Choosing between the AirPods Max and Sony WH-1000XM5 really boils down to your budget and your smartphone. Only iPhone owners will be able to take full advantage of the AirPods Max, while Android phone owners will miss out on basic functionality and firmware updates.
The AirPods Max technically has better ANC than the WH-1000XM5. When you click either chart to expand it, you can see how much more sub-bass the AirPods Max attenuates compared to the XM5 headphones. Click the charts below to expand.
Sound quality is also better with the AirPods Max out of the box, and you get Adaptive EQ no matter which device you use it with. That said, other things like automatic ear detection and Apple Spatial Audio only work with Apple devices. The microphone quality is also much more reliable on the WH-1000XM5 and it does a better job across sub-optimal conditions.
AirPods Max microphone demo (Ideal):
AirPods Max microphone demo (Wind):
Ultimately, the WH-1000XM5 is more suited for those who use both Apple and non-Apple devices, whereas the AirPods is really only out to serve one consumer: Apple’s.