Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 vs. AirPods Pro 3: How Much Is Better Sound Worth?

Bowers & Wilkins are positioning the Pi8 earphones against AirPods Pro 3. Should they be?

I have always viewed Bowers & Wilkins as a high end consumer headphone brand, so I was excited to check out their true wireless competitor to the AirPods Pro. Why am I calling it an AirPods Pro competitor rather than simply classifying it as a true wireless headset? Because the company seems to be encouraging the comparison. There is a “Made for iPhone” notice on the box, and the packaging looks about as close to Apple’s as it could get without crossing a line. Even the packaging is surprisingly similar to Apple’s. 

With that framing in mind, here are my initial thoughts after spending time with the Pi8s next to the AirPods Pro 3.

What the Pi8 does better

The biggest win is sound quality, and it is not close, especially for music. It is clear that the drivers are stronger, and more EQ flavor has been added to the sound, which gives music a richness the AirPods do not match. If you listen to music more than anything else, this is the first thing you will notice, and it may be the only thing you need to know. The transmitter feature is also interesting and could be useful at times.

Where the AirPods Pro 3 win

The first issue is price. The Pi8s cost meaningfully more, so the sound quality advantage has to justify that gap for you.

The case is also larger and bulkier than Apple’s, which matters if you carry your earbuds in a pocket every day. Connectivity is not as fast as the AirPods, and you do not get the immediate connection with your other devices that Apple users have come to expect (more on that below). The shape of the earbud is naturally a bit less comfortable than Apple’s, and you cannot summon Siri by voice.

Both of the modes that matter most in daily use also fall short of Apple’s. In transparency mode, I hear less of my surroundings than I do with the AirPods. In ANC mode, I hear slightly more of the outside world. Neither mode is bad, but both are a step behind.

Controls and missing features

The B&W earbuds lack volume control on the device itself, but they do offer other controls. You can pause and start playback, activate and deactivate noise cancellation, and advance to the next track, which is something the AirPods lack.

They also seem to lack some advanced features, including hearing protection and enhancement. I appreciate those features, since the AirPods have become my favorite option in loud environments, and my hearing certainly will not improve as I continue to age. For me, that is a real gap.

The bottom line

If sound quality is your priority, the Pi8s deliver something the AirPods Pro 3 cannot. If you value convenience, seamless device switching, and the best transparency and noise cancellation, Apple still has the edge.

Disclosure: I was sent a free pair of Pi8s for review purposes, but I was not compensated for writing this. I do not care if you buy one or not. No one from the brand was allowed to see this review or provide input on the content. If you would like your product reviewed, send an email to noah@digitalmusicnews.com. If it is something I find interesting, I will review it.