Apple's AirPods Max carry a premium $779 price tag, creating an immediate dilemma when compared against the Beats Studio Pro at $479. Beats delivers spatial audio with head tracking, adaptive noise cancelling, and native Apple convenience for 38.5% less cash. Add Sennheiser's $749 Momentum 5 into the mix with its staggering 57-hour battery runtime, and paying top dollar for Apple's metal ear cups becomes difficult to justify.
The Apple Tax vs The Beats Bargain
The Beats Studio Pro manages a rare trick: it offers deep Apple ecosystem integration while remaining completely friendly with Android. For $479, you get Personalised Spatial Audio, one-touch Apple iCloud pairing, and 'Hey Siri' alongside Google Fast Pair and Audio Switch. By contrast, the $779 AirPods Max require an extra $300 while locking their best features strictly inside Apple's ecosystem and sticking with an older H1 chip architecture.
Battery Stamina That Leaves Apple Behind
If long flights and charging anxiety dictate your buying decisions, Sennheiser's Momentum 5 plays in a completely different tier. It delivers up to 57 hours of playback with active noise cancellation turned on, supported by an 8-microphone hybrid ANC system and replaceable battery design. AirPods Max manage just 20 hours of listening time with ANC enabled, while Beats Studio Pro gives you 24 hours with ANC on and up to 40 hours with noise cancellation switched off.
Wired Versatility and Office Alternatives
Beats Studio Pro features lossless USB-C audio with three distinct EQ profiles—Beats Signature, Entertainment, and Conversation—plus a standard 3.5mm analog cable in the box. Logitech's Zone Vibe Pro sits right next to it at $489, but targets desktop office calls rather than giving you the adaptive listening modes, spatial tracking, and versatile wired connections found on the Beats.
Side-by-side comparison
| Compare features |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $479.00 | $749.00 | $489.00 | $779.00 |
| Price difference | 38.5% cheaper than Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones - Blue (MWW63ZA/A) (umart) | 3.9% cheaper than Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones - Blue (MWW63ZA/A) (umart) | 37.2% cheaper than Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones - Blue (MWW63ZA/A) (umart) | Most expensive |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Fully adaptive Active Noise Cancelling & Transparency mode | Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (8-mic hybrid system) | Noise Cancelling category | Active Noise Cancellation & Transparency mode (8 mics for ANC) |
| Maximum Battery Life | Up to 40 hours (24 hours with ANC/Transparency on) | Up to 57 hours with ANC on (replaceable battery) | Unknown | Up to 20 hours with ANC / Spatial Audio on |
| Audio Connections | Class 1 Bluetooth, USB-C audio (3 EQ profiles), 3.5mm analog input | Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C audio cable, 3.5mm audio cable | Wireless / Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0, Lightning to USB-C cable |
| Ecosystem Compatibility | Native Apple & Android one-touch pairing, Find My, and voice assistant support | Universal Bluetooth with high-fidelity codecs (AAC, aptX Adaptive) | Universal Wireless / Bluetooth | Apple H1 chip with deep iOS ecosystem integration |
| Best for | Best overall value for dual Apple/Android users seeking spatial sound and wired flexibility | Best for frequent travelers and audiophiles needing extreme 57-hour battery life | Best for casual office and call use at a mid-tier price point | Best for dedicated Apple enthusiasts committed to the Digital Crown interface |
| Ambient/transparency mode | Yes | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Apple lightning connector | No | No | Unknown | Unknown |
| Battery | Listen longer with up to 40 hours of battery life | 57 hours of playtime with ANC on | Unknown | Unknown |
| Battery life | Up to 40 hours | Up to 57 hrs music playtime via | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bluetooth | Yes | v5.4 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Built in microphone | No | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
| Condition | New | New | Unknown | Unknown |
| Enhanced feature | Fully adaptive Active Noise Cancelling | Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation | Unknown | Unknown |
| Features | Experience immersive listening with Beats’ most powerful custom acoustic platformSound that surrounds you with Personalised Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking1Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) continuously optimises for immersive listeningTransparency mode blends your listening experience with the world around youEnhanced Apple and Android compatibility2 with one-touch pairing and deeper ecosystem integrationMore ways to connect: USB-C audio3, Class 1 Bluetooth® and 3.5mm audio inputTwo additional EQ-optimised sound profiles while using USB-C audioListen longer with up to 40 hours of battery life (ANC off)4Voice targeting mics for clear call performanceUltraPlush engineered leather cushions for greater comfort and durabilityIn the BoxBeats Studio Pro headphonesCarrying caseUSB-C to USB-C cable for charging and audio3.5mm analog audio cableQuick Start GuideWarranty card1 Compatible hardware and software required. Works with compatible content in supported apps. Not all content available in Dolby Atmos. iPhone with TrueDepth camera required to create a personal profile for Spatial Audio, which will sync across Apple devices running the latest operating system software, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS. 2 Requires an iCloud account and a compatible Apple device running the latest operating system software or a compatible Android device running Android 8.0 or later, with Google Play Services enabled. 3 While using included USB-C cable with a compatible USB-enabled source device. 4 Testing conducted by Apple in May 2023 using pre-production Beats Studio Pro units and software paired with iPhone 13 units and pre-release software. The playlist consisted of 358 unique audio tracks purchased from the iTunes Store (256 Kbps AAC encoding). Volume was set to 50% and Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency were turned off. Testing consisted of full Beats Studio Pro battery discharge while playing audio until Beats Studio Pro stopped playback. With Active Noise Cancellation turned on, listening time was up to 24 hours. Battery life depends on device settings, environment, usage and many other factors.5 Google Fast Pair requires a compatible Android device running Android 8.0 or later, with Google Play Services enabled. 6 Audio Switch feature requires compatible Android devices running Android 8.0 or later, with Google Play Services enabled. 7 Find My Device requires an Android device running Android 8.0 or later. User must be signed into an active Gmail account and have Google Play Services enabled. 8 Testing conducted by Apple in May 2023 using pre-production Beats Studio Pro units and software paired with iPhone 13 units and pre-release software. The playlist consisted of 358 unique audio tracks purchased from the iTunes Store (256 Kbps AAC encoding). Volume was set to 50% and Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency were turned off. Testing consisted of full Beats Studio Pro battery discharge while playing audio until Beats Studio Pro stopped playback. With Active Noise Cancellation turned on, listening time was up to 24 hours. Battery life depends on device settings, environment, usage and many other factors. 9 Testing conducted by Apple in May 2023 using pre-production Beats Studio Pro units and software paired with iPhone 13 units and pre-release software. The playlist consisted of 358 unique audio tracks purchased from the iTunes Store (256 Kbps AAC encoding). Volume was set to 50% and Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency were turned off. 10-minute charge testing conducted with drained Beats Studio Pro that were charged for 10 minutes, with audio playback then started until Beats Studio Pro stopped playback. Battery life depends on device settings, environment, usage and many other factors. 10 While using included USB-C cable with a compatible USB-enabled source device11 Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Internet access is required. Mobile data charges may apply. 12 Find My requires an iPhone or iPod touch with iOS 16.5 or later, iPad with iPadOS 16.5 or later, or Mac with macOS Ventura 13.4 or later. Customers must have an Apple ID and be signed into their iCloud account with Find My enabled. | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Headphone port (3.5mm) | No | No | Unknown | Unknown |
| Headphones type | On-ear wireless | Over-ear wireless | Unknown | Unknown |
| Headphones use | Everyday; Travel; Everyday, Travel | Everyday; Audiophile; Everyday, Audiophile | Unknown | Unknown |
| Model | MQTT3PA/A | 800078 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Noise reduction type | Active noise cancellation | Active noise cancellation | Unknown | Unknown |
| Noise cancelling | Yes | Yes | Unknown | Unknown |
| Part number | Unknown | Unknown | 981-001716 | Unknown |
| SPECIFICATIONS | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Audio TechnologyApple-designed dynamic driver Active Noise Cancellation Transparency mode Spatial audio with dynamic head trackingAdaptive EQ SensorsOptical sensor (each ear cup) Position sensor (each ear cup) Case-detect sensor (each ear cup) Accelerometer (each ear cup) Gyroscope (left ear cup)MicrophonesNine microphones total: Eight microphones for Active Noise CancellationThree microphones for voice pickup (two shared with Active Noise Cancellation and one additional microphone) ChipApple H1 headphone chip (each ear cup) ControlsDigital Crown Turn for volume controlPress once to play, pause, or answer a phone call Press twice to skip forward Press three times to skip back Noise control button Press to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode Width 6.6 in Depth 3.3 in Height 7.4 in Weight384.8g BatteryAirPods Max Up to 20 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation or Transparency mode enabled Up to 20 hours of movie playback on a single charge with spatial audio on5 minutes of charge time provides around 1.5 hours of listening time AirPods Max with Smart Case Storage in the Smart Case preserves battery charge in ultra low-power stateConnectivityBluetooth 5.0 In the BoxAirPods Max Smart Case Lightning to USB-C Cable DocumentationAccessibilityAccessibility features help people with disabilities get the most out of their new AirPods Max. Features include: Live Listen audio Headphone levels Headphone Accommodations System RequirementsiPhone and iPod touch models with the latest version of iOS iPad models with the latest version of iPadOS Apple Watch models with the latest version of watchOSMac models with the latest version of macOS Apple TV models with the latest version of tvOS |
| Smart home ecosystem | Amazon Alexa; Google Home; Amazon Alexa, Google Home | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sound quality | Beats’ custom acoustic platform delivers rich, immersive sound | Breakthrough immersive sound | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sound isolating | No | No | Unknown | Unknown |
| USB C ports | Unknown | 1 | Unknown | Unknown |
| Virtual assistant built in | Apple Siri | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Virtual surround | Spatial Audio | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Voice control | Yes | No | Unknown | Unknown |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | Unknown | Unknown |
| Wearable audio | No | No | Unknown | Unknown |
| brand | BEATS | SENNHEISER | Logitech | Apple |
| colour | Brown | Black | Grey | Unknown |
| Mpn | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | MWW63ZA/A |
| Shop this product | View at store | View at store | View at store | View at store |
Verdict
For most buyers, the Beats Studio Pro ($479) is the stand-out choice. It delivers adaptive ANC, Spatial Audio, dual Apple and Android integration, and versatile USB-C audio at a 38.5% saving over AirPods Max. If your primary requirement is uninterrupted marathon travel, spend $749 on Sennheiser's Momentum 5 for its unmatched 57-hour battery life.
Winner
Beats Studio Pro ANC Over-Ear Wireless Headphones (Deep Brown)
$47900
JB Hi-FiIn-storeOnlineDelivery
Sennheiser MOMENTUM 5 Over-Ear ANC Wireless Headphones (Black)
$74900
JB Hi-FiIn-storeOnlineDelivery
Zone Vibe Pro Wireless Headphones Graphite
$48900
OfficeworksIn-storeOnlineDelivery
Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones - Blue (MWW63ZA/A)
$77900
UmartIn-storeOnlineDelivery