Sony's New WH-1000XM5 Headphones vs. Apple's AirPods Max

We picked up a pair of headphones to compare them to the ones from Sony and Apple to see if they were worth the $400 price tag.

When it comes to naming, the Air Pods Max win out. Both WH-1000XM4 and WH-1000XM5 are bad. Apple gets the edge because Sony isn't great at naming its products.

The classier, higher-end look of the Air Pods Max is what distinguishes them from the updated WH-1000XM5 headphones. The headphones are not as expensive as the Air Pods Max, which is likely because of the plastic body. The Air Pods Max are made of aluminum and come in a range of colors.

The headphones do not fold down like the prior version and are slightly less portable, but Sony does offer them with a better case option. The headphones feel light on the head and are comfortable to wear even for longer periods of time.

It is not as easy to connect the WH-1000XM5 to an Apple device as it is to connect the Air Pods Max.

The Air Pods Max and the WH-1000XM5 both have ANC, and Sony has improved it in this version. The dual QN1 chips make a difference compared to a single QN1 chip. The Air Pods Max and the WH-1000XM5 both performed well at blocking out noise, but the WH-1000XM5 did a better job. The transparency feature on the Air Pods Max works best if you want to hear what is going on around you.

The WH-1000XM5 headphones have a different sound profile than the WH-1000XM4 and have smaller drivers, so they are more in line with the Air Pods Max. The sound is definitely improved over the WH-1000XM4 and both sets of headphones offer depth, clarity, and low muddling at lower frequencies. It is difficult to say whether the Air Pods Max or the WH-1000XM5 headphones offer better sound, so in this category it is a tie.

The Air Pods Max offer up to 20 hours of battery life, but the WH-1000XM5 offer up to 30 hours. The Air Pods Max are supposed to last for 20 hours, but do not with ANC turned on. Sony's headphones have an actual power button, which is handy for not wasting battery, and they come with more options for ANC, gestures, and sound.

Unless you like the design of the Air Pods Max and the unique feature set that the headphones offer for Apple device users, the WH-1000XM5 headphones from Sony are worth considering as a more affordable alternative.