Sony WH-1000XM6: WH series · Over-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.
| Specification | Sony WH-1000XM6 | Apple AirPods Max (Lightning, 2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Release year | 2025 | 2020 |
| Driver | 30 mm Sony | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 Sony | — |
| Bluetooth profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP; TMAP, GMAP, PBP for LE Audio Sony | — |
| Codec | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 Sony | — |
| Frequency response | Wired and on: 4–40,000 Hz; LDAC 96 kHz: 20–40,000 Hz Sony | — |
| Impedance / sensitivity | Wired, on: 48 Ω, 103 dB/mW; off: 16 Ω, 102 dB/mW Sony | — |
| Rated battery life | Music: up to 30 hours with ANC, 40 hours without ANC Sony | — |
| Rated talk time | Up to 24 hours with ANC, 28 hours without ANC Sony | — |
| Charging | About 3.5 hours; 9 V / 2.3 A with a USB Power Delivery adapter Sony | — |
| Connections | Bluetooth; 3.5 mm audio; USB-C charging Sony | — |
| Weight | Approximately 254 g Sony | — |
| Gaming audio | GMAP support · firmware 3.1.5 Sony | — |
| LE Audio requirement | LC3; Low latency mode in Sound Connect Sony | — |
| Water protection | Not waterproof Sony | — |
| Earlier software fix | 2.1.0: recording/playback in some iPhone apps and missing call audio Sony | — |
| Audio technology | — | Apple-designed dynamic driver; Active Noise Cancellation; Transparency mode; Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ 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 Apple |
| Controls | — | Digital Crown (volume, play/pause, calls, track skip, Siri) and noise control button 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 |
| Charging and case | — | Charging via Lightning; the battery enters an ultra-low-power state in the Smart Case 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 Apple |