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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-05 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Maxjoy AirPods Max Case — biggest strength: a 3-in-1 silicone and clear TPU cover set (headband cover, ear cup covers, earpad covers) that guards your AirPods Max from drops, dust, scratches, sweat and shock without adding bulk.
• Maxjoy AirPods Max Case — biggest trade-off: it adds zero audio features. It protects what you already own and nothing more — and the AirPods Max itself is not included.
• Mudtun Sleep Earbuds Ultra-Thin — biggest strength: an ultra-thin, non-in-ear, low-profile design built for side sleepers, with physical buttons, no low-battery beeping, and about 5–6 hours of playback per charge.
• Mudtun Sleep Earbuds Ultra-Thin — biggest trade-off: no active noise cancelling — only passive sound isolation — and a 6 mm driver with 100 ms latency makes it a poor fit for competitive gaming.
• Who each pick is for: Maxjoy for AirPods Max owners who want to keep their investment looking new; Mudtun for side sleepers and small-eared listeners who want quiet bedtime audio.
This is a cover set, not a gadget. You get a silicone headband cover, a pair of clear TPU ear cup covers, and a pair of silicone earpad covers. The materials are soft, lightweight and smooth to the touch, and Maxjoy states they're anti-fingerprint, scratch-resistant and easy to clean. Waterproof and sweatproof too — which matters if you wear your AirPods Max at the gym and want to keep sweat out of the cushions.
The fit is the part I'd pay attention to. Maxjoy says the covers sit snugly on the AirPods Max without adding bulk, and that the headphones will still enter sleep mode when stored in their Smart Case with the covers on. That's the detail that separates a usable case from an annoying one — if the covers blocked sleep mode or charging, you'd be taking them off every single day. Precise cutouts keep charging convenient.
Who should buy it: anyone who owns AirPods Max and treats them as a long-term purchase. If you take calls on them, commute with them, or work out in them, the ear cups and headband are exactly where wear shows up first. Clear TPU over the ear cups keeps the original look visible while absorbing the day-to-day abuse.
Mudtun Sleep Earbuds Ultra-Thin: Who It's For
Mudtun built these around one problem: sleeping with earbuds in. The design is deliberately non-in-ear — they don't push deep into the ear canal, which reduces the pressure and soreness that shows up after an hour of normal earbuds. The curved shape follows the ear contour, and the ultra-thin, low-profile body is meant to cut down on pressure when you're lying on your side. If you've ever woken up with a sore ear because your bud was jammed against the pillow, that's the exact scenario this design targets.
The control scheme is another sleep-first decision. Mudtun uses physical push buttons instead of touch controls, which cuts down on accidental taps when you shift position in the night, and there's no low-battery beeping to wake you. You can control volume and playback with the buttons even while lying down, and the earbuds auto-pair when you take them out of the case.
Sound is tuned soft and balanced rather than bass-heavy, with multiple bass adjustment levels if you want to nudge it. Mudtun positions these for white noise, ASMR, audiobooks, podcasts and quiet music, and says audio detail holds up even at low volume. A full charge gives roughly 5–6 hours of playback, the case tops you up for daily use, and an LED digital display shows remaining battery at a glance. Charging takes about 1.5 hours.
Two honest caveats. First, there's no ANC — Mudtun is explicit that noise control is passive sound isolation via the acoustic seal, so loud environments will still get through. Second, the specs are modest: a 6 mm dynamic driver, 38 ohm impedance, 98 dB sensitivity, 100 ms latency, Bluetooth with a 10 m range. Fine for bedtime audio. Not fine for competitive gaming, where 100 ms of lag is noticeable.
Who should buy it: side sleepers, small-eared listeners, and anyone who wants a sleep headphone for calls-free, screen-free wind-down. It's also a reasonable pick as a sleep headphones for calls in a quiet room, since the physical buttons are easy to find in the dark. Who should skip it: anyone who needs noise cancelling on a plane, or a low-latency gaming headset for calls and chat.
• Best for protecting an existing pair of AirPods Max → Maxjoy AirPods Max Case. It's the only one of the two that does this at all.
• Best for sleep and side sleeping → Mudtun Sleep Earbuds Ultra-Thin. The non-in-ear, ultra-thin shape exists specifically for this.
• Best for battery life in continuous use → Mudtun Sleep Earbuds Ultra-Thin. About 5–6 hours per charge, plus case top-ups and an LED battery readout.
• Best for sweat and gym use → Maxjoy AirPods Max Case. Waterproof, sweatproof, and designed to protect the ear cushions when you sweat.
• Best for quiet, focused listening → Mudtun Sleep Earbuds Ultra-Thin. Multiple bass levels and clear low-volume detail suit white noise and audiobooks.
• Best for noise blocking → neither, strictly speaking. Mudtun uses passive isolation only; Maxjoy is a cover and doesn't affect sound.
• Best for gaming → Mudtun Sleep Earbuds Ultra-Thin, but with reservations. Bluetooth 5.3/5.4 with a 10 m range works for casual play; the 100 ms latency is the limiting factor.
• Best for accidental-touch-free control → Mudtun Sleep Earbuds Ultra-Thin. Physical push buttons beat touch controls when you're half asleep.
In my opinion, these two aren't really competitors — they solve different problems, and the right answer depends on what's already in your bag. If you own AirPods Max and want to keep them in shape through commutes, workouts and calls, I'd buy the Maxjoy AirPods Max Case. The 3-in-1 cover set is cheap insurance on an expensive pair of headphones, and the fact that sleep mode and charging still work with the covers on is what makes it practical rather than fussy. If instead you want to fall asleep listening to something, I'd buy the Mudtun Sleep Earbuds Ultra-Thin — the ultra-thin, non-in-ear shape and physical buttons are built for exactly that. For calls specifically, Maxjoy protects the headset you'd rather take the call on; Mudtun is the one you wear in bed.
FAQ
what is transparency mode in headphones
how to turn off transparency mode headphones
On headphones that support it, you normally cycle or toggle the mode with a button or a control in the companion app — often pressing and holding, or tapping the mode button until you land on noise cancelling or off. The exact gesture varies by brand, so check your headphone's manual. If you're using the Maxjoy covers on AirPods Max, note that the covers don't change or block any of the headphone's own controls.
what's transparency mode headphones
It's the same idea worded differently: a listening mode that lets ambient sound in on purpose, usually to keep you aware of traffic, colleagues or a gate announcement. It sits at the opposite end from noise cancelling. Buyers who care about this feature should confirm it in the specs before buying — the Maxjoy case and the Mudtun sleep earbuds don't offer it.
Not necessarily. Mudtun's sleep earbuds rely on passive noise blocking — a gentle acoustic seal that physically reduces outside sound — rather than active noise cancelling. For a bedroom with moderate background noise, paired with white noise or ASMR, that's often enough. If you need to mute a plane cabin or a busy street, look for a product with ANC.
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See also: Gaosen 20 vs MMWOWARTS Over Ear Headphones, FILFEEL Earbuds vs Generic Ear Buds comparison, iMangoo Gaming Earbuds Headset vs Ttbesmi TWS-19, Medocis Sleep Earbuds vs Xmenha Mini Invisible Earbuds