Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
Carbon cone 12mm drivers adapted from the Px8 headphones and aptX Lossless over a Qualcomm chipset deliver 24-bit hi-res audio, with 8-hour earbud battery and a 15-minute quick charge yielding 2 hours of playback. The smart charging case uniquely retransmits audio from wired sources like in-flight systems, while the ergonomic design and multipoint Bluetooth 5.4 ensure all-day comfort and seamless device switching. These are best for commuters and audiophiles who demand distortion-free, adaptive noise cancellation and lossless wireless sound in a premium portable form.
Bu Earbuds hakkında
Enjoy high-quality, lifelike sound anywhere you go with the green Pi8 from Bowers & Wilkins, true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation built in. With advanced aptX lossless audio, Bluetooth 5.4, and 12mm Carbon Cone drivers adapted from the Px8 over-ear headphones, Pi8 offers superior sound and solid connectivity.
- For Commutes and Listening On The Go
- Active Noise Cancelation (ANC)
- aptX Lossless 24-Bit / 96 kHz Audio
- High-Performance DSP with 5-Band EQ
The 30-Second Version
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 sound like mini hi-fi speakers in your ears, but they're hamstrung by frustrating battery life and terrible call quality. Buy them for the sound, not the features.
Overview
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are the closest thing you'll get to reference monitors in true wireless form. The sound is jaw-droppingly good—detailed, spacious, and rich in a way that makes most other earbuds sound like toys. But here's the catch: all that audiophile glory comes wrapped in a package with mediocre battery life, hit-or-miss ANC, and call quality that'll have your friends asking if you're talking through a tin can. If you're willing to forgive those flaws, the Pi8 might be your perfect travel companion.
Performance
What surprised us most? The sheer musicality of those 12mm carbon cone drivers. They're borrowed from B&W's Px8 over-ears, and it shows—the soundstage is wide and instrument separation is superb. But the wireless retransmission case is a delightful bonus: plug it into a plane's USB-C jack, and you get lossless audio without a dongle. On the flip side, the battery endurance is disappointing at just 8 hours (and often less with ANC on), and while the mic picks up voice okay in quiet rooms, real-world call quality is rough—multiple owners report their voice coming across muffled or distant.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Incredible, reference-level sound 93th
- aptX Lossless support for hi-res streaming 89th
- Case doubles as wireless transmitter for USB-C sources 89th
- Top-notch comfort and secure fit 86th
Cons
- Battery life is well below average 28th
- Call quality is unusable in noisy environments 33th
- ANC is just okay, not great
- Case design is bulky and awkward
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless |
| Ear Tips | XS, S, M, L |
| Weight | 0.0 kg / 0.0 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | carbon cone |
| Driver Size | 12 |
| Drivers | 1 |
| Freq Max | 33000 |
| Hi-Res Audio | Yes |
| Codecs | aptX Lossless |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
| ANC Type | bespoke |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 8 |
| Charge Time | 2 |
| Fast Charging | 15min=2hrs |
| Charging | USB-C |
Case Battery
| Case Battery | 13.5 |
| Case Charging | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | No |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| Mic Count | 3 |
| NC Mic | Yes |
Features
| Touch Controls | No |
| App | Bowers & Wilkins Music App |
| Volume Limiting | No |
| Bone Conduction | No |
| Water Resistance | IP54 |
Value & Pricing
Prices are all over the place, ranging from $499 to a hilarious $74,738 (thanks, marketplace glitches). Realistically, you'll find them for around $399 from reputable shops. That's still steep when the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 deliver better all-around performance for less. Unless you prioritize pure sound over everything else, they're not the best value.
Price History
vs Competition
Stacked against the Sony WF-1000XM5, the Pi8 sound better—fuller, more natural—but Sony's ANC and battery life blow them away. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 offer similar high-end sound with better battery and call quality, though their fit isn't as comfy. Meanwhile, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have superior ANC and spatial audio tricks, but their sound signature can't match the Pi8's clarity. For sheer audio fidelity, the Pi8 are the champs, but they're a one-trick pony.
| Spec | Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 | Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi True Wireless Earbuds EAH-AZ100-S | Bose QuietComfort Ultra QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) | Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 | Sony LinkBuds Fit WFLS910N/B | EarFun Air Pro Air Pro 4+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear |
| Driver Type | carbon cone | magnetic fluid | Dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | hybrid |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 6.0 |
| Battery Life Hours | 8 | 10 | 6 | 30 | 5.5 | 12 |
| Case Battery Hours | 13.5 | 28 | 18 | 30 | 21 | 54 |
| Water Resistance | IP54 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP54 | IPX4 | IP55 |
| Multipoint | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | User Sentiment | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 | 79.5 | 85.6 | 33.3 | 85 | 27.5 | 93.4 | 48.9 | 88.9 | 89.4 |
| Technics Reference Class Hi-Fi True Wireless Earbuds EAH-AZ100-S Compare | 96.5 | 96.8 | 78.9 | 94.7 | 82.6 | 93.4 | 0 | 99.7 | 89.4 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) Compare | 96.5 | 80.4 | 78.9 | 96.4 | 47.2 | 93.4 | 79.2 | 97.8 | 94.5 |
| Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 Compare | 96.5 | 99.7 | 33.3 | 91.9 | 97.7 | 93.4 | 91.9 | 89.9 | 89.4 |
| Sony LinkBuds Fit WFLS910N/B Compare | 96.5 | 65.8 | 78.9 | 98 | 66.7 | 93.4 | 79.2 | 97.3 | 69.4 |
| EarFun Air Pro Air Pro 4+ Compare | 96.5 | 96.8 | 91.3 | 99.8 | 96.3 | 70.4 | 97.3 | 99.3 | 80.2 |
Common Questions
Q: Can I use these with my iPhone for lossless audio?
Nope. iPhones don't support aptX, so you'll be limited to AAC. They still sound amazing, but you won't get the full 24-bit/96kHz experience.
Q: Does the case charge wirelessly?
Yes, the case supports Qi wireless charging—handy if you've already got a pad.
Q: How do they fit for small ears?
They come with multiple tip sizes and the shape is compact, but some users with very small ears find them loose. Try them on if you can, or check return policies.
Who Should Skip This
If you're someone who takes a lot of calls or wants all-day battery without recharging, these aren't for you. Grab the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 instead—they won't sound quite as magical, but you'll actually enjoy using them for phone calls and long flights.
Verdict
If you're an audiophile who lives for sound and doesn't mind carrying a charger, the Pi8 are a joy. For everyone else, the compromises in battery life, call quality, and ANC make them hard to recommend over the competition. Get them for the sound, but know what you're giving up.
