Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro: Which noise-cancelling earbuds should you buy?
Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro: Which noise-cancelling earbuds should you purchase?
This Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro comparison analyzes two of the best dissonance-cancelling earbuds in the same toll class, helping you decide which pair best suits your needs.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI5 is the company's entry-level model, with the PI7 serving as the more powerful (and pricier) flagship. Despite lacking its sibling's advanced audio specs, these buds manage to deliver some of the finest audio and active noise cancellation in the category. They also come up in a strikingly handsome pattern and have longer bombardment life than the PI7's.
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A acme seller that continues to extend its shelf life with nearly every iOS 14 update, the AirPods Pro is the ideal iPhone or iPad companion, with adaptive sound, excellent call quality, impressive ANC, and unbeatable iOS integration. Most chiefly, Apple stock-still the AirPods' biggest issue, fit, which is now customizable, thank you to bundled ear tips and special software that checks if a proper seal has been established.
Different features, similar price, these are two great items that offer their own unique listening experiences. So, which is the superior model? Our B&W PI5 vs. AirPods Pro breakdown will inform you of the better ANC earbud investment.
Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro: Specs compared
| Bowers & Wilkins PI5 | AirPods Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Toll | $249 | $249 |
| Wireless Charging Case | Yes | Yes |
| Scrap | Qualcomm QCC5126 | Apple H1 |
| Battery Life (Rated) | 4.5 hours (ANC on), 24.5 hours (with charging instance) | 4.5 hours (ANC on), five hours (ANC off), 24 hours (with charging case) |
| Water Resistance | IP54 | IPX4 |
| Case Size | 2.3 10 1.1 10 ii.2 inches | ane.8 ten 0.9 x 2.four inches |
| Case Weight | 1.6 ounces | 1.half dozen ounces |
| Special features | Agile dissonance cancellation, two-level ambient listening mode, aptX Adaptive back up, Soundscapes | Agile racket cancellation, transparency way, adaptive EQ, spatial audio, automatic switching, customizable fit, audio sharing, appear letters with Siri, "Hey Siri" vocalisation-activated assistance |
Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro: Toll
There is no departure here – both the PI5 and AirPods Pro are sold for $249 make new. Where some brands sell a wireless charging version for a premium, Apple and B&W include the feature as part of their packages.
The AirPods Pro is often on sale with some retailers having dropped the cost downwards to equally depression as $180. We're also anticipating a markdown for Amazon Prime Day 2021, merely don't concord us to that prediction. Existence the newer release, the PI5 likely won't meet a price drop anytime soon, but that doesn't mean information technology isn't worth every penny.
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Winner: Tie
Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro: Pattern
B&W sound products usually await stunning and the PI5 is no different. Matte plastic and sturdy aluminum give these buds a premium presence. Build quality is superb and you won't fright scratching or breaking them. An IP54 rating also ensures they're protected from splashes, sweat, and dirt. Details similar the protruding cylinder are distinctive and act every bit a multi-role capacitive button. Then there are the silicone tips that have a mesh barrier to prevent earwax build up for optimal acoustic operation.
Apple has implemented changes on the AirPods Pro compared to the standard Apple tree AirPods, shrinking the stems and adding blackness vents for a more distinguishable appearance. The all-plastic frame is tougher than what was used on the regular AirPods, and y'all're getting IPX4 certification for sweat and h2o resistance. But, if we're being honest, the design isn't as exciting as what we've seen on many of the best wireless earbuds.
The charging cases may come up in unlike forms, merely they are even so compact and pocket-friendly. As sleek as the PI5 case looks, it doesn't provide the same sturdiness equally the earbuds, nor does information technology feel as durable as the AirPods Pro case. Another deviation is that Apple has its pairing button on the back, whereas B&West chose to inconveniently place it on the within.
Comfort and fit are two areas where the AirPods Pro excel. The buds hands insert into your ears with the silicone tips making a globe of deviation by creating a tight seal and latching onto the canal. These characteristics also put the AirPods Pro among the all-time sports headphones out there. You lot should be able to habiliment the buds for long stretches, though listeners with low pain thresholds might notice some discomfort later ane.v hours of use.
Apple went a footstep further and developed its own Ear Tip Fit Exam that non simply calibrates the AirPods Pro to determine the best tips for proper fitting, simply as well helps to achieve the best possible sound quality and noise cancellation. The results are acceptable.
We find the PI5 to exist moderately comfortable. Just be mindful that information technology can crusade fatigue after near an hour of use with the elongated sound port pinching the front part of your ear. In addition, it requires effort to properly twist and lock the buds in place, otherwise, they'll autumn flat onto the physical. At least the tips have a strong grip to keep the buds stabilized when on the go.
Winner : Bowers & Wilkins PI5
Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro: Controls
Apple'south Force Sensor controls and "Hey Siri" voice activation is a winning combination that delivers on the operational front in every way. The sensors register presses accurately and produce bang-up tactility to ensure users of intended commands. On-ear detection is on indicate too, automatically pausing music when removing the buds and resuming playback when placed dorsum on the ears. If at that place's anything to complain well-nigh, it is the express number of controls that tin be assigned to each bud.
Those who are heavily committed to Apple'south ecosystem will view "Hey Siri" equally their virtual BFF. The feature works flawlessly and activates the moment yous utter the key phrase, opening the door to thousands of easily-free commands, which it executes in swift succession. Android users won't have access to "Hey Siri", but can enable the digital assistant function on their devices through 3rd-party apps similar Assistant Trigger.
B&W programmed touch on controls, on-ear detection, and vocalization assistance into the PI5, though the results vary. Siri and Google Assistant won't disappoint, equally the PI5'southward mic array demonstrates slap-up mic intelligibility. It's everything else that acts upwardly. Multi-tap gestures are frequently confused for one another, and motion detection is imprecise, pausing music half the time when taking the buds off.
Winner: AirPods Pro
Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro: Sound quality
The PI5 doesn't share the same high-end specs equally its sibling, the PI7, including the likes of full aptX support, bigger drivers and audio retransmission via charging case. Still, B&W flexed its engineering muscle to give the PI5 summit-tier sound. Each bud has a 9.2mm Dynamic Bulldoze Unit that feeds your ears spacious, well-balanced audio. Lows, mids, and highs all blend well and have a strong presence on orchestral tracks.
Apple did improve its sound contour past creating an adaptive EQ for the AirPods Pro that enhances bass and clarity. The low terminate has more kick to information technology and vocals sound precipitous on well-nigh songs. Highs don't exactly stand out and you won't hear some of the subtle nuances in complex recordings much like you lot would on the PI5. Nonetheless, the AirPods Pro has a special trick that the PI5 doesn't: spatial sound. This mode adds immersive surround audio to video content and Apple Music.
Winner: Bowers & Wilkins PI5
Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro: Active racket cancellation
When information technology comes to noise neutralization, the PI5 and AirPods Pro perform as well. The PI5'due south ANC applied science handles mutual indoor distractions like family unit chatter, household appliances and loud TVs with finesse. and is resilient at blocking out wind and humming sounds. Information technology also performs well in busy environments like grocery stores and shopping districts. Apple's two-mic noise-cancelling assortment is no slouch either and tin combat the aforementioned ambient noises as its rival. We've found the AirPods Pro well-nigh useful on commutes, dawdling out disturbances similar airplane engine humming and talkative subway riders.
Clarion, high-frequency sounds are unavoidable, no matter what model you choose, but the proficient news is that the PI5 and AirPods Pro reduce these ambient noises at a very high level. Crying babies and car horns aren't equally transparent as on other wireless ANC earbuds.
Speaking of transparency, these models have their ambient listening modes that come in handy for increasing awareness in your surroundings. The AirPods Pro version is fine for hearing other people'due south conversations and traffic, but nosotros appreciate the PI5's version more, since it can blend with ANC to make ambient noises sound more distinguishable and less harsh on your ears.
Winner : Bowers & Wilkins PI5
Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro: Special features and apps
The AirPods Pro crushes the PI5 in actress features, and does so even without the need of a companion app. Apple's commitment to optimizing hardware by introducing new features via firmware updates is an credo that several other headphones manufacturers are adopting. Apple'south H1 chip comes with sectional perks that you lot won't find on other earbuds.
We already touched on spatial audio, but there are other cool audio features such equally Headphone Accommodations to create a audio profile based on your hearing, sound personalization via EQs in the iPhone settings, and the ability to share audio with another pair of Apple or Beats headphones. The AirPods Pro tin perform other tricks like automatic switching, find misplaced or lost buds, and learn your daily charging routine to preserve battery health over fourth dimension.
A companion app is available for the PI5, just its characteristic set is limited. Exterior of basic toggle controls for on-ear detection and listening modes, you get battery level indicators at the pinnacle, firmware updates and a Soundscapes mode to mask ambience noises by reproducing nature sounds. The latter works really well and is arguably the best take on the "added relaxing noise" concept out in that location.
Unfortunately, the PI5 doesn't do good from all of the extra bonuses afforded to the PI7, such as 16 levels of adjustable transparency, adaptable ANC, 24-bit audio, and, again, audio retransmission.
Connectivity is a game that the AirPods Pro always wins. The H1 lets you instantly pair to iOS and macOS devices. You can pair Apple tree'due south buds to Android devices, though the process is a fleck more than strenuous. The PI5 will instantly connect to compatible devices, but it's the terribly short range that makes using these buds frustrating at times; to hear audio stuttering when 15 feet away from your smartphone or laptop is not good.
Winner: AirPods Pro
Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro: Call quality
The original AirPods was always considered a serviceable calling headset and the Pro is one of the all-time headphones with a mic for vox and video calls. Voices are clear on both ends and the mics do an admirable job of blocking out external sounds. Blaring sounds will eventually creep onto calls. Wind resistance is impressive and reduces the whooshing effect ordinarily produced when speaking in drafty conditions. Having the H1 chip at your disposal also means 50 percent more talk time.
Phone call quality is tenable on the PI5, so you lot'll be able to relish cursory chats equally long as you're in just mildly busy settings. Volume is louder and wind resistance is stronger on these buds than the PI7, helping reduce cutout and interference when talking exterior. The AirPods Pro just offers better clarity and blocks out more dissonance.
Winner: AirPods Pro
Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro: Bombardment life
Battery life on both models is underwhelming, rated at 4.5 hours with ANC on, which is below the industry standard prepare by the regular AirPods: 5 hours. In that location are competitors that trample the PI5 and AirPods Pro in playtime, including the Chief & Dynamic MW08 (10 hours) non-ANC models similar the Beats Powerbeats Pro (9 hours). However, the AirPods Pro has longer listening times with ANC off (5 hours), speedier quick charging (five minutes for i 60 minutes versus 15 minutes for 2 hours), and superb battery direction.
The wireless charging cases aren't all that dissimilar, except that the PI5 case holds 30 minutes more when fully charged. That doesn't make much difference in the grander scheme of things, equally loftier volume, streaming, and running multiple features in the background at the aforementioned time will drain bombardment life quickly on either set of buds.
Winner: AirPods Pro
Bowers & Wilkins PI5 vs. AirPods Pro: Overall winner
Our previous confront-off betwixt the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 vs. AirPods Pro proved that Apple can beat all promising newcomers, and the end event is no dissimilar in this boxing. The AirPods Pro has more going for information technology in terms of functionality and special features. The level of dissonance cancellation and audio you're getting, both from a listening and calling perspective, is outstanding. We go that the pattern has overstayed its welcome and battery life should be superlative priority regarding the rumored AirPods Pro 2, but Apple's porcelain noise-cancellers give you more than your money's worth in overall functioning. Period.
| Bowers & Wilkins PI5 | AirPods Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost and value (five) | 4 | four |
| Pattern (15) | 13 | 11 |
| Controls (ten) | vi | 9 |
| Audio quality (20) | 18 | 17 |
| Active noise cancellation(20) | 18 | 17 |
| Special features and apps (fifteen) | eight | thirteen |
| Phone call quality (5) | four | 5 |
| Bombardment life (10) | 6 | 7 |
| Total score (100) | 77 | 83 |
The PI7 and PI5 make huge statements with their incredible sound, robust ANC, and gorgeous designs. Neither comes inexpensive, just the PI5 is more than accessible and a must-buy for audiophiles that want something more premium than any Apple wireless earbuds. Had B&Due west opted to requite the PI5 some of the extras reserved for the college-priced PI7, this face-off might accept been closer.
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Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/face-off/bowers-and-wilkins-pi5-vs-airpods-pro
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