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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bose 700 headphones offer a more immersive sound experience, with a slightly better overall sound quality, and are excellent for long flights due to their high comfort and exceptional noise isolation. They also have a longer battery life and are preferable for calls and meetings owing to superior microphone quality. However, for exercise and outdoor activities, the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 earbuds are more suited due to their lighter weight, sweatproof certification, and a snug fit that helps them stay in place. They also support wireless charging, adding convenience to replenish the battery. If budget is a concern and you mostly listen to music, need something portable, and want features like sweat resistance, go for the Pi5 S2, but if you are looking for superior noise cancellation, comfort, and better call quality, and don't mind spending more, the Bose 700 would be a better choice. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Bose 700
- Good for music
- Very good for phone calls
- Best in class for air travel
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2
- The Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 has no clear advantages over the Bose 700.
Key differences
Music
7.5
6.7
The Bose 700 is good for music, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 is only fair.
Phone Calls
8.3
5.0
The Bose 700 is very good for phone calls, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.8
5.6
The Bose 700 is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
8.3
The Bose 700 is excellent for noise reduction, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 is very good.
Battery
20.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Bose 700 has 20 hours of battery life. The Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$299
$149
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose 700 has a price of $299 and the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 costs $149.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.3
5.3
The Bose 700 and Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
5.6
5.6
The Bose 700 and Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 are both poor for TV and video.
Build Quality
9.0
8.9
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Bose 700 to have excellent build quality, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 has very good build quality.
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How the Bose 700 and the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose 700 | Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $149 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | Bowers and Wilkins | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2019 | January 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 5.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 20 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2.5 Hours | 0.75 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 19 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 263 Grams | 6 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bose 700
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Adam Molina | June 2023
"Bose took active noise canceling and made it mainstream but eventually, the market caught up. Well, it seems like Bose was listening, because the Noise Canceling Headphones 700 is a complete redesign of its iconic product. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have a new design, improved sound quality, a touch-sensitive gesture pad for playback controls, and even USB-C charging."
Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2
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Dig into reviews and images
Major HiFi
Chris Golembeski | January 2023
"Bowers and Wilkins isn’t looking to make an obscure, premium wireless bud catered specifically towards audiophiles. Instead, it seems apparent that they’re going for the crown: a cool and popular look, an easy and comfortable fit, and an engaging stage with a great balance that is perfectly suited for mainstream listeners and audiophiles alike."
Get a great deal on the Bose 700 or the Bowers and Wilkins Pi5 S2
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
About Bowers and Wilkins
Bowers and Wilkins is a British audio equipment manufacturer with a focus on innovation and product development. It was founded by a couple of real-life James Bonds, the co-founders John Bowers and Roy Wilkins, who met while working for MI6 during World War II. The company keeps being favored by enthusiasts due to their sound quality, craftsmanship and signature aesthetics.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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