I Tried the $20 P9 “AirPods Max” Clones—Mistake or Genius?

Look, I’ll be the first to admit it: I’m a total sucker for a good aesthetic. I was scrolling through TikTok and these silver, sleek-looking headphones were everywhere. They look exactly like the AirPods Max, but the price tag? Barely $20 on Amazon.

Being the tech nerd that I am over at Fusions Hub, I just had to know. Is that massive $500 gap actually about quality, or are we all just paying a “cool tax” for the Apple logo?

I bought a pair, lived in them for a week, and here’s the raw, unfiltered truth.

1. It Feels Like a Toy (And I Low-key Liked It)

Let’s not lie to ourselves—the second you touch the P9s, the illusion breaks. The real AirPods Max are heavy, cold, and feel like a piece of high-end machinery.

The P9? It’s plastic. All plastic. It’s so light it feels like it might fly away. But you know what? I actually preferred the weight. The real ones give me a massive “head-clamp” headache after an hour. These P9s are so light I genuinely forgot they were on my head while I was vacuuming. If you just want them for a “Get Ready With Me” video or a gym selfie, they look 10/10 on camera anyway.

2. Does the Sound Actually… Suck?

I mean, yeah, if you’re a professional producer, these will probably make your ears bleed. The audio is flat. There’s no vibrating bass or that “sparkle” in the high notes.

But I asked myself: Do I really need $500 studio-quality sound to listen to a Joe Rogan podcast while I’m doing the dishes? Probably not. If I’m sitting down to really feel an album, I’m grabbing something from our headphone collection. But for $20? The P9s are… fine. They’re “okay.” They get the job done without me having to sell a kidney.

3. The “Noise Cancellation” is a Total Lie

The box says “ANC.” It’s a complete lie, honestly.

There is zero active tech inside these things that blocks out sound. It’s just “passive” isolation, which is just a fancy way of saying “there’s foam over your ears.” If you’re on a loud plane, you’re still gonna hear that crying baby in row 12. If you actually need silence to survive a flight, go check out some proper earbuds instead.

4. Why I’m Actually Keeping Them

I know what you’re thinking. “Why would you ever use the cheap ones?”

It’s simple: Tech Anxiety. I’m terrified of losing or scratching a $550 piece of equipment. When I’m heading to a crowded gym or traveling, I’d much rather toss these $20 P9s in my bag and not give a damn. Plus, they have a Micro-SD card slot! I haven’t seen one of those on “premium” tech in a decade. It’s actually pretty handy for runs when I don’t want my phone bouncing in my pocket. You can see more of these weird tech finds on my Tech Reviews Hub.

My Final Verdict: Is it Worth the $500 Jump?

If you care about sound quality, status, and that heavy premium feel, yes. Save up for the Apple ones.

But if you just want the vibe—the look, the aesthetic, and something you can beat up without a panic attack—the P9 is a fun little bargain. I’m not saying they’re better. I’m just saying they’re $20. And for $20, I’m having a lot of fun.

What do you think? Would you feel weird wearing “clones,” or do you think $550 for headphones is just robbery? Let’s talk in the comments. And if you’re curious about who’s behind these tests, head over to our About Us page or shoot me a message.