Best over-ear headphones 2026: AirPods Max 2 and alternatives

Macworld The best over-ear headphones for an iPhone, iPad or Mac need more than good sound.

Comfort, effective noise cancellation, battery life and useful connections all matter – and Apple’s AirPods Max aren’t the only option.

AirPods Max 2 is our pick for dedicated Apple users, combining excellent sound and noise cancellation with seamless integration across Apple devices.

But its weight and price mean it won’t suit everyone.

Our recommendations below include alternatives for different budgets and priorities, whether you want a lighter design, longer battery life or better value.

Drawing on our reviews, we explain how each pair sounds, how comfortable it feels and what you gain or give up compared with Apple’s headphones.

Prefer something smaller?

See our best earbuds for iPhone.

We also cover wired and USB-C headphones and compare every AirPods model.

Best Over-Ear Headphones Here are our recommended over-ear headphones for iPhone, iPad and Mac users, with advice on sound quality, noise cancellation, comfort and connectivity – and how each compares with AirPods Max.

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