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

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are premium-priced earbuds with mid-tier performance. Their standout feature is aptX Lossless audio support for true high-res wireless, but that requires compatible hardware. Call quality is terrible, and ANC is just average. Prices range wildly from $373 to $499. Only consider these if you're a B&W devotee who values lossless wireless above all else; otherwise, look at Sony or Technics.

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are a bit of a puzzle. They're premium wireless earbuds from a brand known for high-end home audio, and they're priced like it, starting at $373 and climbing to $499. They promise 'lifelike sound' with tech trickled down from their pricier over-ear headphones, like 12mm Carbon Cone drivers and aptX Lossless support. But our data shows they're not exactly crushing the competition across the board.

So who are these for? Honestly, they're for the Bowers & Wilkins loyalist or the audiophile who's dead set on wireless lossless audio and is willing to pay a premium for the brand's specific sound signature. If you're already invested in the B&W ecosystem and want earbuds that match your Px8 headphones, this is your move. For everyone else, it gets more complicated.

The interesting part is the disconnect between the high-end promise and the mid-pack performance in our benchmarks. They score in the 40th percentile for sound and the 39th for ANC, which is solidly average for the premium category. That means you're paying for the name and a specific feature set, not necessarily for class-leading performance. It's a fascinating case of brand prestige meeting real-world data.

Let's talk numbers. Our database puts the Pi8's sound quality in the 40th percentile. That's not bad, but for earbuds at this price, you'd expect them to be closer to the top. They deliver clean, detailed audio, especially if your source supports aptX Lossless, but they don't have the overwhelming bass punch or sparkling treble clarity that defines the leaders in this space. The ANC, sitting at the 39th percentile, is effective for dulling constant hums like airplane engines or office AC, but it struggles a bit more with sudden, sharp noises.

The real story is in the weak spots. Call quality is their Achilles' heel, landing in a dismal 7.8 out of 100 in our scoring. If you take a lot of meetings or calls on the go, you'll want to look elsewhere. Connectivity is another sore point at the 25th percentile. While Bluetooth 5.4 and aptX Lossless are great on paper, we've seen more consistent, drop-free performance from competitors. The battery life is decent at the 61st percentile, offering up to 20 hours with the case, which is enough for most days but not record-setting.

The value question is tough here. With prices swinging from $373 to $499 depending on the vendor, you're firmly in luxury earbud territory. For that money, you're getting decent sound, good battery life, and a nice case, but you're also getting subpar call quality and connectivity that doesn't inspire confidence. You're paying a significant 'Bowers & Wilkins tax.'

If the brand name and aptX Lossless are non-negotiable for you, then maybe it's worth it. But for pure performance-per-dollar, our data shows you can get better overall scores—especially in critical areas like ANC and mic quality—for $100-$150 less. Shop around if you're set on these; that $126 price spread means you should never pay the $499 sticker.

Stacked up against the competition, the Pi8 has a hard fight. The Sony WF-1000XM5, often around the same price or less, demolishes it in ANC performance and has far superior call quality. If noise cancellation is your top priority, Sony is the easy choice. The Technics EAH-AZ100 is another audiophile-focused competitor that often matches or beats the Pi8 on sound detail and has a more secure fit.

Then there's the budget side. The Nothing Ear (a) offers surprisingly good sound and features for a fraction of the price. You lose aptX Lossless and some premium materials, but you gain a much more compelling value story. The Pi8's unique offering is really that combination of B&W brand sound and wireless lossless codec support. If that's your specific niche, they compete. Otherwise, they get outshone.

Skip the Pi8 if you take a lot of voice or video calls. The microphone performance is among the worst we've tested, and you'll frustrate everyone on the other end of the line. Also, if your top priority is blocking out the world, look elsewhere. Their ANC is merely decent, and for the same budget, you can get class-leading noise cancellation from Sony or Bose.

Budget-conscious buyers should steer clear, too. The value just isn't there unless you're specifically chasing that B&W sound and lossless codec. For under $300, you can get earbuds that match or beat the Pi8 in overall performance. Finally, if you need rock-solid Bluetooth connectivity for critical listening or workouts, the Pi8's 25th percentile ranking suggests you might experience more hiccups than you'd like.

We can only recommend the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 to a very specific buyer: someone who is deeply committed to the Bowers & Wilkins sound profile, has a source device that supports aptX Lossless, and does not care one bit about call quality. For that person, these are the wireless earbuds that best extend the brand's home audio philosophy into a portable form.

For everyone else—commuters who need great ANC, professionals who need clear calls, or savvy shoppers looking for the best performance at a given price—there are better, more well-rounded options. The Pi8 feels like a first-generation product from a brand new to the true wireless game: it has flashes of brilliance but stumbles on the fundamentals that cheaper rivals have already mastered.