Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) vs Beats Solo Pro

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AirPods Max (Lightning) compared with Solo Pro

	AppleAirPods Max (Lightning)	BeatsSolo Pro
Overview
Released
Released	December 2020	October 2019
Sound
Type
Type	Over-ear	On-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	Yes	Yes
Transparency mode
Transparency mode	Yes	Yes
Back
Back	–	Closed
Spatial audio with head tracking
Spatial audio with head tracking	Yes	–
Driver size
Driver size	40 mm	–
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	SBC and AAC	AAC
Lossless over USB-C
Lossless over USB-C	No	–
Chip
Chip	H1	Apple H1
Drivers
Drivers	Apple-designed dynamic drivers with dual neodymium ring magnet motors	–
Chip
Chip	H1 in each ear cup	–
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	Eight microphones for Active Noise Cancellation; Transparency mode	–
Audio features
Audio features	Personalised Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking; Adaptive EQ; Audio Sharing; AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs (SoundGuys); analogue wired listening through a separately sold Lightning to 3.5 mm audio cable	Adaptive Pure ANC; transparency mode; Audio Sharing with compatible Apple devices
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	Up to 20 hours	Up to 22 hours
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Up to 20 hours of movie playback with Spatial Audio; Smart Case puts headphones in an ultra-low-power state; charging via Lightning	Up to 22 hours with noise cancellation or transparency mode, or up to 40 hours with both off
Fast charging
Fast charging	Around 1.5 hours of listening after 5 minutes of charging	A 10-minute Lightning Fast Fuel charge gives up to 3 hours of playback
Design
Weight
Weight	384.8 g	–
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	5.0	5.0
Two devices at once
Two devices at once	–	No
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	–
Controls
Controls	Digital Crown for volume, playback, calls and Siri; listening mode button for ANC/Transparency; “Hey Siri”	Right-ear button for playback, calls, volume and Siri; left-ear button changes listening mode; unfold to switch on and fold to switch off
Microphones
Microphones	Nine microphones, three for voice pickup (two shared with ANC); optical, position and case-detect sensors and accelerometer in each cup, gyroscope in left cup	Two beamforming microphones and a speech-detecting accelerometer
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Stainless steel frame, telescoping arms and knit mesh canopy; memory foam cushions; aluminium ear cups	On-ear cushions, adjustable metal sliders and a folding headband; closed-back design (SoundGuys)
Case weight
Case weight	134.5 g (Smart Case)	–
Dimensions
Dimensions	187.3 × 168.6 × 83.4 mm (height × width × depth), including cushions	–
Works with
Works with	Apple devices with current iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS or tvOS; Bluetooth audio with older Apple software and non-Apple devices, with limited features	Apple H1 pairing and hands-free Siri; Bluetooth 5.0, AAC and no simultaneous Bluetooth multipoint (SoundGuys); Beats app for Android
Colours
Colours	Space Grey, Silver, Sky Blue, Green, Pink	Black, Ivory, Grey, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Red
In the box
In the box	AirPods Max, Smart Case, Lightning to USB-C cable, documentation	–