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Sony WH-1000XM3 — Over-ear · 2018
Sony

Sony WH-1000XM3

Over-ear · 2018

86
/ 100
From $349
VS
AirPods Max wins by 2
AirPods Max — Over-ear · 2020
Apple

AirPods Max

Over-ear · 2020

88
/ 100
From $549
Specdex verdict

AirPods Max takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sony WH-1000XM3 lands at 86 and AirPods Max at 88. That puts AirPods Max ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sony WH-1000XM3 if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)

Pick AirPods Max if…

  • ✓Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • ✓Premium build
  • ✓Active noise cancellation (most models)
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Sound quality

AirPods Max

Tuning, detail, and staging

AirPods Max leads on sound (88 vs 86).

Noise cancelling

AirPods Max

ANC strength for commute and travel

AirPods Max leads on anc (86 vs 84).

Comfort

AirPods Max

Long-session wearability

AirPods Max leads on comfort (87 vs 85).

Value for money

Sony WH-1000XM3

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sony WH-1000XM3 more score per dollar ($349 vs $549).

Sony WH-1000XM3 86
vs
88 AirPods Max

Score breakdown

Sony WH-1000XM3
86
anc 84
sound 86
comfort 85
battery 82
features 82
AirPods Max
88
anc 86
sound 88
comfort 87
battery 82
features 84

Specs side-by-side

Sony WH-1000XM3 versus AirPods Max — full spec comparison
Spec Sony WH-1000XM3 AirPods Max
Type
Over-ear
Over-ear
Release year
2018
2020

Sony WH-1000XM3

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • −Battery varies by codec
  • −Some are Bluetooth-only
  • −Price creep vs previous gen

AirPods Max

Pros
  • +Flagship comfort + ANC on modern models
  • +Premium build
  • +Active noise cancellation (most models)
Cons
  • −Battery varies by codec
  • −Some are Bluetooth-only
  • −Price creep vs previous gen

FAQ: Sony WH-1000XM3 vs AirPods Max

Which is better, Sony WH-1000XM3 or AirPods Max? +

AirPods Max scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Sony WH-1000XM3 worth the price? +

At $349, Sony WH-1000XM3 delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in sound.

Is AirPods Max worth the price? +

At $549, AirPods Max delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sound.

Does Sony WH-1000XM3 or AirPods Max 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.

Which is better for sound quality, Sony WH-1000XM3 or AirPods Max? +

AirPods Max — leads on sound (88 vs 86). Tuning, detail, and staging.

Which is better for noise cancelling, Sony WH-1000XM3 or AirPods Max? +

AirPods Max — leads on anc (86 vs 84). ANC strength for commute and travel.