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If you want breathable mesh comfort and a like-new stock feel for your over-ear AirPods Max, choose G GVOEARS Cushions; if you need deeper noise isolation and a secure in-ear seal for your AirPods Pro, choose COMPLY TrueGrip MAX. These two accessories solve completely different problems for two completely different headphones, so the "better" one is simply the one that matches the pair you actually own.
• G GVOEARS Cushions — biggest strength: A mesh fabric and silicone gel build that mirrors the original AirPods Max ear cups, so the fit, breathability and left/right magnet mounting feel familiar from day one.
• G GVOEARS Cushions — biggest trade-off: It only fits Apple AirPods Max, and because it relies on the headphone's own magnets, you have to be careful to install the left and right cushions on the correct sides.
• COMPLY TrueGrip MAX — biggest strength: Patented SmartSkin memory foam that the brand says lasts twice as long as its standard TrueGrip tips, expanding to your ear shape for a strong noise-blocking seal.
• COMPLY TrueGrip MAX — biggest trade-off: It is made for Apple AirPods Pro (Gen 3) in-ear buds, not over-ear headphones, and you have to match the right tip size (S/M/L) or the seal — and the sound — suffers.
• Who each pick is for: G GVOEARS is for AirPods Max owners whose original cushions are worn, flattened or uncomfortable; COMPLY TrueGrip MAX is for AirPods Pro users chasing better isolation and a stay-put fit.
G GVOEARS positions its replacement cushions as a direct stand-in for the factory ear pads on Apple's AirPods Max. The surface is premium mesh fabric — the same family of material Apple uses — which the brand notes is more breathable and longer lasting than protein leather. Under that mesh sits a layer of silicone gel, and the core is high-density memory foam. The gel's job is to hold the ear cup's shape so it doesn't flatten over months of use, while the foam contours to your ears for a closer fit and a bit of passive noise isolation. Crucially, the design is meant to leave the sound signature intact rather than color it.
In everyday terms, this is the accessory for the person who already loves their AirPods Max but has watched the stock cushions compress and lose their plushness. If you wear them for long work sessions, commute listening or flights and you find yourself adjusting the fit constantly, a fresh pair of mesh-and-gel cushions is the low-effort fix. The breathable mesh also helps if your ears tend to get warm and sweaty under leather-style pads during marathon sessions.
Installation is deliberately simple: you pull off the old cushions and let the magnets inside the AirPods Max snap the new ones into place. The one catch is orientation — G GVOEARS explicitly warns that swapping the left and right cushions will produce unwanted noise, so pay attention to the "L" and "R" markings. The package includes one pair of cushions plus four wipe pads, and G GVOEARS backs the cover with a 180-day warranty.
Who should skip it? Anyone who owns AirPods Pro, AirPods 3 or any non-Max headphone — this cushion is built only for the AirPods Max, full stop. And if you're happy with your current pads and they still feel firm and clean, there's no reason to change anything yet.
COMPLY TrueGrip MAX is a different animal entirely: a set of premium memory foam replacement ear tips for the Apple AirPods Pro (Gen 3). You get three pairs in assorted sizes — small, medium and large — so you can dial in the seal that fits your ear canal rather than settling for whatever came in the box. The headline material is COMPLY's patented SmartSkin technology, which the brand says combines comfort with roughly twice the lifespan of its standard TrueGrip tips. That durability claim is the main reason to look at the MAX tier over the regular line.
The performance story is all about the seal. Adaptive memory foam expands to match the unique shape of your ear, which is what lets it block external noise and deliver a richer, uninterrupted sound without gutting audio quality. That matters most on planes, trains and open-plan offices, where a loose or shallow-fitting tip lets the world leak in. The foam also molds to your ear for a soft, secure fit that COMPLY says holds through workouts, travel and long listening sessions — the kind of grip that silicone tips often lose once your ears warm up.
Care is straightforward but specific: rinse the tips gently with warm water and use the provided cleaning cloth or tool. Avoid alcohol-based cleaners and lotions, which the brand warns can degrade the foam. Skip these tips if you own AirPods Max or any over-ear model — they simply won't fit — and if you already get a perfect seal with your current Pro tips, the upgrade may not be worth chasing.
• Best for AirPods Max owners → G GVOEARS Cushions. It's the only one of the two that fits over-ear Max headphones.
• Best for AirPods Pro (Gen 3) users → COMPLY TrueGrip MAX. Designed specifically for Apple's in-ear flagship.
• Best for breathability and long wear → G GVOEARS Cushions. Mesh fabric beats leather-style pads for heat and sweat over hours.
• Best for noise isolation → COMPLY TrueGrip MAX. Expanding memory foam forms an in-ear seal that physically blocks external sound.
• Best for fit customization → COMPLY TrueGrip MAX. Three sizes (S/M/L) let you match your ear canal rather than accept a single stock size.
• Best for keeping the stock look and feel → G GVOEARS Cushions. Same mesh surface and magnetic mounting as the originals, in a Sky Blue finish.
• Best for longevity claims → COMPLY TrueGrip MAX. SmartSkin is described as delivering twice the lifespan of standard TrueGrip tips.
• Best for a low-effort fix → G GVOEARS Cushions. Pop off the old pads, snap on the new ones, done — just mind the L/R sides.
In my opinion, the right buy depends entirely on which headphones are sitting on your desk. If you own AirPods Max and your cushions have gone flat, warm or grimy, I'd go with G GVOEARS Cushions — the mesh-and-gel build restores the original feel, keeps the sound intact and installs in seconds. If you own AirPods Pro (Gen 3) and want a tighter seal with real noise blocking, I'd pick COMPLY TrueGrip MAX for the memory foam and the three-size fit. There's no crossover here: buy the one that matches your model.
No. G GVOEARS makes these cushions only for Apple AirPods Max over-ear headphones. AirPods Pro uses in-ear tips, which is exactly what COMPLY TrueGrip MAX is for.
No. TrueGrip MAX is built for Apple AirPods Pro (Gen 3) earbuds. For AirPods Max you need replacement ear cushions like the G GVOEARS pair.
COMPLY states its SmartSkin foam lasts about twice as long as its standard TrueGrip tips, and G GVOEARS says its mesh fabric outlasts protein leather and comes with a 180-day warranty. Actual lifespan depends on how often you use them and how well you care for them.
For COMPLY tips, rinse gently with warm water and use the supplied cloth or tool, avoiding alcohol cleaners and lotions. G GVOEARS includes four wipe pads for its cushions, and the mesh surface can be wiped down as needed.
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