Bowers & Wilkins PI3 In-Ear Wireless Headphones
Keywords: aptx-hdbowers-wilkinsdynamic-headphonesearbudsheadphonesin-earnoise-cancellationwireless-headphones
Product Gallery
Product Overview
Bowers & Wilkins PI3 are premium wireless in-ear headphones. They are powered by B&W's Dual Driver technology with separate tweeters and woofers and offer an 8-hour battery life with support for fast charging.
The traditional in-ear form factor combined with the provided stability fins allow the PI3 to offer more assuredness in moving about. Despite the small size, the PI3 packs two drivers in each earbud in a setup similar to the true-wireless PI7.
The B&W PI3 support the same set of advanced aptX Bluetooth codecs as do the PI4 unveiled at the same time, though it loses ANC support. There is a single microphone for telephony.
Ratings
What we found**
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Excellent battery life
- Compatible with Bowers & Wilkins Headphones App
Cons
- Nothing in particular
What external reviewers found***
External score 74% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Good sound quality
- Excellent audio performance
- Excellent build quality
- Good battery life
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Not weather-sealed or waterproof
- No wireless charging
- Not IPX rated
- No EQ or EQ presets
- No equalizer
Price Comparison
Specifications
Connectivity
Ports
USB-C
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth, USB-C
Construction
Cable
20cm USB-A to USB-C cable
Colors
Space Grey, Blue, Gold
Drivers
9.2mm full range + Balanced Armature
Form Factor
In-Ear, Neckband Wireless Headphones, Earbuds
Headphone Type
Dynamic headphones
Microphone
1x mics for telephony
Dimensions
Weight
31 g
Function
Bluetooth Codecs
AptX-Adaptive, aptX-HD, aptX-Classic, AAC, SBC
Bluetooth Profiles
A2DP v1.3.1, AVRCP v1.6.1, HFP v1.7.1, HSP v1.2, BLE GATT
Fast Charging
2hrs with 15min charge
Noise Cancellation
No
Performance
Battery Life
8hrs Bluetooth with ANC
Frequency Response
10Hz ~ 30kHz
Total Harmonic Distortion
0.3% (1kHz/10mW)
Production
Accessory
Ear Tips: S / M / L
Debut
2019-10
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Launch Comparison
Clear List
External Reviews
nextpit[1]
Reviewer score 69%The PI3 are priced at $199,99 on the official Bowers & Wilkins website in the United States. On the British Amazon, you can pick up a pair of PI3's for £154.46. The earphones themselves are nice and small, and they're not the kind of in-ear headphones that bulge out from your ears.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Good sound quality
- Good battery life
Cons
- Clunky power button
- No wireless charging
pcmag[2]
Reviewer score 83%There are two drivers per ear, which is quite impressive for a wireless model, even at $200. On tracks with intense sub-bass content, the drivers deliver a robust low-frequency response. The vocals are delivered with excellent clarity, though at times there seems to be a bit of added sibilance.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent audio performance
- Comfortable fit
- Easy to use
Cons
- No EQ or EQ presets
techadvisor[3]
Reviewer score 71%Bowers & Wilkins PI3 use latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology. Uses two drive units in each earpiece, one for the highs and mids, and a separate driver for bass. This is highly unusual with most headphones offering a single driver per earbud. Bowers claims eight hours on a full charge and we managed to use the PI3 on a single charge for four days.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Good battery life
Cons
- No noise cancelling
- Not weather-sealed or waterproof
techradar[4]
Reviewer score 80%The Bowers & Wilkins PI3 wireless headphones are lightweight and easy to wear around your neck. The two earbuds stick together magnetically, so you won't have to worry about losing them or getting tangled up in cables. Unlike other neckband headphones though, they won't automatically pause your music when you remove them from your ears. Disappointingly, these are only resistant to light rain, splashes, and sweat. There's no 'proper' IP-based waterproofing.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Good battery life
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- No waterproofing
- No equalizer
trustedreviews[5]
Reviewer score 80%The Bowers & Wilkins PI3 use Bluetooth 5.0 and support apt-X. They have two drivers per earpiece: a 9.3mm dynamic driver and a balanced armature. Bass is exceptionally taut and punchy. Its agility is among the very best available in a sub-£200 earphone. Mid-range quality is excellent. Wireless performance proved faultless in my experience.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Taut, punchy bass
- Excellent mid-range detail rendering
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- Poor battery life
whathifi[6]
Reviewer score 60%Bowers & Wilkins PI3 headphones cost £170. Use Dual Driver technology, with one driver used for highs and mids, and another for bass. Neckband is made from coated silicone and rubber that is soft, smooth and quite soothing to the touch. Battery life is eight hours, which is good for this class.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Clean, detailed sound
- Good battery life
Cons
- No noise-cancelling
- Not IPX rated
User Reviews
Comments
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References
- ^ Bowers & Wilkins PI3 review: neckband in-ears from the audiophile guys. [nextpit]. https://www.nextpit.com/bowers-wilkins-pi3-review. 2020-01-20. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
- ^ Bowers & Wilkins PI3 Review. [pcmag]. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/bowers-wilkins-pi3. 2020-01-24. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
- ^ Bowers & Wilkins PI3 review. [techadvisor]. https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/review/bowers-wilkins-pi3-3780788/. 2020-01-06. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
- ^ Bowers & Wilkins PI3 Wireless Headphones review. [techradar]. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/bowers-and-wilkins-pi3-wireless-headphones. 2020-02-07. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
- ^ Bowers & Wilkins PI3 Review. [trustedreviews]. https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/bowers-wilkins-pi3. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
- ^ Bowers & Wilkins PI3 review. [whathifi]. https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/bowers-and-wilkins-pi3. 2020-01-27. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.
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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
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