Affordable alternatives to Apple AirPods Max

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If you’re willing to pay for them, there’s a lot to like about the AirPods Max. You get a dose of premium design with deep iOS integration and smart features like personalized spatial audio, adaptive EQ, live translation, adaptive audio, and chat awareness. There’s also lossless audio over USB-C, if you’re into that sort of thing, but it’s more common on spec sheets these days.

Of course, the main downside to AirPods Max has always been the price. At $549, the headphones rank among the most expensive sets we’ve reviewed. But if you’re willing to forgo some features, including tools that can only be used with Apple devices, you can save a significant amount of money without sacrificing too much performance.

Currently being tested for review.

At $200, the Space 2 Pro will cost you less than half of a pair of AirPods Max 2. And yes, you’ll have to make some sacrifices to save that much money. First, you’ll give up the deep integration with iOS and Apple devices that AirPods Max offer. You’ll also have to forego high-end design for something still refined, but also decidedly plastic. If none of these are deal-breakers, then there’s a lot to like about the Space 2 Pro.

This is Anker’s first Soundcore headset with its So AI chip inside. The component is responsible for active noise cancellation (ANC), voice quality (on calls and for voice commands), and HearID personalized sound. The ANC setup, which also uses eight sensors, does a decent job with human voices and constant noise sources. Voice quality is excellent, thanks in part to this chip and a six-microphone setup, but you’ll notice a slight degradation when the system steps in to block out background noise. And the stock setting delivers crisp highs and deep bass right out of the box.

The benefit of all this plastic is that the Space 2 Pro is very lightweight, so it’s comfortable to wear for long periods of time. These headphones also feature intuitive, reliable, and easy-to-use physical controls instead of touchscreens for swipes and taps. Multipoint Bluetooth and 30 hours of battery life (ANC activated) are also on the technical sheet.

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$359 is still a lot of change, but in the case of the second-generation QuietComfort headphones, you’re paying for Bose’s noise-blocking prowess. Overall sound quality is also good, although the company’s Ultra model does better. On these “classic” QC earbuds, you get Cinema Mode and Immersive Audio, the latter being the company’s take on spatial sound. The QuietComfort earbuds are no slouch and you’ll be very happy with the performance after saving almost $200 compared to the AirPods Max 2.

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Read our full review here.

At this point, you’ve probably seen someone wearing the AirPods Max 2 during a workout. These headphones aren’t a great choice for sweaty activities since the ear cushions are made of a “breathable mesh textile.” Beats headphones weren’t designed to be sweat-proof either, but they were also popular among gym-goers and athletes. With the Beats 360, Apple finally offers a set of fitness headphones in its range with IPX4 sweat resistance.

Since Beats is owned by Apple, you get many of the benefits of AirPods Max here. These include one-touch pairing, automatic switching between Apple devices on your iCloud account, audio sharing with compatible headphones/earphones, Find My compatibility, and hands-free access to Siri. The Beats 360 lasts up to 12 hours longer than the AirPods Max 2 (ANC enabled) and it’s possible to swap the ear and headband pads. Plus, Beats’ affinity for bass will help keep you energized during a workout, but it’s not as overbearing as the company’s early models were.

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If you want a good headset for less than $100, you have to make a lot of sacrifices. However, sound quality, battery life, and comfort don’t necessarily have to be on this list. With Audio-Technica’s M20xBT, you get classic design and the company’s warm, inviting sound quality. The 60 hour battery life is excellent and the earbuds are lightweight and very comfortable. What you won’t find here is ANC, but basics like multipoint Bluetooth and optional wired use are still available.

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When the comparison device costs $549, a $299 set is significantly more affordable. In this case, it’s the price of the Fender Mix: noise-canceling headphones that debuted just before CES. The new line of audio devices comes from Fender Audio, a collaboration of Fender Corporation (of guitar fame) and Riffsound. The result is a smartly designed headset with a stored lossless Bluetooth dongle and replaceable battery. There’s also a crisp, detailed sound quality that I really appreciated. Additionally, the company now has an app for changing settings, a key item that was missing during my review.

The five-way joystick controls are a joy to use, and 52 hours of battery life with ANC enabled is a big plus. Speaking of noise cancellation, the performance here is respectable, even if it’s not on the level of Bose and a few others. Still, it’s enough to block out mild to moderate distractions.

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When Engadget compiles buying guides like these, we first rely on our decades of product review expertise. Every year we review over 100 new devices, giving us a solid basis for selecting the best products that meet given criteria. For this particular guide, I was able to revisit recently reviewed devices as a refresher, refamiliarize myself with the products on my initial shortlist, and make the best selections based on the criteria for affordable alternatives. I write almost all of the headphone reviews on Engadget and edit the ones I don’t, so I have extensive knowledge of this particular category.

We may update our selections as necessary after new products are announced and reviewed.