It’s time for a Apple AirPods Max vs. Sony WH-1000XM5 face-off: airport edition. We’re testing these bad boys in the wild — at JFK and Heathrow, to be specific. They’re one of the best headphones on the market, boasting high-resolution sound quality, crisp transparency mode, and top-of-the-line active noise cancellation (ANC).
But the question is, which one is actually better?
Packed with important announcements over a PA system, the airport was the perfect place to test transparency mode, allowing me to temporarily disengage from music immersion to hear pertinent information. Sitting in a plane, however, you’re bound to deal with a wailing baby, prompting me to swiftly turn on ANC.
I flew 3,451 miles from New York to London with both the Apple AirPods Max and Sony XM5s – and I tested them on the iPhone 14 Plus. Allow me to break down which is best for noise cancellation (in addition to other in-depth insights, including comfort, sound quality, and transparency mode.)
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Apple AirPods Max vs. Sony XM5: price and specs
Before we dive in, let’s take a look at the price tags of both the AirPods Max and Sony XM5s.
Apple AirPods Max
Credit: Mashable
The AirPods Max have an MSRP of $549 on Apple’s official website. (I purchased my headphones directly from Apple, but you can get a better deal from Amazon, which sells a pair for $449.99.)
The AirPods Max come with the following specs:
Apple H1 headphone chip
9 microphones
Active noise cancellation support
Transparency mode support
Personalized spatial audio
Adaptive EQ
The WH-1000XM5 headphones (colloquially called the Sony XM5s because its official name is horrendous) have an MSRP of $399.99, but Sony is selling ’em for $349.99. If you snag ‘em from Amazon, you can get ’em for $314.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones come with the following specs:
Sony QN1 and V1 dual-processor chips
8 microphones
Active noise cancellation support
Transparency mode support (called “Ambient Mode”)
360-degree spatial sound personalizer
Adaptive EQ
Of course, from the more affordable pricing, you’d likely gravitate towards the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, but this comparative analysis may make you change your mind.
Apple AirPods Max vs. Sony XM5: design and comfort
The AirPods Max’s design triggers my anxiety. When I spotted the mesh headband, I fearfully thought, “What if I accidentally graze it against a sharp object and rip a hole through it?” You’ll also learn very quickly that the AirPods Max, no matter how many influencers you see sporting these headphones in their Instagram posts, are not ideal for working out.
Apple AirPods Max mesh headband
Credit: Mashable
The breathable knit-mesh ear cups have a tendency to collect sweat and grime, making it difficult to keep clean. I had makeup on while waiting for my flight at JFK airport, so after taking off the AirPods Max, it’d aggravate my OCD knowing that there’s Estée Lauder foundation all over the ear cups – and it won’t be easy to restore them back to a squeaky-clean state.
Apple AirPods Max ear cups
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The Sony XM5s, on the other hand, have synthetic leather. Compared to the AirPods Max’s ear cups, the Sony XM5s don’t absorb as much crud.
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones
Credit: Mashable
I knew that I could unconcernedly wear makeup at JFK, and by the time I landed at Heathrow Airport, I could wipe down the Sony XM5s’ ear cups with a warm, wet towel – and they’ll be as good as new.
The Sony XM5s are more comfortable
I’d also argue that the Sony XM5s are far more comfortable.
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones feel super lightweight.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
They’re so lightweight, I could sleep peacefully with them on the British Airways plane.
Weighing just 0.56 pounds, I began to forget the Sony headphones were on my head after just a few minutes of wearing them. The AirPods Max use more premium materials with its anodized aluminum ear cups and stainless-steel headband. While the AirPods Max look and feel more high-end, they come at the price of comfort.
I never felt quite comfortable wearing the AirPods Max on the plane.
Apple AirPods Max definitely felt less comfy compared to the Sony XM5s.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
There’s some unsettling pressure between the ear cups – somewhere in the upper region – and my head, likely due to the metal headband. No, it’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s an important difference between the Sony XM5s and AirPods Max, making the former more comfortable.
AirPods Max are arguably more attractive
Fashionability is a deciding factor for me when it comes to headphones. In fact, the reason why my daily driver is the Sony WH-1000XM4, and not the current-generation XM5s, is because it looks sexier.
Apple AirPods Max in green
Credit: Mashable
The Sony XM5s, on the other hand, are an eyesore. It’s the ear cups that make them hideous. They’re so bulky, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone mistook me as one of the air traffic controllers at JFK airport.
The AirPods Max, though heavier on the head, have sleeker ear cups, making them far more sophisticated and fashion-forward than the clunky Sony XM5s.
The AirPods Max come in five colorways: Space Gray, Pink, Green, Silver and Sky Blue. I opted for Space Gray. I have black hair – and I prefer headphones that don’t stick out like a sore thumb. I love how the AirPods Max blend in with my dark, curly tresses, camouflaging it with my locks.
Sony WH-1000XM5 in black
Credit: Mashable
The Sony XM5s come in three colorways: Silver, Black, and Midnight Blue. I chose the latter because the navy-blue hue contrasted beautifully with the bold-and-gold “Sony” logo on the hinges.
Winner: Sony WH-1000XM5
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Apple AirPods Max vs. Sony XM5: Noise cancellation and transparency mode
If you’re looking for the best noise cancellation, get the AirPods Max. I’ll tell you why. As luck would have it, a crying baby made its way onto my British Airways flight. Typically, I’d be fuming in annoyance at such a misfortune, but it’s the most ideal environment to compare the AirPods Max and Sony XM5s.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
For what it’s worth, using my Apple Watch Series 9, the decibels on the London-bound plane climbed to nearly 80 before I tested both headphones.
Noise detector on the Apple Watch Series 9
Credit: Mashable
I could still hear the wailing baby on both headphones with ANC on, however, the AirPods Max did a much better job at suppressing the noise than the Sony XM5s. Furthermore, when the baby stopped crying, the AirPods Max impressed me with how well they muffled the monotone drone of the humming plane engines.
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