Comparing the uses of AirPods Max and AirPods Pro

Main points

• AirPods Pro are great for workouts with their secure fit and lightweight design.
• AirPods Max have long battery life and excellent sound quality, which is better for watching videos.
• AirPods Pro are more suitable for taking public transportation, providing better noise reduction effect and compactness.

I’ve been wearing in-ear AirPods Pro (2nd generation) for two years, and for the longest time, I couldn’t imagine life without them. Of course, that was until last November when I purchased the over-the-ear AirPods Max. Since then, my life has been a constant debate over whether I should use AirPods Pro or AirPods Max for different activities.

I’ve been debating whether should I get AirPods Pro or AirPods Max? I’m aware of the champagne issue, but it was still a decision that seriously affected my experience.

I’m aware of the champagne issue, but it’s still a decision that seriously affects my experience during Zoom meetings or when listening to music through loud pipes. If you’re deciding whether you want AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, I can confidently tell you that you can’t go wrong with either option. However, both sets of headphones are suitable for different activities.

Looking for headphones designed specifically for working out? Look no further than AirPods Pro. Need a pair of sturdy headphones for watching videos on your laptop? AirPods Max might be a better choice. After owning both AirPods Pro and AirPods Max for a few months, here are some of the activities I did with the AirPods Pro vs. AirPods Max.

1 Home office

Winner: AirPods Max

Let’s be honest, one of the biggest reasons why AirPods Max are perfect for working from home is their 20+ hours of battery life. There’s nothing more annoying than hearing the noise coming from your headphones during a Zoom meeting that signals they’re about to die. While both headphones have solid microphones, the AirPods Max also have a better microphone for Zoom calls.

For most people, the biggest drawback to wearing AirPods Max during the workday is the weight of the earphones. I’ve never had any issues with the weight of over-ear headphones, and I didn’t fully notice it until I took them off, but if you’re more weight-conscious, the AirPods Pro will be a better choice for you.

2 exercise

Winner: AirPods Pro

AirPods Pro are the hands-down winner for workouts. The in-ear earbuds come with silicone ear tips that help the earphones fit snugly into your ears, so you don’t have to worry about them falling out. The headphones are lightweight and designed specifically for runners. Plus, the charging case is small enough to fit in a pocket or sports bra, so you can easily put the headphones away after your workout.

Sure, you can use the AirPods Max to work out, but I can’t say it’s going to be as enjoyable an experience — especially if you’re doing cardio. The AirPods Max are relatively heavy, making them a more uncomfortable option for workouts. I also found that since the AirPods Max are adjustable in length, they tend to slip off after a while, which can be very noticeable, albeit very annoying.

3 Take public transportation

Winner: AirPods Pro

If you’ve ever ridden on the London Underground or the New York City Underground, you’ll be familiar with how noisy underground traffic can be. From the blaring noise of a moving train to other people talking loudly, you need a pair of headphones with good noise cancellation to block out all the surrounding noise.

That’s where AirPods Pro come in. While both the Pro and Max have good noise cancellation capabilities, the AirPods Max can’t block as much noise on a busy train. AirPods Pro do a better job of completely canceling out outside noise without having to crank the volume up to maximum.

AirPods Pro are also more compact, allowing you to easily remove them and put them in your pocket when you’re done listening to music. AirPods Max are cumbersome to put on and take off, and when you’re taking public transportation, you want everything to be as quick and smooth as possible.

4 watch video

Winner: AirPods Max

Another win for the AirPods Max is not only the earphones’ superior battery life, but also the surround-sound listening experience. If you spend your free time watching movies or editing YouTube videos on your laptop, you’ll be glad you chose AirPods Max.

As mentioned earlier, the AirPods Max have a battery life of around 20 hours and charge extremely quickly. According to Apple, just 5 minutes of charging can give the headphones 90 minutes of battery life. The spatial audio and sound quality of AirPods Max are slightly improved over AirPods Pro, which gives them another advantage among in-ear headphones.

5 while traveling

Winner: Tie, both good choices

I can’t give a decisive answer to this. Both AirPods Max and AirPods Pro have unique qualities that make them a good choice for flying. AirPods Max are better suited for long-haul flights due to their long battery life, and are better suited for connecting to in-flight entertainment systems.

Although it lacks a 3.5mm jack for an auxiliary cable to connect the headset to the flight system, you can choose to purchase a connector to easily connect the headset to the screen.

I prefer using the AirPods Pro on shorter flights when I just want to listen to music or podcasts on my iPhone.

AirPods Pro are smaller, making them a better choice when you want to listen to music while falling asleep. Sometimes I even turn my AirPods Pro on noise-canceling mode to block out ambient noise, and then fall asleep.

Which is better, AirPods Max or AirPods Pro?

Ultimately, it comes down to what you want to use the headphones for and your personal preference.

If you’re looking for noise-canceling headphones, both are great options, the main difference being price.

AirPods Max cost around $550-$600, while AirPods Pro cost around $230. If you want a more professional set of work headphones, then I would choose the AirPods Max, but if you just want a set of everyday casual headphones, then I would choose the cheaper AirPods Pro.