Bowers & Wilkins Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 True Wireless Noise-Canceling Review

Scoring a 21.4/100 overall, the B&W Pi8 is a premium-priced underperformer. Its sound quality is only in the 40th percentile, and its microphone is among the worst we've tested at 7.8/100. For $400+, you can get vastly better noise cancellation and audio from Sony, Technics, or others.

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 lands with a promise of high-fidelity sound on the go, but the numbers tell a more nuanced story. Our database scores it at 21.4 out of 100 overall, which is a tough start. It's not a budget pick, scoring a 34.6 there, and it's surprisingly weak for music at 28.7. That's a red flag for a brand known for audio.

You're looking at a premium price tag, ranging from $410 to $499, for a set of buds that only manage to crack the top 40th percentile in one key area: battery life, at 61%. Everything else, from sound quality (40th percentile) to noise cancellation (39th), sits solidly in the middle of the pack or below. For this money, you'd expect to be in the 80s or 90s.

Performance is where the Pi8's premium price feels hardest to justify. Its sound quality lands in the 40th percentile. That means over half the wireless earbuds in our database are rated as sounding better, which is a shocker for Bowers & Wilkins. The active noise cancellation isn't a standout either, sitting at the 39th percentile. You'll get some isolation, but don't expect it to compete with class leaders.

The one bright spot is battery life, which hits the 61st percentile. You get up to 20 hours with the case, which is decent. But the mic performance is a disaster, scoring a 7.8 out of 100 in our calls category. That's a deal-breaker if you take meetings or calls on the go. Comfort and build quality are also unremarkable, sitting in the 37th and 38th percentiles, respectively.

The value proposition here is broken. At $410 to $499, you're in flagship territory, competing directly with the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Technics EAH-AZ100. Those models consistently rank in the 70th to 90th percentiles for sound and ANC. The Pi8, scoring in the 30s and 40s, simply doesn't deliver performance that matches its price. You're paying a premium for the Bowers & Wilkins name and some nice driver tech, but the overall execution doesn't justify the cost.

Stacked against the competition, the Pi8 struggles. The Sony WF-1000XM5 dominates in ANC (often 90th+ percentile) and sound tuning for most listeners, all for a similar or lower price. The Technics EAH-AZ100 offers a more reference, detailed sound profile that also outpaces the Pi8's 40th-percentile score. Even the Google Pixel Buds Pro, often found for $100+ less, offer more cohesive performance and better integration with Android. The Pi8's one trick is aptX Lossless support, but that requires a compatible source and doesn't overcome its fundamental weaknesses in core performance areas.

Skip these if you take voice or video calls regularly—the mic performance is in the bottom tier. Also avoid them if you prioritize best-in-class noise cancellation (39th percentile) or if you're on a budget, as the value is poor. Even music lovers should be cautious, as the sound score is merely average. Basically, unless you're a B&W collector, there's a better option for your needs and money.

We can't recommend the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8. The data is too clear: for a premium price, you get middling sound, subpar noise cancellation, and a microphone that's practically unusable. Unless you are a dedicated B&W fan who must have their driver tech in a wireless form and you never take calls, your money is far better spent on almost any other flagship competitor. This feels like a first-generation product that hasn't figured out the true wireless formula yet.