How popular isApple AirPods Max?
In September 2026, people searched for Apple AirPods Max by name about 1 million times worldwide, an 18% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 29.3% of all global over-ear headphone brand searches, placing Apple AirPods Max second out of seven brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about over-ear headphone brands, Apple AirPods Max appeared in two of the five answers and was the fourth most recommended of the seven.
Apple AirPods Max is the second most searched of 7 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.
SonyShare of searches 34.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Apple AirPods MaxShare of searches 29.3%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
BoseShare of searches 18.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Audio-TechnicaShare of searches 7.3%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
Bowers & WilkinsShare of searches 4.8%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
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Top over-ear headphone brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Apple AirPods Max was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Apple AirPods Max is the fourth most recommended of the seven.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Sony5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Bose5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Sennheiser4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Apple AirPods Max2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Bowers & Wilkins1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Audio-Technica0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Beyerdynamic0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about over-ear headphone brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which over ear headphone brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best over ear headphone brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best over ear headphone brand for everyday listening?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best over ear headphones”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“wireless over ear headphones”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Which over-ear headphone brands compete with Apple AirPods Max?
Share of searches by month for Sony, Apple AirPods Max, Bose, Audio-Technica, Bowers & Wilkins, Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Sony | Apple AirPods Max | Bose | Audio-Technica | Bowers & Wilkins | Beyerdynamic | Sennheiser |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 30.6% | 31.5% | 18% | 7.8% | 5.2% | 3.7% | 3.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 30.3% | 33.2% | 18.8% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 3.8% | 2.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 29.8% | 34.7% | 18.2% | 7% | 4.7% | 3.3% | 2.3% |
| Jan 2026 | 28.3% | 35.8% | 15.4% | 8.8% | 4.8% | 4.1% | 2.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 32.2% | 31% | 16.4% | 7.7% | 5.1% | 4.4% | 3.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 31.2% | 34.1% | 16% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 4% | 3.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 29.4% | 32.1% | 18.3% | 8% | 5.3% | 3.7% | 3.1% |
| May 2026 | 32.6% | 29.2% | 18.7% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 3.4% | 3.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 32% | 26.4% | 20.3% | 8% | 6.4% | 3.7% | 3.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 32.3% | 26.6% | 20.7% | 8% | 5.3% | 3.8% | 3.2% |
| Aug 2026 | 33.3% | 28.7% | 19.9% | 7.1% | 4.7% | 3.3% | 2.9% |
| Sep 2026 | 34.1% | 29.3% | 18.1% | 7.3% | 4.8% | 3.4% | 3.1% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 34.1% | 1.2M | 0% | +0.7 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 29.3% | 1M | 0% | +0.6 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 18.1% | 617K | -11.3% | -1.9 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 7.3% | 249K | +0.12% | +0.2 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 4.8% | 165K | 0% | +0.1 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 3.4% | 117K | 0% | +0.1 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 3.1% | 105K | +4.9% | +0.2 points |
1.
Sony34.1%
Held 1st. 1.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
29.3%
Held 2nd. 1M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.
3.
Bose18.1%
Held 3rd. 617K estimated branded searches, -11.3% vs prior month. Share -1.9 points.
7.3%
Held 4th. 249K estimated branded searches, +0.12% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
4.8%
Held 5th. 165K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
3.4%
Held 6th. 117K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
3.1%
Held 7th. 105K estimated branded searches, +4.9% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
Compare popularity between Apple AirPods Max and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Apple AirPods Max
6 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Apple AirPods Max changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
4 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Apple AirPods Max worldwide fell from 1.2M to 1M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple AirPods Max’s share of searches among over-ear headphone brands worldwide decreased from 31.5% to 29.3%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple AirPods Max’s share of searches among over-ear headphone brands worldwide peaked at 35.8% in January 2026 and was lowest at 26.4% in June 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple AirPods Max fell from 1st to 2nd among over-ear headphone brands worldwide.
How did search popularity change for over-ear headphone brands worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Sony gained share of searches among over-ear headphone brands worldwide, from 33.3% to 34.1%.
In September 2026, Apple AirPods Max gained share of searches among over-ear headphone brands worldwide, from 28.7% to 29.3%.
In September 2026, Bose lost share of searches among over-ear headphone brands worldwide, from 19.9% to 18.1%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Beyerdynamic worldwide fell 18.5% over 12 measured months, from 143K to 117K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Audio-Technica worldwide fell 18% over 12 measured months, from 303K to 249K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Bowers & Wilkins worldwide fell 17.9% over 12 measured months, from 201K to 165K in September 2026.
How are Apple AirPods Max’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple AirPods Max’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- airpods max
Who owns Apple AirPods Max?
Apple AirPods Max is owned by Apple. Brandwave also tracks Pixelmator, Apple AirPods, Apple AirTag, Apple Books, Apple iPad, Apple iPhone, Apple MacBook, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Apple Passwords, Apple Podcasts, Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, Apple Reminders, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Apple Watch, FaceTime, Final Cut Pro, Find My, GarageBand, 
iCloud, iMovie, iWork, Keynote, Logic Pro, Safari and 
Xcode Cloud, owned by the same company, worldwide.
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Is Apple AirPods Max your brand?
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