 14 separate owners in one 2025 ResetEra thread alone
- Strong noise cancelling, long battery, folds flat
- Regularly on sale for $130-250, and owners say it is still the value pick over the XM5 and XM6
- Works wired too; the XM4 is the last of the line that folds
The complaints
- Bulky and warm on the ears; one owner found the clamp uncomfortable and the ANC weak
- Sony's default EQ is a little V-shaped (boosted bass and treble)
- Some units develop a faint white noise; touch controls can be fussy
In their words
“I have the XM4's since they came out, and I've loved them”
A commenter under I've been SPOILED! - Sony WH-1000XM5 (ShortCircuit) · May 2022
“I have had the the XM4s for 3 years and love them”
A commenter under Sony WH-1000XM5 Review: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back! (Marques Brownlee) · May 2022
“I have a pair of XM4s and I absolutely love them”
A commenter under I bought Beats By Dre. (DankPods) · Nov 2020
#16 overall
Apple AirPods Max
7 of the 88 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Auto-switching between iPhone, Mac and Apple TV is the feature owners say they cannot give up
- Metal build that other headphones get compared against
- Called the most comfortable Bluetooth headphone by more than one commenter, and friendly to glasses
The complaints
- Price: the single most repeated objection
- Clamp gets tight after an hour for some heads
- Condensation inside the cups after long sessions; sweat kills the headband electronics
- Battery is not user-serviceable and they are dead without it
- Heavy
In their words
“I have the Apple AirPod MAX and I love them”
A commenter under The Truth about the New Beats by Dre! (Marques Brownlee) · Jul 2023
“So I had to get the AirPods Max”
A commenter under Beats Studio Pro | Don't Buy Until You Watch This (Aesthetic AL) · Aug 2023
“my daily drivers are some Airpods Max which i think sound amazing”
A commenter under Is Sennheiser's new headphone REALLY an upgrade? (The Headphone Show) · Feb 2023
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the Sony WH-1000XM4 better than the Apple AirPods Max?
- None of the 88 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 133 people recommend the Sony WH-1000XM4 and 44 the Apple AirPods Max. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the Sony WH-1000XM4 or the Apple AirPods Max?
- The Sony WH-1000XM4 is cheaper: $298 against $549 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the Sony WH-1000XM4 or the Apple AirPods Max?
- The Sony WH-1000XM4: 133 people recommend it against 44. On the site-wide leaderboard the Sony WH-1000XM4 is #2 and the Apple AirPods Max is #16.
- Do people own both the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Apple AirPods Max?
- Yes. 5 of the 88 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 9 say they own the Sony WH-1000XM4 and 7 the Apple AirPods Max.
- What do owners complain about on the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Apple AirPods Max?
- The most repeated complaint about the Sony WH-1000XM4: bulky and warm on the ears; one owner found the clamp uncomfortable and the ANC weak. About the Apple AirPods Max: price: the single most repeated objection. The full lists are on each side below.