Sony
Sony WH-1000XM6
QN3 noise-cancel · LDAC · 30h battery
95
/ 100
From $449
VS
Sony WH-1000XM6 wins by 7
Apple
AirPods Max (USB-C)
H1 · Spatial Audio · Dynamic Head Tracking
88
/ 100
From $549
Verdex verdict
Sony WH-1000XM6 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Verdex score, Sony WH-1000XM6 lands at 95 and AirPods Max (USB-C) at 88. That puts Sony WH-1000XM6 ahead by 7 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sony WH-1000XM6 if…
- ✓Best-in-class ANC
- ✓Excellent call clarity
- ✓Folding hinges are back
Pick AirPods Max (USB-C) if…
- ✓Premium aluminum build
- ✓Seamless Apple integration
- ✓Head-tracked spatial audio
Score breakdown
Sony WH-1000XM6
95 anc 98
sound 94
comfort 92
battery 90
features 94
AirPods Max (USB-C)
88 anc 92
sound 92
comfort 82
battery 82
features 86
Specs side-by-side
Spec
Sony WH-1000XM6
AirPods Max (USB-C)
Driver
30 mm dynamic
40 mm dynamic
Codecs
LDAC, AAC, SBC, LC3
AAC, SBC
Battery
30 h (ANC on)
20 h
Weight
254 g
384 g
Connectivity
BT 5.3, Multipoint, USB-C
BT 5.0, USB-C lossless
Sony WH-1000XM6
Pros
- +Best-in-class ANC
- +Excellent call clarity
- +Folding hinges are back
Cons
- −Pricey vs XM5
- −Bass slightly boosted
- −No lossless over BT
AirPods Max (USB-C)
Pros
- +Premium aluminum build
- +Seamless Apple integration
- +Head-tracked spatial audio
Cons
- −Still uses H1 (not H2)
- −Heavy at 384 g
- −No power button / auto-pause
FAQ: Sony WH-1000XM6 vs AirPods Max (USB-C)
Which is better, Sony WH-1000XM6 or AirPods Max (USB-C)? +
Sony WH-1000XM6 scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 7. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sony WH-1000XM6 worth the price? +
At $449, Sony WH-1000XM6 delivers a Verdex score of 95 — strongest in anc.
Is AirPods Max (USB-C) worth the price? +
At $549, AirPods Max (USB-C) delivers a Verdex score of 88 — strongest in anc.
Does Sony WH-1000XM6 or AirPods Max (USB-C) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.