After testing hundreds of headphones, here’s why I chose the AirPods Max in 2026

As someone who tests and reviews headphones for a living, I’m amazed to see how well the AirPods Max have stood the test of time. Mind you, these headphones came out back in December 2020 — almost five years ago! Yet despite the headphones’ age, I recently decided to cough up the cash to buy my own pair to use at home. The AirPods Max are far from the latest on the market, but I feel there are four key reasons why they’re still a great buy, even in 2026.

Noise canceling performance is still undefeated

Five years later, the AirPods Max still offer amazing noise cancelation performance with the latest firmware updates. In our labs, the headphones reduce the loudness of outside noise by an average of 88%, which is among the best results we’ve measured so far.

With this great ANC performance, the AirPods Max have become my go-to headphones for editing videos in the middle of busy convention halls at trade shows like CES. In the air, crying babies and roaring airplane engines are no match for the AirPods Max’s ANC performance. Regardless of where I am, the headphones do a fantastic job in reducing loud external noise, allowing me to tune out the world while I focus on my work.

USB-C audio is a game-changer for the AirPods Max

The AirPods Max received a refresh in September 2024, replacing the infamous Lightning charging port with USB-C. In my opinion, this update was a real game-changer for two key reasons. Firstly, the switch to USB-C means I don’t have to carry a separate cable just to charge the headphones. Secondly, Apple added support for audio over USB-C. This lets me use any USB-C cable I have to enjoy a wired, lag-free connection between my AirPods Max and my source device, which is a must-have for monitoring my music or video mixes.

In addition to the convenience factors, the support for USB-C audio enables low-latency monitoring when mixing Spatial Audio tracks in Logic Pro X. This is a huge win for music producers, such as myself, since I can now use the AirPods Max to monitor my own Spatial Audio projects without having to deal with the inherent latency of a wireless connection.

Years later, the AirPods Max still sound great

I’ve listened to hundreds of headphones during my time here at SoundGuys, and yet I still rank the AirPods Max among my top five over-ear headphones for sound quality. To my ears, the AirPods Max offer just the right amount of bass, bringing out the low-end instruments in bass-heavy EDM tracks. In the song “What’s The Move” by Henry Fong and Knock2, kick drums, bass synths, and 808s sound punchy without masking vocals. High-octave synth leads and cymbals sound detailed without being shrill. Make sure to read our full review to see our full suite of sound quality lab tests.

Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t offer a native equalizer to tune the headphones to your liking. However, if you use Spotify, you can always use the iOS app’s built-in equalizer to customize the tuning, if you so desire. Personally, I haven’t felt the need to change the tuning of the AirPods Max, but that’s a matter of personal preference. I do wish that Apple would include a native EQ tool in its Settings app in a future update, especially since plenty of other flagship ANC headphones offer this feature.

Price drops make the AirPods Max a compelling buy

The AirPods Max cost $549 when they launched in December 2020, and it was virtually impossible to find them on sale. This “Apple tax” is probably the biggest reason why I avoided buying the AirPods Max for so long. However, five years later, you can often find a new pair on Amazon for as low as $449.99. This means you can snag the AirPods Max at a similar price to other flagships, such as the Sony WH-1000XM6 ($448 at Amazon) and Sennheiser HDB 630 ($499.95 at Amazon).

You can also consider buying a refurbished or open-box pair to save more money. In my case, I finally pulled the trigger on the AirPods Max when I found an open-box set at Best Buy for just under $400, tax included. As the AirPods Max moves into its sixth year on the market, we may see the headphones continue to drop in price. It’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for if you’re considering buying a pair.