Tech head-to-head
Apple AirPods MaxvsSennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Apple AirPods Max vs Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, scored side by side on all 5 Tech axes. Overall 8.1 to 7.9.
Apple AirPods Max
Apple
8.1
Built like nothing else in the category, priced like nothing else, and only fully useful on Apple hardware.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Sennheiser
7.9
The listening pick, with battery life that makes everything else here look short.
Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.
Where they diverge
Two products can average the same and still feel different, because the shape of the scores differs. Left of center is Apple AirPods Max, right is Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless.
Apple AirPods Max
Axis
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
- 8.4Performance8.6
- 5.8Value8.0
- 8.2Durability7.7
- 9.0Ease of use8.0
- 9.0Design7.4
Which one to pick
Take the Apple AirPods Max
Leads on Durability, Ease of use and Design.
- Everything you own already has an Apple logo on it
- You want a metal-and-mesh build rather than plastic
- Automatic switching between Mac, iPad, and phone is a daily need
Take the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Leads on Performance and Value.
- Music is the point, not just noise reduction
- You travel without reliable charging
- You want a parametric EQ rather than three presets
What each one gets wrong
Apple AirPods Max
- You need a codec better than AAC
- The sleeve that ships instead of a real case bothers you
- Android is your main platform
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
- You want the strongest cancellation available at any cost
- The plain, unstructured design puts you off
Specs, side by side
| Spec | Apple AirPods Max | Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear, closed | Over-ear, closed |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Battery | About 20 hrs with ANC on | About 60 hrs with ANC on |
| Case | Fabric sleeve, no full case | — |
Rankings they both appear in
Questions
- Apple AirPods Max or Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless — which should I buy?
- Apple AirPods Max leads on Durability, Ease of use and Design. If Performance and Value matter more to you, take the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless instead.
- How far apart are they overall?
- Apple AirPods Max scores 8.1 and Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless scores 7.9, a gap of 0.2. The total is the plain average of the 5 axes used in Tech.