Bowers & Wilkins Pi8

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.