Headphones / Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 vs Apple AirPods Max 2
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 vs Apple AirPods Max 2
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
The best-sounding headphone here, with replaceable pads to make it last.
Wins overall by 0.3 points
Quick Verdict
Too close to call on score alone: 0.3 points separate them. The best-sounding headphone here, with replaceable pads to make it last. The Apple AirPods Max 2 answers with a different set of strengths, so let the categories below decide it.
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Apple AirPods Max 2 are both closely matched headphones models, and the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 is $70 cheaper than the Apple AirPods Max 2 ($479 vs $549). On Battery, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads (8.0 vs 6.0/10) — playtime, standby, and charging speed. On Value, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads (7.0 vs 5.0/10) — features and performance relative to price. On Comfort, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads (7.8 vs 6.5/10) — clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions. Overall, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores 7.8/10 across our 10 scoring categories versus 7.5/10 for the Apple AirPods Max 2, though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 | Apple AirPods Max 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $479.00 | $549.00 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2026 |
| Battery Life (hrs) | 30✓ | 20 |
| Battery (ANC off) (hrs) | Bowers & Wilkins quotes only the 30-hour figure | Apple rates only the 20-hour ANC-on figure |
| Quick Charge (min for 3hrs) | 6.4✓ | 10 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Weight (g) | 300✓ | 386 |
| Driver Size (mm) | 40 | Not published by Apple |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Advanced adaptive ANC using 8 microphones, with a Pass-Through mode | Apple Active Noise Cancellation on the H2 chip, using 8 of the 9 microphones, with Adaptive Audio, Transparency and Conversation Awareness |
| Multipoint Pairing | Yes | Yes, but only across compatible Apple devices |
| Microphones (mics) | 8 | 9✓ |
| Foldable | No | No |
| Water Resistance | None | None |
| App EQ | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Anthracite Black, Indigo Blue, Canvas White | Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, Orange |
Category Scores
Battery
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.0 — a 2.0-point margin on playtime, standby, and charging speed. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Noise Cancelling
The Apple AirPods Max 2 leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on how well ambient noise is blocked. If that is what you are buying for, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Comfort
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads clearly here, 7.8 against 6.5 — a 1.3-point margin on clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Sound Quality
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 9.0 — a 0.5-point margin on driver performance, tuning, and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Call & Mic Quality
The Apple AirPods Max 2 leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on voice clarity and background noise rejection on calls. If that is what you are buying for, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Travel
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.0 — a 1.0-point margin on foldability, case, ANC on planes, battery for long trips. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Gaming
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Apple AirPods Max 2 are level here, at 7.0/10 each. latency, low-lag mode support, and soundstage is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 leads clearly here, 7.0 against 5.0 — a 2.0-point margin on features and performance relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Apple AirPods Max 2 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Durability
The Apple AirPods Max 2 leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.5 — a 1.0-point margin on build materials, hinge quality, and reported longevity. If that is what you are buying for, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Apple AirPods Max 2 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on app ecosystem, multipoint, spatial audio, extras. If that is what you are buying for, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 if…
- • Battery matters most to you — the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores 8.0/10 here (playtime, standby, and charging speed).
- • Value matters most to you — the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores 7.0/10 here (features and performance relative to price).
- • Comfort matters most to you — the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores 7.8/10 here (clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions).
- • You want to spend less — it's $70 cheaper.
Choose the Apple AirPods Max 2 if…
- • Noise Cancelling matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Max 2 scores 9.0/10 here (how well ambient noise is blocked).
- • Call & Mic Quality matters most to you — the Apple AirPods Max 2 scores 8.5/10 here (voice clarity and background noise rejection on calls).
Pros & Cons
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3
Pros
- +The best pure sound quality of any headphone here
- +aptX Lossless with a dedicated discrete amplifier
- +Earpads and headband padding are user-replaceable, which extends its life considerably
- +Both 3.5mm analog and USB-C digital wired listening
Cons
- −Does not fold, so the case is bulky
- −300g and you notice it
- −ANC is good but clearly behind Bose and Sony
- −The most expensive non-Apple option here
- −No LDAC
Apple AirPods Max 2
Pros
- +Exceptional build — stainless steel and machined aluminium, the most premium object here
- +24-bit lossless over USB-C with ultra-low latency
- +Best-in-class Spatial Audio with head tracking on Apple devices
- +Live Translation and studio-quality recording
Cons
- −386g, a full 74g heavier than the next heaviest here, and it tells over long sessions
- −Still no EQ of any kind, at any price
- −AAC and SBC only, so Android users get the worst codec support here
- −Almost every headline feature requires an Apple device, including firmware updates
- −20 hours is the shortest battery here
- −No true power off — only the Smart Case
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or Apple AirPods Max 2 better overall?+
Based on our 10-category scoring, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Battery, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or the Apple AirPods Max 2?+
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores higher on Battery (8.0/10 vs 6.0/10) — playtime, standby, and charging speed.
Which is better for Value, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or the Apple AirPods Max 2?+
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores higher on Value (7.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — features and performance relative to price.
Which is better for Comfort, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or the Apple AirPods Max 2?+
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 scores higher on Comfort (7.8/10 vs 6.5/10) — clamp force, padding, and weight for long sessions.
Which is better for Noise Cancelling, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 or the Apple AirPods Max 2?+
The Apple AirPods Max 2 scores higher on Noise Cancelling (9.0/10 vs 8.0/10) — how well ambient noise is blocked.
Is the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 worth the price difference over the Apple AirPods Max 2?+
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 is the cheaper option at $479 versus $549. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Battery.
What's the warranty on the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 vs the Apple AirPods Max 2?+
The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Apple AirPods Max 2 ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 — $479.00
Premium Option
Apple AirPods Max 2 — $549.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.