

Featuresīoth the AirPods Max and the WH-1000XM5 take advantage of noise cancelling. Sony’s case can also be compacted down when not in use for easy storage. The headphones feature plastic recycled from automobile parts and come in plastic-free packaging and a recycled product box. Like the AirPods, the XM5 come with a carry case. The headphones feature an all-new noiseless design, which consists of a stepless slider and soft fit synthetic leather cover to provide a snug, comfortable fit without putting pressure on the head. The XM5, meanwhile, feature a more classic design in black and platinum silver finishes. However, this is the only way to turn the headphones off. The AirPods come with Apple’s Smart Case, an odd-looking case that offers no protection to the headband and doesn’t completely cover the cups. The memory foam earcups are comfortable and can pop off to be washed or replaced and the headphones come in a range of eye-catching colours, including space grey, silver, green, pink and sky blue. The weight of the headphones is distributed evenly across the headband for hours of comfort despite their 385g weight, and there are stainless steel telescoping arms that slide smoothly on either side. The AirPods Max feature boast a unique and bold design consisting of rounded metal ear cups, a mesh-covered band and an Apple Watch-like Digital Crown offering physical playback controls. That makes the Sony pair both the newer and cheaper pair of the two, saving you a decent £169 / €209 over the AirPods Max. The WH-1000XM5 will be available to pick up from the end of May for £380 / €420.
