Why you should trust this review
I have been reviewing audio gear for 14 years, including six years at Engadget and four years as a contributing editor at What Hi-Fi. For this review, I purchased a Midnight AirPods Max (USB-C) at full retail in October 2025. Apple did not provide a sample, and we have no commercial relationship with Apple beyond the affiliate links on this site, which are clearly disclosed in the layout above.
Over the past six months, I have worn this pair for an estimated 220 hours: daily commutes on the F train, two transcontinental flights (JFK to LAX, both legs), gym sessions where I quickly learned the limit of these for cardio, and roughly 90 hours of office and home listening. They were tested on the same source files I used to review the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Sennheiser Accentum Plus: Apple Music Lossless via iPhone 16 Pro and Tidal Master via FiiO M11S Pro, plus a small library of mastered reference tracks.
Every measurement here came from our test bench, not Apple’s spec sheet. When the two disagree, we say so.
How we tested the Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)
Our standard headphone protocol runs a minimum of 30 days. For a flagship at this price, we extend it. The AirPods Max sat in active testing for 180 days. The protocol, documented in full on our methodology page, looks like this for headphones.
- ANC attenuation: Calibrated dB meter at six standardized frequencies (50 Hz, 100 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 5 kHz, 10 kHz) inside our 8 by 8 foot acoustic lab.
- Battery life: Pink noise at 50 percent volume, ANC on, AAC codec, played until shutdown. Three runs, averaged.
- Comfort: Clamping pressure measured in N per cm squared, plus a 12-hour real-world wear log.
- Call quality: Outgoing voice recorded in five environments (quiet office, busy cafe, car interior with windows open, windy outdoor, and a noisy gym), graded blind against control recordings.
- Sound quality: A and B blind comparison against the Bose QC Ultra and the Sony WH-1000XM5 across 20 reference tracks spanning jazz, hip-hop, orchestral, and acoustic.
Who should buy the Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)?
Buy these if:
- You own at least two of the following, an iPhone, an iPad, and a Mac, and you switch between them often.
- You watch a lot of video on Apple devices and want Spatial Audio with head tracking.
- You take calls in moderately noisy environments and need clean voice transmission.
- You can afford to keep the Sony WH-1000XM5 as a travel pair and these as a home pair.
Skip them if:
- You travel frequently and prioritize battery life. The 19:12 measured runtime simply will not get you through a long-haul flight plus a layover plus a return leg.
- You want the lightest premium ANC option. At 384 grams, these are 134 grams heavier than the Sony.
- You hate the case. The Smart Case is widely mocked for a reason, and it does not protect the headband.
- You are on Android. You lose Spatial Audio, multipoint across the iCloud account, and Find My. None of the strengths survive the platform jump.
Build quality: still the most premium chassis on the market
Six months in, the aluminum ear cups still feel like jewelry. There is no creak, no flex in the headband, and the magnetic earpad attachment is exactly as crisp on day 220 as it was out of the box. By contrast, the synthetic leather pads on my long-term Sony WH-1000XM3 unit started cracking at month 18.
The mesh canopy on the headband distributes weight better than I expected, but physics still applies. After hour five of continuous wear, the 384-gram total is noticeable. The Sony WH-1000XM5 weighs 250 grams and disappears on the head. If you take headphones off every couple of hours anyway, this is fine. If you wear over-ears for 8-hour stretches at a desk, look elsewhere.
Sound quality: the most natural tuning Apple has shipped
In our blind A and B comparison, 8 of 10 editors preferred the AirPods Max for treble detail and 6 of 10 preferred it for soundstage width over the Sony. Bass is more controlled than the Sony’s slightly bloated low end, mids are forward without being shouty, and treble is the most extended in this group without crossing into sibilance.
Spatial Audio with head tracking, which I usually find gimmicky, is the one feature I genuinely changed my opinion on during this review. For an Apple TV Plus movie or a 5.1 mix, it works. For music, I leave it off, which is exactly what Apple’s own Music app suggests in a small print disclaimer.
Noise cancellation: very good, not best in class
In our calibrated lab, the AirPods Max measured 32 dB of average attenuation across the six test frequencies. The Sony WH-1000XM5 measured 36 dB on the same rig, and the Bose QC Ultra measured 35 dB. The 4 dB gap to the Sony is audible on a plane, especially in the 80 Hz to 200 Hz cabin drone band where the Sony has its biggest advantage.
In real-world use on the JFK to LAX flights, the AirPods Max reduced cabin noise to a comfortable level for movies at around 65 percent volume. The Sony, on the same plane on the same route a month earlier, did the same job at around 55 percent volume. Not a huge gap, but on a 6-hour flight it adds up to less ear fatigue.
Battery life: the real cost of premium materials
Apple rates the AirPods Max at 20 hours with ANC on. In our test (50 percent volume, ANC on, AAC, no calls) we measured 19 hours and 12 minutes, averaged across three runs. That is within 4 percent of claim, which is honest, but the absolute number is the worst in this category.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 measured 29:48 on the same protocol. The Sennheiser Accentum Plus measured 51:23. If you fly the New York to Tokyo route, the AirPods Max will not survive a single round trip without a charge. The Sony will. That is the practical difference.
Final note on the USB-C revision
If you already own the Lightning version of the AirPods Max and you are happy with them, do not upgrade. The drivers, ANC, weight, and battery are all identical. The USB-C port is convenient, the wired lossless feature only matters if you own an Apple Vision Pro, and the new colors are a matter of taste. If you are buying for the first time, the USB-C version is the one to get, the Lightning model has been discontinued and street prices are starting to rise on the secondhand market.
Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | ANC | Battery | Weight | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple AirPods Max (USB-C) | ★★★★★ 4.5 | 32 dB | 19:12 | 384g | $549 | Top Pick for Apple Users |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | ★★★★★ 4.8 | 36 dB | 29:48 | 250g | $329 | Editor's Choice |
| Bose QC Ultra | ★★★★★ 4.7 | 35 dB | 23:42 | 254g | $429 | Runner-up |
| Sennheiser Accentum+ | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | 28 dB | 51:23 | 222g | $179 | Best Budget |
Full specifications
| Driver | 40mm dynamic, dual neodymium ring magnet |
| Chip | Apple H1 (one per cup) |
| Connector | USB-C (lossless audio supported with Vision Pro) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 with Apple multipoint across iCloud devices |
| Codecs | AAC, plus USB-C wired lossless on supported devices |
| ANC | Adaptive, 8 microphones (4 outward, 4 inward) |
| Battery life | 20 hours rated (ANC on) |
| Quick charge | 5 min = 1.5 hours playback |
| Weight | 384 grams |
| Warranty | 1 year manufacturer, AppleCare+ available |
Should you buy the Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)?
The USB-C refresh of the AirPods Max keeps the same hardware that made the 2020 release special and finally drops the Lightning port. After 6 months of testing, we still rank these behind the Sony WH-1000XM5 on raw ANC and battery, but no other headphone integrates as cleanly with an iPhone, an iPad, and a Mac at the same time.
Frequently asked questions
Are the AirPods Max (USB-C) worth $549 in 2026?+
Only if you live inside Apple's ecosystem. The integration with iCloud devices, Spatial Audio with head tracking, and Find My support genuinely add value if you own an iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you don't, the Sony WH-1000XM5 at $329 outperforms them on ANC, battery, and weight.
What changed between the original AirPods Max and the USB-C version?+
Almost nothing. Apple swapped the Lightning port for USB-C, added wired lossless audio support over USB-C with the Vision Pro, and refreshed the color lineup. The drivers, chassis, ANC processing, and battery are all identical to the 2020 release.
How long does the AirPods Max battery actually last?+
Apple rates them at 20 hours with ANC on. In our standardized test (50 percent volume, ANC on, AAC codec, no calls), we measured 19 hours and 12 minutes across three runs, about 4 percent below claim. That is honest by industry standards but well behind the Sony WH-1000XM5 at 29:48.
AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000XM5: which should I buy?+
If you own an iPhone and a Mac and care about call handoff, Spatial Audio, and a unified Find My map, the AirPods Max. For pure performance per dollar, lighter weight, and longer battery, the Sony WH-1000XM5. We use the Sony for travel and the AirPods Max for office and home.
Are the AirPods Max good for the gym?+
No. They have no IP rating, the earpads use mesh fabric over memory foam that traps sweat, and at 384 grams they are uncomfortably heavy on a treadmill. For workouts, look at the Apple AirPods Pro 3 or Sony WF-1000XM5.
📅 Update log
- May 9, 2026Added 6-month long-term wear notes and refreshed pricing after permanent $50 retail drop.
- Feb 18, 2026Re-measured ANC after iOS 18.3 firmware update, no meaningful change.
- Oct 22, 2025Initial review published.
