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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for earbuds that offer excellent sound quality and noise isolation for music listening and air travel, the Sony WF1000XM4 might be the better option, with the added benefit of a longer battery life both in the earbuds and the charging case, and an app that allows equalizer and audio controls customization. However, the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is less expensive and still delivers good overall sound, with a solid build and useful features such as sweat-proof certification and AptX codec support for high-quality audio streaming. It’s important to note that neither set is particularly suited for gaming due to higher latency, and if call quality is a priority, both have room for improvement, but the Sony's offer superior comfort for extended wear. 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
- The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has no clear advantages over the Sony WF1000XM4.
Advantages of the Sony WF1000XM4
- Excellent for music
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.5
9.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is excellent for music, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is good.
Phone Calls
5.2
6.7
The Sony WF1000XM4 is only fair for phone calls, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6
10.0
The Sony WF1000XM4 is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has 5 hours of battery life. The Sony WF1000XM4 has 9 hours of battery life.
Cost
$259
$220
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has a price of $259 and the Sony WF1000XM4 costs $220.
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Key similarities
Gaming
5.3
5.6
The Sony WF1000XM4 and Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 are both poor for gaming.
TV and Video
6.0
6.0
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and Sony WF1000XM4 are both only fair for TV and video.
Noise Reduction
8.3
8.3
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and Sony WF1000XM4 are both very good for noise reduction.
Build Quality
8.9
8.9
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and Sony WF1000XM4 both have very good build quality.
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How the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and the Sony WF1000XM4 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 | Sony WF1000XM4 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$259 | $220 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bowers and Wilkins | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | July 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.5/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 5.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 6.7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 0.75 Hours | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 13 | 24 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 6.5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2
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Dig into reviews and images
Engadget
Billy Steele | March 2023
"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."
Sony WF1000XM4
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | March 2023
"The headphones deliver a satisfying user experience, class-leading battery life, some of the best noise-cancelling we’ve heard in this category, and absolutely stunning sound quality."
Get a great deal on the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 or the Sony WF1000XM4
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.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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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