Apple AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000xM4: Who Will Win? Apple's AirPods Max noise-canceling headphones are going head-to-head with Sony's WH-1000xM4. [The WH-1000xM4 retails for $349.99, but you can often get them for much less; the AirPods Max launched for a whopping $549, though we'll have to wait for the AirPods Max to verify whether it deserves the premium, We can compare the two headphones based on what we know.

In this AirPods Max vs Sony WH-1000xM4 showdown, we will examine how the two match up in terms of price, design, sound quality, active noise cancellation, and battery. Will the AirPods Max dethrone the WH-1000xM4 as the best headphone?

You can probably guess where this stands. When Apple announced the price of the AirPods Max at $549, the whole of social media held its breath. This high price puts the AirPods Max in the stratosphere of Golden Ear audiophile headphones, which are far more expensive than any of the headphones we recommend. Given Apple's history and already long shipping dates, don't expect the AirPods to become a bargain anytime soon.

Sony's WH-1000xM4 retails for $349.99, comparable to another great model, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. However, the WH-1000xM4 can often be found on sale. As of this writing, it is available at Best Buy for $278.

This is almost half the price of the AirPods Max, and Apple's headphones would have to be revolutionary to justify the difference.

The AirPods Max feature a curved rectangular can that stands out from the crowd. Available in five colors (space gray, silver, green, sky blue, and pink), you can match the headphones to your style. The cans are made of aluminum and the headband has a mesh canopy.

The WH-1000xM4 is quite plain by comparison. Available in silver or black, they have a soft rubber finish and a cushioned headband. Sony's headphones are more about function than style.

Sony lets you control the WH-1000xM4 using a touch screen and gestures. For example, one tap to play or pause, and swipe up to increase volume; the AirPods Max do not have touch controls, but they do have a digital crown borrowed from the Apple Watch that can activate Siri. The WH-1000xM4, on the other hand, can be configured to work with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

We love the sound quality of the WH-1000xM4. Sony's headphones offer excellent detail and boomy bass, and work well with a variety of music styles, from hip-hop to jazz.

We haven't tested Apple's AirPods Max yet, but based on our initial review, these will be a pleasure to listen to as well. Inside are 40mm drivers, nine microphones, and Apple's H1 chip for calculated audio performance. In addition to active noise canceling, the AirPods Max also includes Adaptive EQ, a transparency mode, and the Spatial Audio feature currently found on the AirPods Pro. By using the built-in gyroscope and accelerometer to measure ear position, Spatial Audio can create a surround sound experience.

The WH-1000xM4 also features 40mm drivers, two microphones in each ear, and proprietary Dual Noise Sensor technology that analyzes and filters ambient sound in conjunction with the HD noise cancellation processor QN1 chip. The result is superior active noise cancellation on par with Bose.

The only thing we can't get crazy about with the WH-1000xM4 is the call quality, which is OK at best. Given that Apple's AirPods Pro is known for handling calls well, we expect the same from the AirPods Max.

The WH-1000xM4 has an excellent battery life of 30 hours with active noise cancellation on and 38 hours with it off. The new AirPods Max are said to offer 20 hours of playback on a full charge (which is the same as the Bose 700). The Sony headphones' 10-hour long runtime is definitely noteworthy.

The AirPods Max charge via Lightning cable, while the WH-1000xM4 use USB. According to Apple, a 5-minute charge provides 1.5 hours of listening. Sony offers an optional AC adapter that allows for 5 hours of use on just a 10-minute charge.

We look forward to seeing how the AirPods Max performs in real-world tests. They are an attractive option among wireless over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation. However, the price.

It would be hard to beat the performance of the Sony WH-1000xM4 at this price. With its superior sound quality, noise-canceling features, and battery life, the WH-1000xM4 is well ahead of the game. Apple must prove that the AirPods Max is worth the money.