Test Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 (2026): Is the Price Justified?

The Pi8 display 7 g per earbud, a reasonable weight on paper but noticeable from the first hour of wear due to the shape of the housing. The body of the earbud is relatively bulky, with a rigid stabilization fin that rests on the concha. On ears of standard morphology, the fit is correct in a seated position or during gentle walking. On the other hand, the pressure exerted by the rigid fin on the concha cartilage becomes noticeable after 80 to 90 minutes of continuous wear.

The editorial team tested this point on three different morphological profiles: two out of three reported discomfort appearing between 75 and 95 minutes, never before. The third profile, with a wider concha, did not feel fatigue until 2 h 30. This is not a deal-breaking flaw, but it is a real limitation that the competition (notably the Sony WF-1000XM5 and their adaptive oval tips) handles better on long sessions.

The supplied silicone tips come in four sizes (XS, S, M, L). The material quality is satisfactory, with a beveled edge that facilitates insertion. Passive isolation reaches approximately 22 dB in a well-fitted configuration, which forms a solid base even before activating ANC.

The Pi8 incorporate 9.2 mm carbon diaphragm drivers, a choice that promotes diaphragm rigidity and reduces bending distortions on rapid transients. The sound signature sits slightly in a V relative to the Harman 2019 target: bass is present between 60 and 200 Hz with a slight 3 to 4 dB boost, mids are slightly recessed around 1 to 2 kHz, and treble rises from 6 kHz with a slight accentuation that can generate sibilance on female voices recorded at high dynamics.

On acoustic jazz (double bass, cymbals, vocals), the separation of planes is clear and the stereo scene is wide without being artificial. Snare drum transients are rendered with precision, which we attribute directly to the rigidity of the carbon diaphragm. On electronic music (sub-bass between 30 and 50 Hz), roll-off occurs earlier than expected: the Pi8 are not earbuds for deep sub-bass enthusiasts.

The central question regarding aptX Lossless deserves a direct answer: the difference is audible in direct comparison on a high-quality source (24-bit/96 kHz FLAC files), mainly on transients and micro-dynamics. In isolated listening, without A/B switching, the majority of listeners will not perceive the difference compared to aptX Adaptive at 96 kHz. On orchestral music (Mahler, Symphony No. 5, conducted by Rattle), the low strings benefit from slightly superior timbre coherence in Lossless, but the gap remains subtle.

aptX Lossless requires a compatible source: recent Android DAP, PC running Windows 11 with Qualcomm aptX Lossless driver, or smartphone with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and above. iPhone users will remain on AAC, which is functional but represents a shortfall on the product's main promise.

The Pi8 ANC relies on a hybrid feedforward/feedback system with adaptive adjustment according to the detected environment. In a calm open-space setting (ambient noise between 55 and 65 dB), attenuation is effective and perceived reduction reaches approximately 20 to 22 dB on low frequencies (100 to 500 Hz). On Paris metro rolling noise (peak around 75 dB between 80 and 200 Hz), ANC correctly reduces the continuous background but lets transient peaks (braking, announcements) pass through.

Compared with the Sony WF-1000XM5, the gap is noticeable: the Sony models offer an estimated attenuation of 28 to 30 dB on the same low frequencies, with better management of mid frequencies (500 Hz to 1 kHz). The Pi8 sit in the "good ANC" category rather than "category reference," confirming the nuanced assessment noted in other tests. On short-haul flights, ANC correctly cancels engine rumble, yet residual cabin noise remains present.

The transparency mode of the Pi8 is one of the product's strong points. The reproduction of the sound environment is natural, without the wind or cavity echo effect found on some competitors. At 60% transparency gain (adjustable in the app), the voice of the person speaking face to face is reproduced without notable artifact. The switch from ANC to transparency mode occurs in about 400 ms, which is imperceptible in normal use.

For phone calls, we tested the Pi8 on the street (urban traffic, about 70 dB), in transit and in open space. The results are correct in moderately noisy environments: voice intelligibility remains good up to 72 to 75 dB of ambient noise. Beyond that, microphone capture degrades, especially in wind (tests carried out on the Morbihan coast, wind of 40 to 50 km/h): wind noise is poorly filtered and the voice becomes difficult for the interlocutor to understand.

The multipoint works between smartphone and laptop. Automatic switching during an incoming call on the smartphone while music plays from the laptop takes 1.5 to 2 seconds, without disconnection. Reconnection after sleep is reliable on both tested devices (iPhone 16 and MacBook Pro M4).

We measured autonomy in mixed conditions: 70% ANC activated, volume at 60%, aptX Adaptive codec, Android source. The result obtained is 6 h 10, or 20 minutes below the manufacturer's announced 6.5 h. The gap is modest and consistent with the test conditions (adaptive ANC active at all times, multipoint connection maintained).

The charging case provides about 2.5 additional full cycles, for a total autonomy of around 21 to 22 h including the case. Fast charging is present: 15 minutes in the case restores about 1 h 30 of listening, which is useful but not exceptional in the category.

For a Paris-Marseille TGV trip (about 3 h), the Pi8 hold without difficulty on a single charge. For a medium-haul flight of 4 h without access to a power outlet, charging in the case covers the remainder. The limit appears on journeys exceeding 6 h of continuous listening: the Sennheiser Momentum 4 (headphones) or the Sony WF-1000XM5 (8 h ANC on announced) offer better margin.

The Bowers & Wilkins Music app is available on iOS and Android. In 2026, stability is correct: no crashes observed on iOS 18 or Android 15 during the four weeks of testing. The connection between the app and the earbuds is almost instantaneous.

The available features are limited to:

• ANC level adjustment (three fixed levels plus adaptive mode)
• Activation and intensity of transparency mode
• Multipoint management (enable/disable)
• Firmware update (one update received during testing)
• 5-band semi-parametric equalizer with three factory presets

The absence of a fully parametric equalizer (center frequency, bandwidth, free gain) is a real limitation compared to the Sony Headphones Connect app, which offers a 10-band EQ with custom profiles and DSEE Extreme. The Bose Music app is also richer in ANC customization and automatic routines. B&W focuses on ease of use, at the expense of adjustment depth.

The Bluetooth 5.4 of the Pi8 provides measurable connection stability: no dropouts observed at 8 m in direct line, a brief dropout (less than 200 ms, self recovered) at 10 m with two partitions interposed. In dense urban use (subway, open-space with numerous active Bluetooth devices), the connection remains stable without dropout.

The latency in aptX Adaptive is estimated at 60 to 80 ms depending on the source, which is acceptable for video viewing (audio/video synchronization perception threshold around 80 ms). For mobile gaming, this latency is noticeable on rhythm or shooting games. There is no dedicated "game" mode with reduced latency, unlike some competitors.

Important point: the aptX Lossless is not available in multipoint mode. When two devices are connected simultaneously, the codec automatically switches to aptX Adaptive on both streams. To benefit from Lossless, you must connect to a single compatible device. This limitation is inherent to bandwidth management in dual connection.

The table is unambiguous on several axes. The Pi8 are the only ones to offer aptX Lossless in this category, which constitutes a real advantage for users of compatible sources. On ANC and battery life, the Sony WF-1000XM5 dominate, and this for a price 190 € lower. On comfort and weight, the AirPods Pro 2 are lighter and better suited for long sessions.

The 190 € price difference between the Pi8 and the WF-1000XM5 is only justified if aptX Lossless is usable in the buyer's listening chain and if the B&W sound signature (slightly V-shaped, carbon drivers) matches their preferences. For an iPhone user, this gap is not justifiable on objective criteria.