I tested Sony WH-1000XM6 vs AirPods Max in a 7-round face-off — here's the winner

Tom's Guide

3 hours ago

The AirPods Max are Apple's finest set of headphones. They're also some of the most expensive, but will their superior build and unique design give them what they need to vanquish the Sony WH-1000XM6?
Sony's latest pair of noise canceling over-ears come with a freshly sharpened set of tools with which to dispatch the AirPods Max. But how will the XM6 fare when they go head-to-head with Apple's flagship cans?
Now that the Sony WH-1000XM6 have been out for a little while, I've had ample time to properly test them and put them up against their closest competition from Apple and Bose. With a refreshed design and a brand new sound signature, Sony's flagship is sailing into battle with confidence.
But the AirPods Max won't make it an easy victory. They still have their unique design and solid ANC going for them, and that magic pairing with Apple devices is going to take something special to beat.
So, which headphones should you buy in 2025? I've put the two head-to-head to see which you should take home.
Sony WH-1000XM6
AirPods Max
Price
$449 / £399 / AU$699
$549 / £499 / AU$899
Colors
Black; Silver; Midnight Blue
Blue; Purple; Midnight; Starlight; Orange
Size
Not specified
Not specified
Weight
8.9 ounces
13.6 ounces
Battery life (rated)
Up to 40 hours
Up to 20 hours
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LDAC support
Bluetooth 5.0 with SBC, AAC
Special features
Adaptive ANC, Ambient Sound Mode, DSEE Extreme Audio, Bluetooth multipoint, customizable sound, quick charge, passive mode, 360 Reality Audio
ANC, spatial audio, audio sharing, Siri
The Sony WH-1000XM6 snatch an early victory here — they're much more affordable than Apple's weighty aluminum cans. The XM6 come in at $449, which is more than the older XM5 model, but crucially less than the AirPods Max.
One thing worth noting, however, is that XM6 haven't yet seen any healthy discounts. This might change with Black Friday or the next Amazon Prime Day, but as of yet, there has been little movement in their MSRP.
Though you can occasionally find them on sale, AirPods Max have a higher MSRP — $549 to be exact — but thanks to their age, they've also seen some price drops. If your heart is set on the AirPods Max, you're best off waiting for Black Friday and Prime Day to get the best price possible.
Despite those deal prices, the Sony WH-1000XM6 are going to take the win because they're a cheaper pair of headphones for most of the year.
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The Sony WH-1000XM6 have received some visual updates over the previous version, but they are few. The armature holding the earcups to the headband now folds so that they can be more compact, and the headband is slightly wider for a more comfortable fit. Otherwise, these look an awful lot like the model that came before them.
The 1000XM6's case is much better than before, and also more protective than the AirPods Max's sleeve... thing.
The 1000XM6's case is much better than before, and also more protective than the AirPods Max's sleeve... thing. There's space inside for your cables, and I'm more a fan of the magnetic clasp than I thought I would be. It works well, and makes opening and closing the case much quicker than the conventional zipper.
Comfort is good, but not excellent. The widened headband can still dig in after long periods of time, and the earcups get very sweaty with wear. They also press on glasses and piercings. They're not uncomfortable, but there are better.
Finally, let's talk about Sony's build. I think they're a bit non-descript. Their plastic is nothing to write home about, and the overall look doesn't scream "$449 headphones!" Perhaps that's a good thing — they're less likely to get stolen — but compare them to the AirPods and things don't look great for Sony's headphones in the looks and build department.
The AirPods Max are just the nicer pair of headphones in hand. Those aluminum earcups feel extremely premium, and the fully metal build feels like you could run your car over them. Don't do that, obviously, but it's encouraging to feel such heft. Especially when you've spent $549.
Comfort is better than Sony's out of the box as well, thanks to a nicer foam and more breathable materials in the earcups. Importantly, the earcups can be swapped out and cleaned, which is neat.
There is a big 'however' waiting in the wings, unfortunately: The AirPods don't stand up to years of abuse, it turns out. My older AirPods with Lightning connector have lost the elasticity in their headband, so they're no longer as comfortable. They look really ratty now as well, with some staining on the headband and discoloration on the earcups. Make sure you keep them clean, or they'll end up looking pretty grim.
The case is a letdown as well. The suede diaper thing that holds just the earcups does little more than prevent scratches, with the headband left to the outside world and potential damage.
Overall, this one is a tie — the AirPods are nice looking and far more premium, but the case is bad and some bits of their build might struggle after years of use.
Sony has opted for touch controls again with the XM6, and they're fine if you like swiping your earcups to change volume, skip and play/pause. I don't like them, because they're all to easy to nudge while adjusting my hair, and completely useless when it's cold and I'm wearing some gloves.
The power button and the ANC button are easy to tell apart, though, which is always good. No more accidentally pressing the pairing key when I want to turn the ANC off, as I did many times with their predecessor.
The AirPods Max, on the other hand, feature one of the best headphone control schemes around. The digital crown and button combo is super intuitive. The dial controls the volume, and the button controls the ANC. Pause your music with a press of the dial, and then skip and go back a track with one or two taps.
They've stood the test of time incredibly well — in the last few years I can't think of a control scheme that I like more than the AirPods Max.
The Sony WH-1000XM6 have a newly updated sound profile, now giving more emphasis on vocals. They're some of the clearest vocals we've found in headphones, which is great for a bunch of different genres.
The XM6 sound good, don't get me wrong, but they're just not quite as impressive when you put them up against the AirPods Max.
They're not perfect, however. That newfound focus let soundstage and spatial imaging slip to the wayside, making them feel slightly more restricted as a result. They also retain Sony's rather bassy low-end, which many really enjoy. Alas, it also has a habit of overpowering the mids and the highs.
The XM6 sound good, don't get me wrong, but they're just not quite as impressive when you put them up against the AirPods Max.
The AirPods Max have much better sound than the Sony WH-1000XM6. The soundstage is much wider, for one, which makes your music sound more open and airy. The bass is less overpowering, with great control and restraint on display than the Sony headphones.
The overall soundscape is far more neutral and pleasant to listen to: All genres sound really good, and you're not going to miss any of the extra bass of the WH-1000XM6 when you hear just how good your music can sound out of the AirPods.
They're also better at spatial audio. Sony's are good, but Apple's head tracking is more accurate and natural. I much prefer listening to spatial audio with the AirPods Max, although my final preference is still to leave it turned off.
There are better out there for sound than both – the Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3, for example — but the AirPods take the sound cake.
Sony is always good at filling its headphones with loads of features, and the XM6 are no different. First of all, there's the Sony Music app, which is a very useful way of accessing the headphones' features. There are some settings and sliders hidden away in submenus, which is annoying, but you'll soon get a handle on where everything is.
Inside the app is where you'll find the features. The noise-canceling modes dominate the first page of the app. There are levels you can set the ANC, beyond simply 'on' and 'off'. I don't really get it — I like my ANC all the way up whenever I want the outside blocked out. You can also select transparency mode here.
Then there's the EQ, which is very robust. There are 10 bands you can adjust you can really dial in the sound of your headphones. There's a form of spatial audio on board as well, although it only works with Amazon Music Unlimited. I also don't like it, so I leave it turned off.
The AirPods Max aren't quite so fully featured. They do have several noise-canceling modes to choose from, although again, I leave them on max. There's also Apple's Spatial Audio on board, which is much better than Sony's thanks to accurate head tracking.
There's little in the way of sound customization, however, which is a shame. Thankfully, they sound fine without it.
Things look up again for Apple with its ecosystem integration. Using any pair of AirPods if you have a selection of Apple devices is magical, and the AirPods Max continue that legacy. They connect incredibly easily, and can then switch between your iPhone, MacBook and iPad whenever needed.
But that's only for Apple users. For everyone else, the Sony headphones have the superior feature set.
The ANC of the Sony headphones is better than the AirPods Max in the long run, although their focuses are different from one another. Sony wants to make your commute more tolerable, blocking out the sounds of bus and train engines. Offices and libraries are silenced — but jet engines remain a small issue.
That's what the AirPods are for — your business class seat on a cross-continent flight where the engine is just outside your window. They might not be quite as good in normal day-to-day use like the Sony WH-1000XM6, but they're perfect for the frequent flier or long-distance train traveler.
Transparency modes in both are very good, and sound natural when you're ordering your McDonald's breakfast. Like me.
The Sony XM6 are going to last you longer than the AirPods Max, without a shadow of a doubt. There are 30 hours of battery on tap here when you've got the ANC turned on, which rises to 40 hours when you turn it off. That's perfectly fine for battery life, although there are some that are better.
The AirPods Max, on the other hand, do not have good battery life. They only last for 20 hours on a single charge. You'll be searching for a charger after a couple of days' use with the AirPods I found, which is less than ideal.
After my period of comparative testing, I can say that the Sony WH-1000XM6 are the better pair of headphones. They last for much longer when it comes to battery life, and they've got more useful ANC along the way. They're not quite enough to take the top spot on our list of the best headphones anymore, but they're still an excellent set of cans.
The AirPods Max have their charm, however. They sound much better, and they feel far more premium than the plastic Sony headphones. If you're an Apple user, they'll mesh with the rest of your devices super well too. I like the AirPods Max more — they've got more personality — but the WH-1000XM6 are the better pair of headphones.
Yet still, there are alternatives I'd buy instead of either. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 sound better and are more comfortable than both, while boasting a build that's similar to the AirPods Max.
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Sony WH-1000XM6
AirPods Max
Price and value (5)
3
2
Design (15)
13
13
Controls (10)
7
7
Sound quality (25)
22
24
Active noise cancelation (20)
15
15
Call quality (10)
9
9
Connectivity (5)
5
5
Battery life (10)
8
3
Total Score (100)
82
78