Lower-cost headphones offer noise cancellation without AirPods Max prices
Apple’s AirPods Max offer premium design and features that work closely with Apple devices, but their $549 price makes them costly. The article compares lower-priced headphones for listeners willing to give up some of that integration and polish while keeping useful sound, comfort and noise-cancelling features.
Anker’s Soundcore Space 2 Pro costs $200 and offers active noise cancellation, custom sound, physical controls, multipoint Bluetooth and up to 30 hours of battery life, though its design is plastic. Bose’s $359 QuietComfort Headphones are praised for noise blocking and spatial audio, while Apple-owned Beats’ $360 model adds sweat resistance, Apple features and up to 12 more hours of battery life than AirPods Max 2 with noise cancellation on. The supplied article ends mid-sentence during its discussion of headphones under $100.
- AirPods Max cost $549, but cheaper alternatives offer substantial savings.
- Soundcore’s $200 Space 2 Pro prioritises value, comfort and long battery life.
- Bose and Beats offer alternatives with strong noise cancelling or Apple integration.
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Active noise cancellation is a feature that uses microphones and sound processing to reduce background noise, making headphones useful for travel, work and everyday listening. Apple's AirPods Max offer this technology alongside premium design and features that integrate closely with other Apple devices, but their $549 price is steep for many people. This has made consumers curious about cheaper alternatives that provide similar noise-cancelling capability and comfort.
Several manufacturers have stepped in with options that compete on noise cancellation and comfort at lower prices. Anker's Soundcore Space 2 Pro costs $200 and delivers active noise cancellation and long battery life, though its design uses plastic rather than premium materials. Bose's QuietComfort Headphones at $359 are recognised for strong noise blocking, whilst Beats' $360 model works particularly well if you already use Apple devices.
The availability of these cheaper options matters because noise cancellation is no longer limited to those able to spend $500 or more. Buyers can choose based on what they value most—whether that's close integration with Apple devices, particular sound quality, battery life or simply accessing this technology at an accessible price.
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Originally published by Engadget as “Affordable alternatives to Apple’s AirPods Max”.