Bowers & Wilkins FP45772

The Pi6 is B&W's name on a pair of earbuds that can't keep up. Buy them only if you collect logos, not sound.

The biggest surprise here is how mediocre the sound actually is. Those 12mm drivers should be a selling point, but our data puts the Pi6 well below average for music quality. The ANC is also underwhelming, adapting to your environment sounds nice in marketing copy, but in practice it just doesn't cancel much. Battery life is the only thing that's even close to respectable, landing right around the middle of the pack at the 45th percentile. The 8 hours of earbud life and 24 with the case are fine, but nothing to write home about. And the mic? Calls score a brutal 5.5 out of 100. That's not just bad, that's 'please don't take a work call on these' territory.

Stack the Pi6 against the Technics EAH-AZ100 and it's not even close. The Technics buds are among the best we've tested for sound and ANC, while the Pi6 struggles to clear the bottom third. The Sony WF-1000XM6 is another obvious alternative, with class-leading noise cancellation and far better call quality. Even the Nothing Buds 2, which typically undercuts B&W on price, delivers a more compelling overall package. The only reason to pick the Pi6 is brand loyalty, and that's a thin reason when the performance gap is this wide.

This is where it gets painful. At $109 USD, the Pi6 might be forgivable as a budget option with a fancy name. But at 155-157 EUR or 349 CAD, you're getting fleeced. The Technics EAH-AZ100 or Sony WF-1000XM6 deliver dramatically better sound, ANC, and call quality for similar or slightly more money. Unless you find these at a steep discount, the value just isn't there.

The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 is a weird one. You're getting that B&W name and those 12mm bio-cellulose drivers borrowed from the Px7 S2e over-ears, which sounds great on paper. But the numbers tell a different story. Across the board, these earbuds land in the bottom third of our database for nearly everything that matters. Sound quality sits at the 29th percentile, ANC at 31st, and comfort at 28th. For a brand that built its reputation on audio excellence, that's a rough look. The one thing to know? You're paying for the logo, not the performance.

If you care about sound quality, noise cancellation, or taking calls on your earbuds, these aren't for you. Go get the Technics EAH-AZ100 or Sony WF-1000XM6 instead. If you're on a tighter budget, the Nothing Buds 2 will treat you better. The Pi6 only makes sense if you're dead set on the B&W logo and find them heavily discounted.

Skip these. The Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 feels like a product coasting on reputation rather than earning it. Weak sound, weak ANC, and abysmal call quality make them hard to recommend at any price. If you want great wireless earbuds, grab the Technics EAH-AZ100 or Sony WF-1000XM6 instead. You'll get a dramatically better experience for your money.