Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds REVIEW

Exclusive, premium earbuds come equipped with confusing companion app.

I used to love music. I would blast it in my room as a kid and sit back in my chair and just take in the sound. At one point in my life, I started to notice my hearing wasn’t the same. It was faded or muted. I had hearing loss, so being able to enjoy music the way I used to wasn’t the same for me. I find myself jumping around from headphones to earbuds and back again, trying to find the rich sound I’ve lost.

Unfortunately, nothing will bring my hearing back to where it was but I can find joy in great audio devices that bring me close to where I was as a kid. Bowers & Wilkins does that for me. I have always loved the sound they provide. I have always been drawn to Apple AirPods Pros as they provide a great sound but more importantly, they connect me to the Apple ecosystem. The problem with the AirPods is as good as the audio is from them it’s missing something. It’s just that something Bowers & Wilkins provides with the new Pi8 In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds.

About Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds deliver a premium audio experience with advanced features designed for audiophiles and music lovers alike. Equipped with a true 24-bit connection, Qualcomm chipset, and aptX Lossless, the Pi8 earbuds provide high-resolution sound that dynamically adjusts for optimal performance. Their 12mm carbon cone drivers, adapted from Bowers & Wilkins’ flagship Px8 headphones, ensure distortion-free, lifelike sound quality, enhancing high-frequency detail and precision.

With bespoke active noise cancellation technology and TrueWireless Mirroring, the Pi8 offers superior sound isolation, adapting seamlessly to your surroundings. Additionally, three built-in microphones enhance call clarity, making them perfect for both music and communication. The Pi8 supports multi-device pairing, allowing seamless transitions between your phone, laptop, and other devices. Designed with comfort in mind, these earbuds feature an ergonomic form factor and intuitive single-button controls. They also integrate with the Bowers & Wilkins Music App for direct streaming from popular platforms such as TIDAL and Pandora.

With the added benefit of retransmitting sound from external devices, like in-flight entertainment systems or TVs, the Pi8 earbuds are engineered for convenience and exceptional audio performance on the go.

Main Features

• High-Resolution Audio: True 24-bit connection with Qualcomm chipset & aptX Lossless for dynamic, optimal performance.
• Distortion-Free Sound: 12mm carbon cone drive units for reduced distortion and enhanced high-frequency detail.
• Advanced Noise Cancellation: Custom active noise cancellation with TrueWireless Mirroring, plus 3 mics for improved call clarity.
• Multi-Device Pairing: Supports simultaneous pairing with 2 devices for easy transitions.
• Ergonomic Design: Single-button control, comfortable fit, and premium materials for extended use.
• Direct Music Streaming: Compatible with Bowers and Wilkins Music App for streaming from popular services (TIDAL, Pandora, etc.).
• Battery Life / Smart Charging: 2 hours of playback from a 15-minute quick charge, up to 6.5-hours battery life (with ANC on), and a charging case with 13.5 additional hours of power for the earbuds

Pricing & Availability

The Pi8 In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds are listed for $399.00 and are available for purchase through bowerswilkins.com or Amazon. It is available in four different colors – Anthracite Black, Midnight Blue, Jade Green, and Dove White.

User Experience

The Pi8 In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds come in a stout retail-style box. The outside of the packaging has a box wrap that features a image of the charging case as well as the earbuds themselves. The version of the box I received features a large warning label on two sides about an ingestion hazard. I understand that inclusion of this type of warning with such a small product, but I have to admit, this is the first time I’ve seen something like this on an earbud package. Some product features are also included.

When you pull things out of the box, you’ll find the earbuds in their charging case, replacement ear gels, a USB-C charging cable, and a USB-C to 3.5mm audio cable, a quick start guide, and a Safety & Warranty guide. There is a full product manual available via bowerwilkins.com but because that wasn’t included with the earbuds, I wasn’t sure why a USB-C to 3.5mm cable was included since they are wireless earbuds. The manual states that the cable is meant for charging with an analogue connection. There is a lot of useful information in the full manual and I wish it had been included with the earbuds’ packaging.

The setup of the earbuds was relatively easy, but I did run into an interesting bug. I use an iPhone as my primary phone. When I started testing these, I had an iPhone 15 Pro Max. They connected easily and all the features functioned properly. Then, I switched to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. I connected them the exact same way I did with the 15 Pro Max — using the Bowers & Wilkins app — but I found that some of the functionality was lost. I couldn’t control the ANC or Pass Through modes at all and when I tried to play music through the Appl Music app, it didn’t recognize that I had the Pi8 earbuds connected.

I decided to re-pair the earbuds to an iPhone 14 Pro (my fiancé’s phone) and see if the same problems existed. This time, I paired the earbuds without the app being installed. The phone recognized them as Bluetooth earbuds and the Apple Music app played through them just fine. Then I paired them again to the iPhone 16 Pro Max — this time through the Bluetooth Settings first.

Once they were connected there, I opened the Bowers & Wilkins app. The earbuds were recognized and I had full functionality of the equalizer and different listening modes. I do not know what caused this odd bug, but I’m glad that it seems to have resolved itself through my troubleshooting efforts.

As for how the Pi8 In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds sound, I was pleasantly surprised at how clean the sound quality is. I listened to quite a bit of music with them and was able to hear it very well — even with my hearing loss. I thought the ANC worked well — as long as you have a good earbud fit. I was very happy that Pass-Through as a listening mode was included. There are very few earbuds that offer this as an option. For me, it makes it easier for me to use the earbuds for voice calls because I can hear myself better and I don’t feel like I’m yelling into the microphones.

The earbuds were also very comfortable. They are lightweight and their shape make them secure in a person’s ear — assuming the user has a good fit with the ear gel, too. I thought the touch controls were easy to learn and use and I really like that you can customize them inside the app.

While there are some worthwhile features inside the app, I actually found the app confusing. I do like it when a headphone manufacturer includes a companion app for enhancements, but I don’t particularly like it when you have to have the app for basic functions. At first, I thought the app would be needed in that way, but as it turns out, you can use the earbuds without the app altogether. So, the confusing part to me was the navigation of the it and why certain services were included in the app and others weren’t. I had to dig pretty deep to find the equalizer feature, which in my opinion is the reason to have the app.

Conclusion

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 In-Ear True Wireless Earbuds do deliver an exceptional audio experience that rivals top-tier competitors. Despite my hearing loss, these earbuds do allow me to enjoy music with the rich, detailed sound I’ve been looking for outside the Apple ecosystem. The integration of advanced noise cancellation, multi-device pairing, and high-resolution audio ensures a premium experience. While I encountered some connectivity quirks when switching between devices, I don’t think that is a long-term issue with the earbuds. The ergonomic design, excellent sound quality, and customizable features make the Pi8 earbuds a solid choice for audiophiles, even if the app’s interface could be more intuitive.

For more information, visit bowerswilkins.com