Overall Score 7.5 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Overall Score 6.8 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | Bowers & Wilkins PI7 | OnePlus Buds Z2 |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | ingress protection (ip) rating | IP54 | IP55 |
weight | 50g | 9g | |
has no wires or cables | ✓ | ✓ | |
sweat resistance | ✗ | ✓ | |
has stereo speakers | ✓ | ✓ | |
SOUND QUALITY | has active noise cancellation (noise control) | ✓ | ✓ |
has passive noise reduction | ✓ | ✓ | |
driver unit size | 9.2mm | 11mm | |
lowest frequency | 10Hz | 20Hz | |
highest frequency | 20,000Hz | 20,000Hz | |
POWER | battery life | 4.5hours | 7hours |
battery life of charging case | 18hours | 31hours | |
charge time | 3hours | 1.5hours | |
has wireless charging | ✓ | ✗ | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | has usb type-c | ✓ | ✓ |
bluetooth version | v5 | v5.2 | |
maximum bluetooth range | 10meters | 10meters | |
has aac | ✓ | ✓ | |
has aptx adaptive | ✓ | ✗ | |
has aptx hd | ✓ | ✗ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 6only | 6only |
has a noise-canceling microphone | ✓ | ✓ | |
EXTRAS | has ambient sound mode | ✓ | ✗ |
has in/on-ear detection | ✓ | ✓ | |
has find earbuds feature | ✓ | ✓ | |
supports fast charging | ✓ | ✓ | |
has a mute function | ✓ | ✓ | |
control panel placed on a device | ✓ | ✓ | |
has voice prompts | ✓ | ✓ | |
travel bag is included | ✓ | ✓ | |
See price on Amazon | See price on Amazon |
Ingress protection ratings refer to the rank of protection given by an enclosure, against solids and water. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value represents protection against solids say dust, while the second refers to protection against liquids (sweat).
Having a value of IP55, the OnePlus Buds Z2's rating is read as, the first value of 5 denotes that ingress of dust is not totally prevented but dust does not enter in harmful quantities to interfere with the correct operation or impair safety, and the second number of 5 means that they can withstand medium pressure jet that's 6.3mm diameter, similar to garden hose from any angle for 3 minutes at a distance of 2.5 to 3 metres.
Compared to the OnePlus Buds Z2, Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a rating of IP54 meaning that
they both have the same rating against dust
and that of liquids is that,
OnePlus Buds Z2 has a higher liquid rating than Bowers & Wilkins PI7
The OnePlus Buds Z2 have a weight of 9g . We prefer a lower weight best because lighter devices are more comfortable to transport.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7, at 50g
weigh more than the OnePlus Buds Z2 by of 41g
True wireless devices have no wires linking any part of the device together, OnePlus Buds Z2 are true wireless for this matter since they don't have wires. This is a key difference since wireless earbuds have wires linking the 2 earbuds .
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also is true wireless since it doesn't have cables linking the two earbuds .
OnePlus Buds Z2 are resistant to sweat
OnePlus Buds Z2 have stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.
Both Bowers & Wilkins PI7 and OnePlus Buds Z2 have stereo speakers
Active noise cancellation uses more advanced technology to reduce ambient sounds. How it works, it detects and analyzes the sound pattern of incoming noise and after generates a mirror signal to counter it. Simply put, it's like having +1 (noise) then producing -1 (inverted noise) to make zero resulting in a reduced level of noise.
OnePlus Buds Z2 have ANC enabling you to listen at lower levels of volume, causing less ear fatigue since you don't have to crank up the device volume to outcompete background noise.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have ANC which makes both earbuds ideal for flights and morning travels. Each work with different noise cancellation modes, pick the mode that suits your commute or that suites your chill time.
The OnePlus Buds Z2 sit tightly in place, creating an acoustic seal that reduces background sounds well as preventing the earbuds music from leaking out .
Both Bowers & Wilkins PI7, and OnePlus Buds Z2 have passive noise reduction which means that both tone down ambient noise instead of actively using ANC to cancel it out.
The OnePlus Buds Z2 driver unit is 11mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass.
The driver unit is basically a mini speaker that produces sound in the device, its size determines the sound made by the earbuds.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 driver unit is 9.2mm in diameter,
which implies that they have a smaller driver unit than that of OnePlus Buds Z2 by 1.8mm
, many people have a misconception that driver units of a bigger size automatically produce better sound quality.
However, large drivers find it difficult to produce high frequencies so yeah, larger drivers are capable of generating louder sound, but this does not indicate that they produce better quality sound.
OnePlus Buds Z2's lowest frequency is at 20Hz, low-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio device generates low audible frequencies and if it alters the signal while at it.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7's lowest frequency is at 10Hz, this implies that
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 can produce a juicier bass than the OnePlus Buds Z2
The OnePlus Buds Z2's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio component generates high recognizable frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal while at it.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this means that
both devices produce equal treble
OnePlus Buds Z2's battery life is 7 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average for a single charge. A device's battery life is usually given by the manufacturer, and with more battery hours, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7's battery life is
less than that of OnePlus Buds Z2 by 2.5 hours
. Every time you recharge your device, they get a little less playing time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over a few years, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time.
This is given by the manufacturer, and the OnePlus Buds Z2's case is said to have a charge of 31 hours. A charging case with a longer battery life enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go several times before having to recharge the case itself.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7's charging case has a battery life of 18 hours,
less than that of OnePlus Buds Z2 by 13 hours
It requires 1.5 hours to fully charge the OnePlus Buds Z2's battery. It is recommended to charge fully the battery before using the earbuds for the first time.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 takes 3 hours to fully charge the battery,
more than that of OnePlus Buds Z2 by 1.5 hours
Bowers & Wilkins PI7, the device supports wireless charging. To charge the earbuds, you just put down on a supported charging pad.
OnePlus Buds Z2 have a battery level indicator, an indicator notifies you when the device has a low battery. Its lights display the charging state of your earbuds and charging case.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have a battery level indicator, charging indicators allow you to determine the charging state of your earbuds, if charged fully, or the battery is running low.
OnePlus Buds Z2 use USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too use USB TYPE-C. This USB-C plug is part and parcel of most current laptops, phones, and tablets.
OnePlus Buds Z2 have Bluetooth version of 5.2, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that enables data transfers between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 has a Bluetooth version of 5,
older than that of OnePlus Buds Z2
. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
OnePlus Buds Z2 have a 10meters distance connecting via Bluetooth.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a maximum range of 10meters,
equal to that of the OnePlus Buds Z2
OnePlus Buds Z2 support AAC, a codec used for Bluetooth audio. It supports 24-bit audio at 250kbps. Since it uses psychoacoustic modeling, it can provide better results than other codecs at the same bit rate.
Since its the highest quality codec that any Bluetooth-supporting Apple product supports, the OnePlus Buds Z2 will work well with your MacBook. If you are planning on using these with Android , ensure that they also support aptX HD, LDAC, or LHDC as well.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support AAC as well. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves higher sound quality than MP3 encoders at the same bit rate.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support APTX Adaptive, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps).
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support APTX HD, an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that are developed by Qualcomm. It supports high-quality 24-bit audio (at a bit rate of 576kbps).
The OnePlus Buds Z2 have 6 microphones.
While the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 microphones are 6,
equal to that of the OnePlus Buds Z2
. More microphones result in better sound quality and enable the earbuds to filter out noise.
The OnePlus Buds Z2 use a noise-canceling microphone, these microphones are intended to reduce noise from the desired sound.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have a noise-canceling type of microphone. This is useful in noisy environments.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to pass through ambient noises so that they can still be heard even when wearing the earbuds
OnePlus Buds Z2 have in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the device can detect when they are removed from your ears so that the music is paused.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too support in/on-ear detection, automatically pauses your music, or audiobook when you remove earbuds from your ears saving battery life.
If misplaced in a room, or can't be found in your bag, the OnePlus Buds Z2 support the find earbuds feature.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have the find earbuds feature. Simply use the earbuds app on your phone to play an alarm from your device to help you find them.
The OnePlus Buds Z2 support fast charging. Most often, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to lower the amount of time it takes to charge a device.
Also the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too support fast charging. It's very similar to regular charging, just that the battery fills up much faster. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in 30 minutes.
The OnePlus Buds Z2 have a mute function, they have the feature to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the earbuds.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too support the mute function. The mute function means that you are in position turn off the device's microphone, but still hear the other party talk.
The OnePlus Buds Z2, so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever functions are supported on the earbuds.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also have a control panel on them.
OnePlus Buds Z2 support voice prompts. With voice prompts, you receive information via audio messages, like if there is an issue with the connection.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also support voice prompts meaning the earbuds notifies you when the battery is low, and it's time to recharge them.
OnePlus Buds Z2 come with their own special pouch. Carrying earbuds without a case, or putting them inside your bag without a casing may easily put them at risk of getting damaged.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have a travel bag included, which offers safe transportation.