Showcasing an elegant design that seems ever ready to catch attention coupled with top-of-the-line active noise cancellation and transparency mode, AirPods Max has put all the existing noise-canceling over-ear headphones in a tight race. Going by the fairly positive reviews, the headphones appear to be at the forefront of attention as a toast of the town lit with the impending festive season. However, not everything about Apple’s first noise-canceling headphones is impressive. Be it the rather expensive price tag ($550) or the laughable case that is threatening to grab the “Worst design ever” award, the headphones have quite a few boxes to tick off. And that’s where these 8 best AirPods Max alternatives get a chance to come into the reckoning.

Especially when making a pricey investment, it’s apt to create the custom essential boxes that you would like to check off. So, let’s get it out of the way first off!

  • Which AirPods Max Alternative Should You Buy?
  • Sony WH-1000XM4
  • Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
  • Beats Solo Pro
  • AirPods Pro
  • Microsoft Surface Headphones 2
  • Bose QuietComfort 35 II
  • Anker Soundcore
  • Bowers & Wilkins PX7

Which AirPods Max Alternative Should You Buy?

I have lined up AirPods Max substitutes based on 5 major parameters: Design, Comfort, Noise cancellation, Sound, and Battery Life. As for the price, it’s a toss-up between your budget and how much you can stretch. However, to give you a sneak-peek into the pricing, you can buy two pairs of pro-grade over-ear headphones and still have plenty of money left for a couple of movie tickets as well as some spicy snacks up-top.

If you are hunting for a top-notch AirPods Max alternative without having to breach the $300 price tag, Sony WH-1000XM4 could be a solid contender for more than one reason. For starters, the over-ear headphones sport a decent design that may not catch the eyeballs like AirPods Max but they look just fine for both casual or professional setup.

Being super comfy and lightweight (254 grams), WH-1000XM4 feels comfortable to wear. So, your head won’t feel burdened by the weight of the over-ear headphones even after hours of listening. Being comparatively heavier at almost 385 grams (13.6 ounces) due largely to the stainless steel and aluminum materials, AirPods Max might tire your head if you have the habit of wearing ultra-lightweight headphones.

Pros: 

Cons: 

Yet another over-ear headphones that can give AirPox a run for its money is none other than Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. Looking at the relatively high rating (4.5 stars out of 5 from more than 13K ratings), I must say that the headphones have lived up to the tall claim to a great extent. Beyond the rating, Bose noise-canceling headphones have a modern-looking design that means business.

Cons: 

  • Bass could be better
  • Bose music app needs some refinements
  • A touch expensive than other similar headphones

They say, “Diamond cuts diamond.” Powered by the same brain “Apple H1 chip” as AirPox Max, Beats Solo Pro presents a lucrative proposition (and might even run away with the tag of smartest choice for many) for the folks who wish to remain very much in the Apple ecosystem. And that too without having to deal with an extravagant price tag.

On the battery life front, Solo Pro has a slight edge over AirPods Max thanks to the ability to offers 22 hours of listening time consistently. Not just that, it also supports quick charge, delivering 3 hours of playtime with just 10 minutes of charge – same as AirPods Max.

4. AirPods Pro – Better In-Ear Headphones

If you are on the lookout for an AirPods Max substitute in an in-ear form-factor, AirPods Pro has got all the boxes ticked off to be a notable pick. Just like AirPods Max, it also features the custom Apple H1 chip that offers seamless connectivity with iDevices.

Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 could be a better choice if you are willing to opt for a professional look and feel. What’s more, they also cost less than half the price of the AirPods Max. Notably, they are integrated with Microsoft 365 and provide real-time voice dictation in the Office programs, which is a big plus if you are already into the Microsoft ecosystem.

  • The design doesn’t look stylish

Bose over-ear headphones have got the reputation of delivering the excellent sound quality and they are also among the best of the lot in terms of noise-canceling. And QuietComfort 35 II seems fully equipped to be in the same league. While QuietComfort 35 II may not be as good-looking as Bose NC 700 or AirPods Max, you can bank on the over-ear headphones to keep up with your style quotient.

Hold your breath for a moment before you may begin to question Anker Soundcore Life Q30 which I have put in this roundup as the cheapest AirPods Max alternative! There are three notable features that make Soundcore an able substitute. First and foremost, the over-ear headphones offer more than decent active noise cancellation.

Thanks to the dual noise-detecting microphones, the headphones can filter up to 95% low-frequency ambient sound to ensure you have a peaceful hands-free calling and music listening. For a better listening experience, it features three modes such as transport that help you remain aware of the surrounding, outdoor that suppresses traffic sound, and indoor that keep the noise of people away.

8. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 – Pro-Grade Substitute

So, how long can you keep a deserving challenger like Bowers & Wilkins PX7 out of the ring when there is a tight race to be the most preferred AirPods Max substitute? PX7 sports a pro-looking design with soft earcups topped by the carbon fiber composite arms that keep stress away. Thus, you can wear the headphones for hours without having to deal with unnecessary bulk.

  • Well-built refined design
  • 43mm drivers deliver top-grade sound quality
  • adaptive noise-canceling technology
  • 30 hours of battery life
  • Colors: (silver, carbon edition, and space grey)

There you go! So, these are the best AirPods Max substitutes that you can buy to have top-notch active noise cancellation and impress sound quality. And that too without having to break the bank. Now that you have explored the roundup, let me know your preferred over-ear headphones.