Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Earbuds review: The best non-AirPods you can buy in 2026

When I got sent the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 Earbuds, available on Amazon or direct for $399 / £369, I wasn't expecting much from them. Using Apple's AirPods Pro for the first time in 2020 was a revelation to me, all because of its ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) feature. Because I have and always will be locked to Apple's ecosystem, it's just been easier to stick with them.

But as the years pass, alternatives have appeared that have seemingly overtaken AirPods in battery life and ANC. Having used the Pi8 over the past few months, it's clear that they surpass my AirPods Pro 2 in several ways, but lack in others.

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Specs

Easy as Pi(8)

The design of the Pi8 is impressive. Available in six colours, the ones I got sent come in Dark Burgundy, and they look as good as they do on its website. The case looks and feels like a conker, smooth and rounded, that can easily fit into most pockets. The in-ear earbuds also look high-quality, with a smooth-sheen finish that easily lets you tap to skip a track or switch on/off ANC.

Setting up the Pi8 with my iPhone was okay, but due to Apple's current restrictions on third-party accessories, it's more frustrating than it should be. I had to tap and hold both earbuds to pair them with my handset, then download the 'Music | Bowers & Wilkins' app (Android/iOS) to customise the ANC and tap actions.

There's no getting around it - the app isn't great. It features a terrible icon to start, with what looks like sand instead of soundwaves, and a small Bowers & Wilkins logo. The Pi8's info stays at the top, and you have to open or close the case to check its battery from the app.

I also discovered that by going to Settings > Pi8, you're given more information to customize the earbuds - but why place them there? Move this to the Home section. As it stands, there's so much wasted potential here that could have been used to space out more settings like equalizer or accessibility. Everything in the app feels like an afterthought - let's see a redesign someday.

Once the Pi8 were paired to my iPhone, I was struck by how good the ANC was. I'd play tracks by Oasis, Blur, Michael Jackson, and TEKKEN albums whilst coffee machines would whir and babies would cry near me, and I'd barely be aware. You can't adjust it, but why would you? I tried it on a plane and it easily blocked out much of the engine noise, something my AirPods Pro have failed to do.

Pairing the Pi8 earbuds to other devices, like my MacBook Pro and Retroid Pocket 6, was fine, but it just felt old-fashioned. I had to long-press on both earbuds for them to be discoverable, and if I wanted to go back to my iPhone, it was a matter of going into Bluetooth settings and tapping on the Pi8. It may seem trivial, but after years of having my AirPods Pro pair to a device I'm currently using, there should be a better way for third-party devices.

Sound and Battery both add to the Pi(8)

When it comes to the sound itself, that's also impressive. Playing videos like these highlighted some deep, loud moments that my AirPods Pro 2 simply can't do. Every guitar riff, bass line, and drum beat was clear and loud, with no noticeable latency. In addition, when I played some games via the Delta and Gamma emulators, combined with ANC on, it felt like I was wearing headphones. Everything sounded close by or far away, especially in games like Resident Evil 3.

Battery life is also good - I got a full real-world day's use out of the Pi8 every time I used them, but the way of notifying me feels strange. You see, because of Apple's restrictions on third-party devices, you're bound to a battery meter that doesn't state the percentage, nor does it show the levels for each earbud and the case. So there would be a few beeps that would sound off eventually, letting me know that the battery was low. But I didn't know which earbud needed charging, nor did I know how much charge was left.

But more frustrating was that the app wouldn't tell me the case's battery level unless I opened it up. I hope there's a better way of doing this, similar to how the battery of my AirPods Pro shows up on my iPhone. But so far it's a hassle.

Overall

Despite my grievances with the Bowers & Wilkins app and playing battery roulette, the Pi8 have impressed me. They easily surpass AirPods Pro in ANC, as well as sound quality. If you're someone who uses earbuds to cancel out noise to get some work done or finish off a workout in peace, the Pi8 are the ones for you.

But are they worth it for $399 / £369? In my experience using them, yes. Granted, pairing them can be frustrating, and the app needs a redesign, but you're not bound to it - you can leave it installed and listen to whatever you like. The only issue is whether you're comfortable wearing in-earbuds. They can vary, depending on the ear - but I found them to be comfortable.

If they offer the same pairing experience and glanceable information like my AirPods Pro do, I'd switch to them now. But as it stands, they're a fantastic alternative for all my devices. If you're thinking of buying your first ANC earbuds, the Pi8 are a no-brainer.