Best Noise Cancelling VERIFIED
Apple
AirPods Max
Apple · Headphones
Premium machined over-ears with seamless Apple integration, strong ANC, and excellent spatial audio.
4.5 100% recommend
8.5 score verified
ComparZone Score
8.5
Very good
The best pick for committed Apple users who want premium materials and seamless spatial au…
$549
best of 3 sellers
Price · trend
▼ $60
Yes
Active Noise Cancellation
Noise Cancelling
20 hr
Battery Life (ANC)
Battery
AAC / SBC / USB-C lossless
Codec Support
Audio
9
ANC Microphones
Noise Cancelling
Over-ear closed-back
Type
Audio
Why it stands out
Best spatial audio with head tracking
Best spatial audio with head tracking on Apple devices
Premium aluminum and mesh build
Premium aluminum and mesh build
ANC is strong, just behind Sony/Bose
ANC is strong, just behind Sony/Bose
Heavy
Heavy — comfort suffers on long sessions
Category scores
marker = Headphones average
Performance profile
AirPods Max Category avg
Decision snapshot
Best-in-class
Noise
Beats avg by
-0.2 pts
Confidence
96 %
Data sources
3
0%
Data quality0%
Spec coverage0%
RecommendNoise Cancelling2
Active Noise CancellationYes
ANC Microphones9
Battery2
Battery Life (ANC)20 hr
Quick Charge5 min = 1.5 hours
Audio6
Codec SupportAAC / SBC / USB-C lossless
Driver Size40 mm
TypeOver-ear closed-back
Frequency ResponseApple-tuned dynamic
Hi-Res AudioYes
Spatial AudioYes
Design2
Weight385 g
Water ResistanceNone
Connectivity1
MultipointNo
Price trend
$549▼ $60
low · $549high · $611
Review sentiment
4.5OUT OF 5
8.5
Expert review score
ComparZone editorial · /10
Pros & cons
Pros
- Premium machined aluminum build
- Seamless Apple ecosystem pairing
- Excellent head-tracked spatial audio
- Strong ANC
Cons
- Heavy at 385g
- Very expensive
- Awkward Smart Case
C
Chris A. Verified
3 weeks ago
Spatial audio is addictive
With Apple Music and head tracking, movies and concerts feel three-dimensional. Build quality is in another league.
Helpful · 33
N
Nina O. Verified
1 months ago
Gorgeous but heavy
They sound and feel premium, but after two hours I notice the weight. The case is genuinely strange. Still love them for Apple TV nights.
Helpful · 18
From the community
QIs there a real power-off button?
There is no dedicated off switch; they enter a low-power state in the Smart Case or after long inactivity, which some users find unintuitive.
QDo they work wired on a plane?
Yes — with a USB-C cable (and an adapter for older 3.5mm jacks) you can listen wired and preserve battery.
Frequently asked
Do they support lossless audio?
The USB-C model supports lossless wired audio over USB-C, a notable upgrade over the original Lightning version.
Are they worth it for Android?
Less so — you lose spatial audio head tracking and seamless pairing, so Sony or Bose make more sense on Android.
How heavy are they?
At 385g they are the heaviest here; the mesh headband helps but long sessions can feel the weight.