The AirPods Max promises to be incredibly good, but is anything but cheap. Fortunately, there are more than enough high-quality wireless headphones for sale for less than 629 euros. In this article, we list three AirPods Max alternatives.
Alternatives to the AirPods Max
The high word is out: Apple has made over-ear headphones. After the announcement of the AirPods Max, the discussion online and on forums mainly focused on the price. Apple’s high-quality headphones cost 629 euros, which is a lot of money.
Whether the AirPods Max will live up to this price tag is still the question: we have yet to review the headphones. However, it is clear that not everyone wants to spend that much money for headphones.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4
The Sony WH-1000XM4 was released in the summer of 2020 and is now considered the gold standard in the field of noise canceling. Many media praise the headphones for its impressive noise reduction and the pressure control is also appreciated. For example, you can put your hand on the right shell to pause the music.
Compared to the AirPods Max, the Sony WH-1000XM4 has a more preserved design: it looks fairly standard. That does not detract from the sound quality, because it is excellent. The headphones also fit like a glove thanks to the cushion on the headband and are almost half cheaper than the Apple headset. In addition, it has a battery life of 30 hours, which is 10 hours more than the AirPods Max.
View the Sony WH-1000XM4 at:
- Bol.com
- Coolblue
- Media Markt
2. Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9
Do you find the AirPods Max just a bit too expensive, but do you attach a lot of value to good sound and are you willing to spend it? Then take a look at the Beoplay H9 from audio manufacturer Bang & Olufsen. These wireless headphones have impressive sound, are made of brushed aluminum and genuine leather and last 25 hours on one battery charge.
The right ear cup is touch-sensitive, so you can use it to pause the music, for example. Naturally, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9 works with all popular voice assistants, including Siri. The headphones also have active noise cancellation. Using microphones, it continuously measures how much noise there is around you and automatically adjusts the audio settings accordingly.
View the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9 at:
- Amac
3. Bowers & Wilkins PX7
Audio giant Bowers & Wilkins also has an excellent AirPods Max alternative on offer. The PX7 headphones are completely wireless, have all kinds of audio functions (including of course noise cancellation) and are also smart. For example, the music stops when you take off an ear cup or hang the headphones around your neck.
The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 has a battery life of 30 hours and is water, dust and dirt resistant. You can therefore also wear the headphones while exercising. There is also an app with the over-ear headset to personalize all kinds of settings, for example the degree of active noise cancellation. Finally, the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 is a lot cheaper than the AirPods Max.
View the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 at:
- Amac
- Belsimple
- Coolblue
On to the review
We will receive the AirPods Max soon and will of course test it extensively. Do you want to know if the headphones really sound that good? Sign up for the iPhoned newsletter or download the free app to stay informed of our review.