Sony WF-1000XM6 / Apple AirPods Max (Lightning, 2020)

Sony WF-1000XM6: WF-1000XM6/B · black · in-ear

Apple AirPods Max (Lightning, 2020): AirPods Max 1, the first version with a Lightning charging port (2020); Silver, Space Grey, Sky Blue, Pink and Green. The 2024 USB‑C version and AirPods Max 2 are separate models.

SpecificationSony WF-1000XM6Apple AirPods Max (Lightning, 2020)
Release year20262020
Announcement / sales year12 February 2026 / 2026 Sony—
Noise controlAdaptive ANC and ambient sound Sony—
ProcessorsQN3e and Integrated Processor V2 Sony—
CodecsSBC, AAC, LDAC; LC3 over LE Audio Sony—
AAC / SBC batteryUp to 8 hours with ANC; 12 hours without Sony—
LDAC batteryUp to 5 hours with ANC; 8 hours without Sony—
LC3 batteryUp to 7 hours with ANC; 11 hours without Sony—
Battery conditionsEQ, DSEE Extreme and speech detection can shorten runtime

These are manufacturer maximum figures.

Sony
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Quick chargeAbout 1 hour of music from 5 minutes Sony—
Full chargeEarbuds approximately 1.5 hours; case 2 hours Sony—
WeightApproximately 6.5 g per earbud; 47 g case

With medium tips.

Sony
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Wireless chargingQi-compatible case Sony—
Multiple connectionsTwo-device multipoint Sony—
Gaming audioGMAP over LE Audio

Requires a compatible phone and game; not a fixed latency guarantee.

Sony
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TipsFour sizes of noise-isolation tips Sony—
AppSony Sound Connect; 10-band EQ Sony—
Operating temperature0–40 °C Sony—
Audio technology—Apple-designed dynamic driver; Active Noise Cancellation; Transparency mode; Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ

A Personalised Spatial Audio profile is created with an iPhone that has a TrueDepth camera; the feature needs compatible content and apps.

Apple
Chip—Apple H1 headphone chip in each ear cup Apple
Microphones—Nine microphones in total: eight for noise cancellation; three for voice pickup (two shared with noise cancellation) Apple
Sensors—Optical, position and case-detect sensors plus an accelerometer in each cup; gyroscope in the left cup

The position and optical sensors detect when the headphones are put on or taken off to pause and resume playback.

Apple
Controls—Digital Crown (volume, play/pause, calls, track skip, Siri) and noise control button

Turning the Digital Crown changes the volume; the noise control button switches between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode.

Apple
Battery—Up to 20 hours of listening with Active Noise Cancellation or Transparency on; up to 20 hours of movies with Spatial Audio on; 5 minutes of charge gives about 1.5 hours of listening

Apple’s figures come from pre-production tests with an iPhone 12 Pro Max in November 2020.

Apple
Charging and case—Charging via Lightning; the battery enters an ultra-low-power state in the Smart Case

The box contains the headphones, the Smart Case and a Lightning to USB‑C cable. There is no separate power button; the Smart Case handles power saving.

Apple
Connectivity—Bluetooth 5.0 Apple
Size and weight—187.3 × 168.6 × 83.4 mm; 384.8 g with cushions; Smart Case 134.5 g Apple
Compatibility—Apple devices running the latest iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS or tvOS

They work as Bluetooth headphones with Apple devices on older software and with non-Apple devices, but functionality is limited.

Apple