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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 are a good choice if you prioritize sound quality, noise isolation, and are okay with a bigger earbud size. They also have a higher build quality and active noise cancelling, which is great for air travel. The Ear Sticks are less expensive, offer better microphone quality, open design for a more airy sound, and longer battery life within the case. They are also lighter and smaller, which might be more comfortable for long wear. If you need earbuds for frequent calls or prefer a lighter and less conspicuous earbud, go for the Ear Sticks. 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 Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2
Good for music
Very good for air travel
Advantages of the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
Very good for phone calls
Very good for gaming
Good for TV and video
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.5/10
6.1/10
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is only fair.
Gaming
5.3/10
8.1/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for gaming, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.2/10
8.6/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for phone calls, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6/10
8.4/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
TV and Video
6.0/10
7.5/10
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is good for TV and video, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
8.3/10
2.5/10
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is very good for noise reduction, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is poor.
Cost
$127
$108
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has a price of $127 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick costs $108.
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has 5 hours of battery life. The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life.
Build Quality
8.9/10
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick to have excellent build quality, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has very good build quality.
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How the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick compare to other earbuds and headphones
"While the overall sound quality is great, these earbuds fall short in terms of battery life, customization and ANC performance. Bowers & Wilkins’ ability to consistently deliver pristine sound isn’t enough to make up for what the Pi7 S2 lacks, which is unfortunately quite a bit."
"If the Ear (stick) fits your ears, its light weight means you can easily wear it until the unimpressive battery life totally drains. The IP54 rating of the buds lends some confidence that it’ll survive some light abuse too. Finally, for the person who only wears earbuds at their desk, the Nothing Ear (stick) with its decent microphone could offer a reasonable Zoom meeting solution."
Get a great deal on the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 or the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
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.