Head-to-head · Best Wireless Headphones

Apple AirPods Max 2 vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Apple AirPods Max 2 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about Best for Apple users — luxurious build with seamless ecosystem integration — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Wireless Headphones

Apple AirPods Max 2

4.4

$549as of Apr 17

The Apple AirPods Max 2 refine the original formula with smoother sound, better dynamics, and enhanced noise cancellation, making them a luxurious choice for iOS users. However, the lack of updates to the battery life and the impractical case design, combined with stiff competition offering superior performance at lower prices, limit their appeal as a class-leading upgrade.

Strengths

— Delivers smooth, balanced sound with improved punch, dynamics, and precision compared to the original model
— Features a high standard of build quality and luxurious finish
— Includes a suite of intuitive and useful features powered by the new H2 chip

Watch-outs

— Battery life remains unchanged from the previous generation
— The included case design has not been updated and is considered inconvenient compared to rivals
— Competitors like Sony and Bose offer greater rhythmic precision and dynamic punch for a lower price

$549 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Wireless Headphones

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

4.3

$229.99as of May 29

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is the value-and-endurance pick of this lineup — Tom's Guide says its 'great sound and industry-leading battery life mean it should be on any ANC headphone shortlist,' and What Hi-Fi calls these 'great-value contenders.' Its roughly 60-hour battery (SoundGuys measured 56 hours with ANC on) roughly doubles most rivals, and the 42mm drivers deliver rich, tunable sound. The trade-off is ANC that trails the class-leading Bose and Sony, and a deliberately plain design.

Strengths

— Industry-leading ~60-hour battery life — roughly double most rivals
— Excellent, customizable audiophile-leaning sound from 42mm drivers with aptX Adaptive hi-res
— Often the best value in the premium class, frequently under $300

Watch-outs

— ANC is a step behind the class-leading Bose and Sony in this guide
— Understated, plain design that some find less premium-looking than rivals
— Folds at the hinges but the ear cups don't rotate flat, so the case is fairly bulky

$229.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

The Momentum 4 Wireless undercuts the Apple AirPods Max 2, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and Sony WH-1000XM6 on price while crushing all of them on battery — roughly 60 hours versus 20-40. It trades away top-tier ANC: the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and the standard Bose QuietComfort Headphones both isolate better, as does the Sony. It is the endurance-and-value alternative rather than the outright noise-cancelling champion.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Apple AirPods Max 2	Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Driver	40mm Apple	42mm dynamic
Weight	395g	293g
ANC	Yes	Adaptive ANC
Codec	AAC	SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive
Connectivity	BT 5.3, USB-C, 3.5mm	Bluetooth 5.2, multipoint, 3.5mm
Battery Life	20h	60h (rated), ~56h measured
Folding	—	Folds at hinge

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