shouldibuythat
← All Audio verdicts
Audio · head to head

AirPods Max vs QuietComfort 35 II

Reddit's answer is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. Buy it if you prioritize long-term comfort and durability and can stomach a real failure risk. The AirPods Max is a Stay Away — don’t buy it — get the Sony XM4 instead.

Apple AirPods Max
Apple · Audio

AirPods Max

Stay Away$397.67
40% of 2,158 owners recommend
~1 in 2 failure rate — ~1 in 2 long-term owner reports describe a failure — the highest failure rate of the 10 wireless headphones we track, against a category baseline of 27%. Connectivity is the most cited component, followed by battery and moisture/condensation damage. Failures typically surface between 12 and 31 months of ownership. Of tracked warranty outcomes, 111 cases landed unresolved versus 66 resolved — so failures usually land outside warranty or go unmade-right.

Don’t buy it — get the Sony XM4 instead

+ Repeatedly mentioned as the reference point other headphones get measured against.

− A vocal minority flags the price as hard to justify given the reliability record.

Full verdict →
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
Bose · Audio

QuietComfort 35 II

Buy If$350
57% of 1,256 owners recommend
~1 in 3 failure rate — ~1 in 3 long-term owner reports mention a failure, most commonly the power switch, Bluetooth, or battery, typically surfacing between 10 and 73 months of ownership. Warranty outcomes lean resolved — most who reported back got a replacement or repair covered — but a meaningful share landed outside warranty.

Buy it if you prioritize long-term comfort and durability and can stomach a real failure risk.

+ Repeatedly mentioned as the reason owners stick with them — comfort stands out across hundreds of reports.

− A vocal minority find the sound tuning too bass-heavy or otherwise colored compared to rivals.

Full verdict →

Questions people keep asking

Which is better, the AirPods Max or the QuietComfort 35 II?

Reddit's answer is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. Buy it if you prioritize long-term comfort and durability and can stomach a real failure risk. The AirPods Max is a Stay Away — don’t buy it — get the Sony XM4 instead.

Is the Apple AirPods Max worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Stay Away. Don’t buy it — get the Sony XM4 instead. Exceptional sound and ANC — but ~1 in 2 long-term reports describe a failure, and only 40% of owners would buy again.

Is the Bose QuietComfort 35 II worth it?

Reddit's verdict is Buy If. Buy it if you prioritize long-term comfort and durability and can stomach a real failure risk. Comfort and durability keep a loyal following, but ~1 in 3 long-term reports mention a power-switch or Bluetooth failure — know that going in.