Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Review: Sounds Great, But Will you Like the Design and Price?
Bowers & Wilkins has recently announced their latest premium flagship true wireless earbuds, the Pi8. As the successor to the Pi7 S2, these S$699 earbuds represent the British brand's vision of what luxury personal audio should be. But will its distinctive design and premium price tag appeal to you? Let's find out!
Design and Build Quality
Bowers & Wilkins collaborated with London's Goodwin Hartshorn design firm on this product. The matte-finished, pebble-like charging case is elegant, and its strategic use of gold material, such as the robust hinge mechanism, evokes a premium feel. Although it is a little bulky when you slide it in your jeans pocket. The gold and matte style extends to the earbuds, however it adds another glossy surface to the earbud faces, which I find a little confusing. The bold usage of various kinds of materials in a product either broadens the fan base or disengages others.
Sound Performance
At the heart of the Pi8 are 12mm Carbon Cone drive units – the same technology found in B&W's Px8. Paired with a Qualcomm QCC5181 chipset, dedicated DAC/amp and supports aptX Lossless codec, these earbuds deliver exceptional audio performance. Sound is rich but well-balanced with detailed reproduction across all frequencies. The expansive soundstage provides an immersive listening experience, although we did expect a touch more boom from the 12mm driver and perhaps a little more warmth from the vocals and instruments, but that's just being overly demanding, which may be justifiable given the high price tag.
Active Noise Cancellation
Using a three-microphone array per earbud, the Pi8 delivers effective noise cancellation that handles everyday distractions well. While it may not be the best in terms of ANC performance, it excels at suppressing low-frequency consistent noise. The Pass-Through mode is also decent and effective.
Battery Life and Practicality
With ANC enabled, users can expect around 6.5 hours of playback from the earbuds, with the case extending total usage time to about 20 hours. A quick 15-minute charge provides two hours of playback – perfect for those moments when you're running low on battery. Call quality is generally good in quiet environments, but though wind noise can impact performance during outdoor calls.
Other Features
The Pi8 is IP54 rated and includes modern connectivity capabilities such as Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint connection support, however we did experience intermittent signal drops during our daily use, which we hope will be fixed with a firmware update. The accompanying app has touch control and equaliser customisation, however it lacks some capabilities, such as device tracking functionality that you may find on competing earbuds. As a media hub, the app connects to Tidal, Deezer, SoundCloud, and Tunein. Instead of switching apps, you can access all your favourite stations and songs in the same menu. The Pi8 also allows USB-C and wireless fast charging.
Our Verdict
The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 is a compelling choice for audiophiles who prioritise superior sound quality and is firmly positioned in the luxury segment at a price point of S$699. However, the unique choice of material may be a hit or miss for some. Ultimately, if the design is something that you can rock with and budget is not a concern, you can be assured of getting a high-quality and reasonably comfortable earbuds.