10 Best Airpod Max Alternatives
10 Best Airpod Max Alternatives
April 18, 2024Apple's AirPod Max headphones, esteemed for their noise-canceling technology, compatibility with Siri, personalized spatial audio, and sleek design, seem a popular choice among many. With up to 20 hours of listening time, they can be charged using a USB-C or lightning cord and are available in an array of colors like silver, blue, red, and green. However, the $550 price tag may be too steep for some.
Luckily, top-rated, more affordable alternatives offer a similar aesthetic and high-quality audio experience. If you love Apple's seamless integration but need a more budget-friendly option, we've compiled a list of 10 great AirPod Max dupes worth considering. From noise cancellation to adjustable EQ and volume control, you can experience many of the same features at a fraction of the cost. Dive into these excellent, reasonably-priced noise-canceling headphones options.
Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700
There's a good reason for Bose's superior reputation regarding enhanced active noise cancellation (ANC).
This brand has been synonymous with noise cancellation since the company created ANC headphones about 20 years ago. More recently, in 2019, the company launched its Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 generation. Compared to the Bose QuietComfort 35 II version, which is more affordable, these headphones offer the best ANC if that is your primary goal.
These headphones feature true wireless, great microphone clarity, robust bass depth, and adjustable ANC with an ambient listening mode.
While these babies aren’t cheap, they still cost far less than AirPod Max and offer an ANC experience with more adjustable and reliable features. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 don’t eliminate very low frequencies like AirPods do, but they screen out noise more consistently when compared during testing.
Pros
- Long-range wireless connectivity
- All-day wearing comfort
- Features circumaural or over-ear design
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
- Crystal-clear mic quality
Cons
- Premium price bracket
- Sculpted audio isn’t 100% pure
- Doesn’t feature equalization (EQ)
Sony WH-1000XM5
If you’re looking for top ANC, battery life, excellent Bluetooth range, and articulate sound, it’s hard to go wrong with this Sony number.
These lightweight headphones run up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC on mode and 40 hours with ANC off. These Sony headphones also have extraordinary noise-cancellation abilities, sharp and engaging audio, and a Bluetooth range of up to 33 feet.
Pros
- Stellar sound quality
- Impressive control options
- Great battery life
- Seamless integration
- Adjustable EQ
Cons
- Eco-friendly materials increase the price
- May feel hot on the ears after long listening periods
Beats Solo 3
Get an immersive sound experience and noise cancellation features for less with these Beats Solo 3 headphones. This on-the-ear set is a fantastic choice for music fans who want clear and bright audio.
These headphones feature soft and comfortable ear foam, noise canceling qualities, spatial audio, and Siri voice control. You can also use them for up to 40 hours without charging.
Pros
- Spatial audio
- Noise cancellation
- Siri compatibility
Cons
- No ANC
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones
These ANC headphones from Sennheiser offer spectacular sound, impressive battery life (60 hours), and a Bluetooth range of 30 feet.
It also has dependable touch controls and is very practical and effective at canceling noise.
Pros
- ANC
- Bluetooth 5.2
- Aptx Adaptive support
- Automatic Wind Noise Reduction feature
- Includes 3.5mm cable for wired connections
Cons
- Plain design
- Earpads may get hot with the use
- Smart control app doesn’t always have a reliable connection
Wyze Noise Cancelling Headphones
If you’re not thrilled about shelling out $200 or more for a pair of effective ANC headphones, we’ve got you covered with this next over-ear wireless headphone option that falls into the budget category.
While you won’t get top-quality ANC and audio experience, these Wyze headphones perform far better than most retail pairs for $50. It has integrated Alexa support, adjustable EQ, and a sleek design that makes them look more expensive.
Pros
- Sleek design that doesn’t look or feel cheap
- App with EQ features
- Good noise cancellation
- Strong and bass-forward sound
- Usable in wired, passive mode
Cons
- High-sculpted audio may not be for audio purists
- Decent but not absolute noise cancellation
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Headphones
Are you looking for a balanced, engaging, and powerful sound with ANC abilities? These circumaural AirPod Max alternatives feature premium sound, 30-hour battery life, a 30-foot Bluetooth range, and a sophisticated design.
Pros
- Superior sound with ANC tech
- Long-range wireless connectivity
- Handy control app for adjustments
Cons
- It doesn't have touch controls
- Decent noise cancellation
- Features are on the primary side
Bose QuietComfort 45
Back to Bose, we recommend these comfortable and practical always-on noise cancellation headphones if you’re all about elite ANC, a refined sound, a boosted Bluetooth range (50 feet), and 24-hour battery life. It also features a USB-C port, in-app EQ, and both wired and wireless playback functions. The good news is that it’s also super comfortable even if you wear it for hours.
Pros
- Eliminates 90% of ambient sound
- Features an ambient listening mode
- Active EQ with volume optimization
- Resilient build
Cons
- Can’t turn ANC mode off
- Fewer features than the Bose 700
Cleer Enduro ANC Headphones
These excellent budget headphones deliver exceptional bass-dominant sound, successful ANC mode, and a versatile ambient mode. The battery life lasts a whopping 60 hours, so you don’t need to worry about having your charger handy for two full days of listening time. It also has a great Bluetooth range that extends up to 30 feet.
One of the best things about Enduro ANC over-ear headphones is that they give you clear-sounding audio with impressive noise-cancelation and ambient pass-through mode abilities. It even sounds just as good as AirPods Max, and the budget price means that you could buy three of them for just one AirPod Max.
Our favorite feature about these Enduro ANC headphones has to be the top-notch battery life that gives you 60 hours of playback from a single charge. This means it delivers over twice the battery life of an AirPods Max for a third of the price.
While headphone models such as the Bose 700 or Sony WH-1000XM4 deliver more premium features, these headphones will give you the most bang for your buck if you’re on a budget.
Pros
- ANC
- Impressive battery life
- Ambient mode
- Articulate, bass-rich sound
Cons
- They can feel less comfortable when worn for long periods
- It doesn’t have a wind noise reduction feature like the Sennheiser headphones so that it can pick up background wind noise
Beats Studio 3 Headphones
Get iOS intelligence with a broad bass sound for far less than the covetable AirPod Max headphones. Beats Studio 3 headphones offer an impressive audio experience and expert pairing with iOS devices for a mid-range price.
These headphones deliver a cool design and stable battery power with a battery life of 20 hours with ANC on and up to 35 hours with ANC turned off. The Bluetooth range gives you more scope and flexibility due to its 51-foot range.
This option enables iOS pairing, which can keep you in the Apple family without the price tag or switching to earbuds if that’s your priority. Beats Studio 3 is a perfect choice for heavy bass sound performance. It has a comfy fit, decent noise-cancellation abilities, and an adaptive EQ feature.
It also charges at lightning speed and delivers 3 hours of playback time with just a 10-minute charge, which is an excellent feature if you need to get a good chunk of playback time without waiting around for your device to charge. We should note that a downside is that these headphones don’t feature audible notifications regarding power toggle or pairing mode.
Pros
- Good active noise-cancellation
- Great Bluetooth range
- Excellent battery life and fast charging
- iOS pairing abilities
Cons
- Can have pairing problems with non-iOS devices
JBL Live 660NC Headphones
Our final choice for a big sound experience, great ANC feature, and powerful battery life are the JBL Live 600NC headphones.
It has a long-lasting battery even with ANC on, 40 hours of ANC, and 50 hours with ANC turned off. Like the Beats Studio 3, these headphones have an exceptional Bluetooth range of 45 feet.
If you like audio with a bass-forward sound, this option may be for you. It has quality connectivity and a full ANC that will muffle any background or ambient noise so that you can focus on working or listening to music.
The only downside is that the Google Assistant feature doesn’t always work well. Its Siri is more reliable and has robust Bluetooth connectivity and a multi-featured companion app that boosts its technical points. This makes these JBL headphones a good Airpod Max alternative for the price.
Pros
- ANC
- Good connectivity
- High Bluetooth range
- Strong battery life
Cons
- The voice assistant has some bugs
- Can become uncomfortable when worn for an extended time
Choosing the Best Airpod Max Alternative
Airpod Max headphones aren’t just a trendy item. They also offer a premium and unparalleled noise-cancellation experience. These Apple headphones have a unique, customized driver installed inside the headset that delivers distortion audio across the sound range at super-low levels. This creates an active noise cancellation that blocks out external sound.
These wireless headphones deliver impressive audio, which makes them a good choice for listening to a wide range of music genres. Airpod Max 2, Airpod Max 3, and Airpod Max Pros also have an unbeatable 800-foot Bluetooth range to create a flexible and versatile experience.
Some of the headphone alternatives on our list cost as little as $100, but keep in mind that the more that you pay for a superior set of headphones, the better quality you’ll get in active noise cancellation (ANC) features, audio performance, and any additional features such as Siri compatibility, smart controls, and longer battery life.
If you want many of the same features as the AipPod Max for a better price, look for wireless ANC features, great Bluetooth range, top-notch battery life, a sleek design with comfortable over-ear placement, adjustable EQ, and volume control features.
The Most Affordable Airpod Max Alternative
Get crisp and powerful sound, practical noise-canceling qualities, and an impressive battery life with this affordable Airpod Max dupe. Cleer Enduro ANC Headphones deliver many of the same versatile and quality features as an Airpod Max without the price tag. These include a long-lasting battery, high Bluetooth range, and ambient mode.
Our Favorite Airpod Max Dupe
After comparing headphone features and specs with the Airpod Max, our favorite alternative for the best overall Airpod Max is the wireless Sony WH-1000XM5. It features ANC with an on/off mode, 30 hours of battery time, a 33-foot Bluetooth range, impressive sound, great integration, adjustable EQ, and other top-rated control features. They are also lightweight, feature comfortable ear pads, and have a sleek design.
As a backup pick for those who want iOS-pairing capabilities, we recommend Beats Studio 3 headphones.