Apple has finally joined the full-sized, noise-canceling headphone market with the AirPod Max. Until now, Apple had mainly focused on its AirPods product and similar earbud-style headphones. While the AirPods have been highly successful, now the company will go head to head with Bose and other over the ear headphones.
But, as with many Apple products, the newly released AirPod Max is not inexpensive. With a price tag of $549, it’s not an obvious choice when compared to less expensive, but still highly functional alternatives.
Let’s take a look at just a few less expensive alternatives.
Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
Bose has been releasing high-quality noise-canceling headphones for years and that experience shows up in the product quality. The latest version, Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 will still set you back around $340 (prices vary with sales, etc.), but they deliver strong all-around performance with effective noise-canceling, high-quality audio, and up to 20 hours of battery life on a charge.
Beats Solo Pro
Beats is another well-known headphone manufacturer and their latest release features active noise cancellation along with compatibility with a lightning charger. If you like various colors, this option might be up your alley as well, since they offer a variety of color schemes. Sound is high-quality and the built-in microphones make it very functional for phone calls. These comfortable headphones run around $180 at the moment, but prices vary.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9
B&O has been making high-quality audio components for many years, but they aren’t quite as well known for their headphones. However, they deliver great sound quality, effective noise-cancellation, good battery life (25 hours), and a comfortable fit. They do come at a price, ranging from $450-500, depending on where you find them.
