AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Max Buyer's Guide: 30+ Differences Compared

[MacRumors]

The AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Max are Apple's highest-end headphone options, so which should you choose?

Apple just debuted the AirPods Pro 3, adding new features like improved active noise cancellation, the U2 chip, and heart rate monitoring. The AirPods Pro 2 were already more advanced than the AirPods Max, which have not been meaningfully refreshed since their introduction in 2020, so the AirPods Pro 3 take an even bigger leap ahead of their over-ear siblings. Nevertheless, there is still a good case for buying the AirPods Max against the AirPods Pro.

Both the AirPods Max and the AirPods Pro feature active noise cancellation, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, volume controls, "Hey Siri" commands, and automatic switching. As the two highest-end AirPods options, should you consider purchasing the $249 AirPods Pro 3, or do you need the AirPods Max, which still sell for $549? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these AirPods are best for you.

AirPods Pro 3 (2025)	AirPods Max (2020, 2024)
Plastic design	Aluminum, stainless steel, and silicone design
IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistant earbuds and charging case
Available in White only	Lightning: Available in Silver, Space Gray, Sky Blue, Pink, and Green USB-C: Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Purple, and Orange
In-ear fit	Over-ear fit
Clip-on silicone/foam ear tips (five size options)	Magnetic fabric ear cups
Skin-detect sensors	Optical IR sensors
~10mm custom high-excursion Apple drivers and high dynamic range amplifiers	40mm dynamic Apple drivers and more powerful high dynamic range amplifiers
Dual beamforming microphones and inward-facing microphones	Nine microphones (eight used for Active Noise Cancellation, three used for voice pickup)
H2 chips	H1 chips
Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.0
2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity	2.4GHz connectivity
Lossless audio support with Apple Vision Pro	Lossless audio via USB-C
"Hey Siri" and "Siri" voice commands	"Hey Siri" voice commands
Force sensor for media and listening mode controls	Noise control button for listening mode controls
Touch controls for volume adjustment	Digital Crown for media controls and volume adjustment
Transparency and Adaptive Transparency	Transparency
Adaptive Audio
Loud Sound Reduction
Hearing Protection
Hearing Test
Hearing Aid
Automatic Conversation Boost
Conversation Awareness
Live Translation
Heart rate sensing during workouts
Lanyard loop
U2 chip for Precision Finding
Speaker in charging case for Find My
Up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge	Up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge
5 minutes in the case provides around 1 hour of listening time	5 minutes of charge time provides around 1.5 hours of listening time
Charge with Apple Watch charger, MagSafe charger, Qi wireless charging mats, and USB-C	Charge via USB-C or Lightning only (depending on model)
MagSafe Charging Case	Smart Case to preserve battery charge in ultra-low-power state
$249	$549

While there is some overlap between the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max with features like Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency, the entirely different fit and form factor of the headphones should make it easier for most customers to decide which device they prefer. Some users will even buy and use both.

The AirPods Max offer a wide range of color options and a premium design, making them more of a fashion accessory. They also feature much longer continuous battery life from a single charge. If you dislike the in-ear design of the AirPods Pro, the AirPods Max may also be more comfortable, especially for longer listening sessions.

Owing to its over-ear design and significantly larger drivers, the AirPods Max deliver markedly better audio quality than the AirPods Pro, so if your main priority is audio quality, the AirPods Max will undoubtedly be the best choice. They also support Lossless Audio via USB-C.

On the other hand, the AirPods Pro 3 offer a high-level of convenience and portability due to their small size and charging case. The audio quality of the AirPods Pro cannot rival the AirPods Max, but features like Adaptive Audio, Loud Sound Reduction, Conversation Boost are ideal for when you're on the go.

Due to their lightweight, in-ear design and sweat and water resistance, the AirPods Pro are perfect for outdoors use and fitness activities. They also now feature heart-rate monitoring during workouts.

The AirPods Pro 3 are much more versatile when it comes to charging, with four different ways to charge, compared to the AirPods Max's obligatory USB-C port. Due to their size, weight, less durable design, and limited portability, the AirPods Max are best used at home for high-fidelity, prolonged listening sessions, while the AirPods Pro offer a more balanced experience with a high level of convenience and portability.

It is also worth noting that the AirPods Pro have many more features than the AirPods Max, such as "‌Siri‌" voice commands, Precision Finding, Bluetooth 5.3, wireless lossless audio with the Vision Pro, Live Translation, and Hearing Test.

AirPods frequently see hefty discounts on Amazon and other third-party retailers, so stepping up to the Max version may be more worth it if you can take advantage of one of those deals. Both sets of AirPods often see solid discounts, so it is always worth seeking the best price using our Deals roundup.

Article Link: AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Max Buyer's Guide: 30+ Differences Compared

 

[titanium69]

Twice as expensive, twice as worse & the H1 chip is so old it`s haunted.... Airpods Max

 

[ChristianSelig]

the size

 

[one more]

Come on, guys, this is like comparing a truck to a scooter. The sheer size of Max drivers creates a much wider sound-stage.

 

[iPhaithful]

If I didn't already have both and needed to choose 1, definitely the Pros lol. Max is more just a flex now.

 

[one more]

“If you dislike the in-ear design of the AirPods Pro, the AirPods Max may also be more comfortable, especially for longer listening sessions.”

AirPods 4 would be a much lighter on-ear option, as Max are also much heavier.

 

[Will Co]

I agree with others who say that you can't really compare these two devices. Over the ear and in-ear are always going to be a very different experience.

I didn't realise that the Max has only 20mm drivers. Many other premium cans for that price are toting 40mm drivers and driver size is the very first thing I'd look for in a pair of decent quality, supposedly high-spec headphones.

 

[Boatboy24]

Up next: iPod vs Mac Pro

 

[FreeWoRLD83]

I have both (not the AP3s, but AP2s) and each serves a different purpose.

• AirPods Max - These always stay at home. I mainly use them when I’m stationary, and honestly, they’re incredible for both movies and music. The soundstage and immersion are just on another level compared to the Pros.
• AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) - These are my everyday pair for outside the house. I use them at work, when I’m out and about, and especially for calls. They’re light and the ANC still impresses me in noisy environments.

For me, the Max are like a “home theater” I put on my head, while the Pros are my daily driver for everything else.

Btw; I thought Max has a driver size of 40mm?

Apple introduces AirPods Max, the magic of AirPods in a stunning over-ear design

Apple today announced AirPods Max, innovative wireless headphones that bring the magic of AirPods to an over-ear design with high-fidelity audio.

www.apple.com

 

[Thisismattwade]

I love listening to the Max headphones whenever I'm at an Apple Store. It's a fantasy to be able to afford them, though, but I could easily see their benefit when at my desk, or maybe watching a movie (on an airplane). The Pros just don't work for my tiny ears. (I have the 4s with ANC, and they're fine.)

 

[Rayansb]

For most of these you can just say APP2.

 

[kohlson]

Unless I missed it, you forgot a key feature. 3.5mm plug capability. Essential on many aircraft. I have lightning-based Max headphones, and it mostly doesn't work, either...

 

[kaz911]

On a pain level from 1 to 10 where 10 is worst - I would rate

AirPods Max - after 2 hours - the band is level 6 on the head
AirPods Pro 3 - after 2 hours - in ears level 4

AirPods Pro 2 - whole day no problems.

AirPods Max - the “protection mesh” goes soggy fast so the metal bars rest of the top of your head after very short time. I had one set replaced on warranty due to mesh “failure” but then warranty ran out before I could get them exchanged again.

AirPods Pro 3 - feels just like most other “in ear” products for me - unusable after a while.

Still for me the best “in ear” are AirPods Pro 2.

Best headphones - certainly NOT AirPods Max - there are many much better options.

 

[Corpuscle]

Twice as expensive, twice as worse & the H1 chip is so old it`s haunted.... Airpods Max

While you are hating the Max, I'm enjoying great sound from them, regardless what's inside. You see, I live by reality and my own intelligence, not by hatred of specs.

 

[Corpuscle]

This may be one of the most meaningless comparisons I've ever seen. They must be desperate for articles and clicks.

 

[Ethosik]

On a pain level from 1 to 10 where 10 is worst - I would rate

AirPods Max - after 2 hours - the band is level 6 on the head
AirPods Pro 3 - after 2 hours - in ears level 4

AirPods Pro 2 - whole day no problems.

AirPods Max - the “protection mesh” goes soggy fast so the metal bars rest of the top of your head after very short time. I had one set replaced on warranty due to mesh “failure” but then warranty ran out before I could get them exchanged again.

AirPods Pro 3 - feels just like most other “in ear” products for me - unusable after a while.

Still for me the best “in ear” are AirPods Pro 2.

Best headphones - certainly NOT AirPods Max - there are many much better options.

That is not reflective for everyone. For me the AirPods Pro are at a pain level of 8 in my ear. I cannot use them for more than 30 minutes. Yet for the Airpods Max I can use it all day and the pain level is like a 1.

 

[BornAgainMac]

That is not reflective for everyone. For me the AirPods Pro are at a pain level of 8 in my ear. I cannot use them for more than 30 minutes. Yet for the Airpods Max I can use it all day and the pain level is like a 1.

It is the opposite for me. I can wear the AirPods Pro all day with no discomfort. After 30 minutes with the AirPods Max, they feel uncomfortable and hot and the sound isn't that good compared to the AirPods Pro. Noise cancelling is better on the AirPods Max but even the AirPods Pro 2 is good enough. [Edit: The first generation Air Pod Pros were uncomfortable. Second generation was much better]

 

[Corpuscle]

Come on, guys, this is like comparing a truck to a scooter. The sheer size of Max drivers creates a much wider sound-stage.

You need to understand that this article is nothing more than hate bait for the wolves.

 

[one more]

Btw; I thought Max has a driver size of 40mm?

Yes, that’s right, the article has it wrong at 20 mm.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

Every time I go to Brussels I see quite a lot fo AirPods Max in the wild. I always wonder if people get them stolen sometimes while they’re on their head. I mean it looks so easy to steal while running. You can easily rip them off. I wouldn’t feel comfortable walking around in the city with these on me.

 

[IJ Reilly]

Does anyone have any experience using an imported audiogram with either the Pro or Max? Supposedly both models support this feature, but I haven't found much information on how this is actually accomplished, and whether it works well and/or better on one of them. FYI: An audiogram is a clinical hearing test that produces a detailed hearing curve for your ears. They are used to program hearing aids.

 

[plughie]

3.5mm cable - Max
DJ capable - Max
Never falls out of ears - Max
Wax buildup - Pro
Charge while using - Max

I have both. Each has its situational benefits, but I would like translation, H2, 5.3, adaptive transparency, Hearing *, Conversation *, and a case that doesn't look like a brassiere for my Max.

 

[risenphoenixkai]

In late 2023, I wanted a good pair of over-ear headphones, but I didn’t want to pay a premium price for cans that hadn’t been updated in almost three years. So instead of AirPods Max, I got the Bose QC Ultra when the newest version came out.

Apple finally “updated” the AirPods Max almost a year after I got the Bose. It’s basically the same headphones they rolled out in 2020, but now with USB-C instead of Lightning.

I do not regret not buying AirPods Max.