Comparison test: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs. Apple AirPods Max
Sony has traditionally been a strong player in the headphone market and has had two of the absolute top sellers in its lineup for years: the WH-1000XM5 and the WF-1000XM5. Now, the successor, the Sony WH-1000XM6, is here and is set to take over. As usual, he has to face the Apple AirPods Max to see how Sony’s 2025 headphones compare to Apple’s. While the AirPods Max 2024 version is now available, essentially only the color options have changed since then. MacRumors did the test.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 are the latest headphones in Sony’s WH-1000X series. Sony raised the price when it launched the XM5 in 2022, and the price is rising again. The XM6 headphones now cost €449/$449, not far from the sale price of the AirPods Max. Apple is still asking €579/$549.
Sony WH-1000XM6
Sony removed the ability to fold the ear cups on the XM5, but it’s back on the WH-1000XM6. The ear cups are foldable, making the Sony WH-1000XM6 a bit more practical and portable than the non-foldable AirPods Max. The AirPods Max case was mocked for years for its silly, under-rugged design, and the XM6 have a significantly better case.
Sony’s case has an attractive, rounded design with hard-shell protection for the headphones and a slim fit thanks to the foldable design. Inside, there’s a small pocket for a USB-C charging cable. To facilitate access to the headphones, the case is magnetic and does not have a zipper.
Apple Airpods Max (2024)
Apple still has the edge in terms of design thanks to the aluminum construction of the AirPods Max. However, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are more comfortable to wear for longer periods due to their lighter weight. The AirPods Max have always offered excellent sound quality, but the XM6 sound great too. Sony’s headphones have an advantage because the EQ can be adjusted and the sound optimized via the Sound Connect app.
Headphones are about equally strong in terms of active noise cancellation, with the AirPods Max possibly have a small advantage. Like the Airpods Max, the Sony WH-1000XM6 have a transparency mode so that you can suppress the sound if necessary. The transparency function of the XM6 works well and comes very close to the Airpods Max. There is also an option for background noises that play music quietly so that you can continue to have conversations.
Battery life has improved since the release of the 2024 model – with ANC enabled, up to 20 hours are possible. However, the Sony WH-1000XM6, with a battery life of up to 30 hours with ANC enabled, not only easily keep up, but also significantly outperform the Apple headphones. Charging is via USB-C, but wired audio is only available on the Sony headphones via a 3.5 mm jack.
The music control is carried out by wiping. So you can change the volume and switch between titles. Sony has also equipped the XM6 with a physical switch that is not available in the AirPods Max.
Verdict
The Apple Airpods Max (2024) offer advantages in the Apple ecosystem as immediate connection and quick devices missing. If you have a lot of Apple products and the weight of the AirPods Max does not bother you, the AirPods are the better choice. If you do not often switch between devices and prefer a more comfortable seat, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are the better headphones.
