Best AirPods Max Alternatives: AirPods Max are one of the most advanced wireless headphones available. They have excellent sound quality, perfect noise reduction and a recognizable design. But they also cost more than many competitors. They may have adequate alternatives from other brands.
Key Takeaways on headphones better than AirPods Max:
- AirPods Max: Recognizable design, seamless integration with Apple devices, and immersive audio support, but at a higher cost.
- BOSE QuietComfort 45: Modern design, first-class noise cancellation, and adjustable sound.
- Marshall Monitor II ANC: Iconic design, 30-hour battery, and powerful 40mm drivers.
- Sony WH-1000XM4: Lightweight, smart features, and 30-hour battery with LDAC support.
- Sony WH-1000XM5: Premium build, improved noise reduction, and rapid 3-minute charging.
- Soundcore Life Q30: Budget-friendly, 40-60 hours battery, and Hi-Res Audio certification.
Spoiler: there definitely are, and we will tell you about the best of them. And at the end of the text you will find a cool gadget at a very low price!
Why are AirPods Max So Popular?
The secret is simple: the headphones are easily recognizable, there are models in different colors that can complement any look.
They are also large, comfortable and functional. These are Apple’s largest headphones, working in conjunction with all the company’s services and any of your Apple devices – almost seamlessly.
These are one of the few headphones on the market that support Dolby Atmos and Apple’s proprietary Spatial Audio, allowing you to listen to music in a new way and watch movies like in a real cinema with virtual 7.1 sound.
Top 5 Worthy AirPods Max Alternatives
But for the same money, Apple headphones have plenty of competitors that at least sound no worse – this is the most important characteristic of headphones. And in terms of functionality, they have a lot to offer. We have collected the top 5 worthy alternatives to AirPods Max.
1. BOSE QuietComfort 45
The latest update to the classic Bose headphone model offers not only the first-class active noise cancellation that the brand’s headphones became famous for many years ago, but also a “transparency” system.
It allows you to hear the surrounding sound without removing your headphones – convenient when someone addresses you or when you want to listen to the conversation of colleagues sitting next to you.
The design is more modern, but the appearance remains as strict and businesslike as before. The main thing is that the headphones are foldable, so you can always put them in your jacket pocket or the carrying case included in the kit.
Charging via USB-C has appeared, but the controls, as before, are without sensors – only buttons, only hardcore.
The sound has also been upgraded; now it can be adjusted using the equalizer built into the proprietary application. The proprietary patented air ventilation system for the cups, which creates more acoustic space, is responsible for cleanliness.
conclusionThe sound is more voluminous, while the size of the earphone remains the same. By the way, unlike AirPods Max, they can be connected to any other devices via a 3.5 mm cable.
The operating time is 22 hours, there is a fast charge for 3 hours of work in 15 minutes. The headphones are available in black or beige, as well as in limited edition blue.
2. Marshall Monitor II ANC
A recognizable design in the style of Marshall guitar amplifiers, black vinyl and eco-leather, matte plastic, gold controls – the headphones immediately put you in a certain mood and set a rebellious mood.
Inside there are powerful 40 mm drivers, an active noise reduction system, a 3.5 mm port for wired connection to any devices, a convenient USB-C port for charging, and a foldable design for transportation in the included bag or in a jacket pocket. The same AirPods Max cannot be folded in any way, by the way.
The operating time is 30 hours with active noise cancellation and 45 hours without it. There is also fast charging – 15 minutes on the wire is enough for 5 hours of work.
3. Sony WH-1000XM4
The headphones came out more than a year ago, but still remain incredibly popular. You’ve probably seen them on the subway, on the streets, or even with friends. The model is loved not only for its bright and powerful sound, but also for its almost weightless design with comfortable folding cups.
The WH-1000XM4 are one of the most advanced wireless headphones that boast good functionality. Thus, the proprietary application for iOS and Android offers a lot of fine settings and smart modes to improve sound quality.
One of the most unusual features is the Quick Attention mode, which turns on if you put your hand on your right “ear” – this way you can hear your surroundings without removing your headphones or muting the sound.
There is also automatic noise reduction adjustment for ambient sound, and speech recognition – the headphones mute the sound or pause the music when you start talking to someone. Branded surround sound, remembering your favorite places by geolocation and adjusting the sound for them – in general, complete stuffing.
They also offer support for the LDAC codec – when connected to Android smartphones that support the same codec, as well as Sony smartphones or players, the headphones will be able to transmit sound without compression in Lossless quality, without wires.
They work for 30 hours with active noise cancellation, fast charging allows you to replenish the charge for another 5 hours in 10 minutes. Available in both black and beige.
4. Sony WH-1000XM5
An updated version of the previous model, which retained all the smart features, but lost the folding design. The design has become stricter, but also more premium.
The headphones no longer feel overly plastic, light or cheap – the body has become stronger and the hinges have become stronger. But here the drivers are smaller – 30 mm instead of 40 mm, which directly affected the sound. It is not as bright and powerful as the model above.
However, noise reduction and voice transmission have reached a completely different level – these are some of the best headphones on the market for these parameters. There is also support for connecting to several devices at once, but the operating time remains the same – 30 hours with noise reduction.
But fast charging has become much faster – for 3 hours of work, just 3 minutes on the wire is enough. Available in both black and silver-white.
5. Soundcore Life Q30
If you thought that high-quality full-size headphones must cost $300 or more, then here is an exception to the rule.
These ears not only offer 40 to 60 hours of battery life and active noise cancellation with three different modes, but also Hi-Res Audio certification for wired playback of uncompressed tracks via a 3.5mm jack.
Their 40mm drivers are optimized for high-quality listening, so they can be used not only with smartphones, but also with advanced players or audiophile players.
Externally, they didn’t disappoint either – matte plastic, eco-leather, ear pads with memory foam material. In general, everything is for your comfort. What’s not a budget alternative to AirPods Max?
Conclusion
In conclusion, while AirPods Max offer a distinctive Apple experience with top-notch features, there are cost-effective alternatives like BOSE QuietComfort 45, Marshall Monitor II ANC, Sony WH-1000XM4, Sony WH-1000XM5, and Soundcore Life Q30, each providing a unique blend of design, functionality, and affordability, catering to diverse preferences and budgets.
