Overall Score 6.4 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Overall Score 4.5 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
Category | Features | Bowers & Wilkins PI7 | Powerbeats Pro |
---|---|---|---|
DESIGN | ingress protection (ip) rating | ip54 | ipX4 |
weight | 50g | 20.3g | |
has no wires or cables | ✓ | ✓ | |
wingtips included | ✗ | ✓ | |
sweat resistance | ✗ | ✓ | |
is dust proof and water-resistant | ✗ | ✓ | |
has stereo speakers | ✓ | ✓ | |
SOUND QUALITY | has active noise cancellation (noise control) | ✓ | ✗ |
has passive noise reduction | ✓ | ✓ | |
driver unit size | 9.2mm | 12mm | |
lowest frequency | 10hz | 10hz | |
highest frequency | 20,000hz | ✗ | |
POWER | battery life | 4.5hours | 9hours |
battery life of charging case | 18hours | 24hours | |
charge time | 3hours | 0.7hours | |
has wireless charging | ✓ | ✗ | |
has a battery level indicator | ✓ | ✓ | |
CONNECTIVITY | has usb type-c | ✓ | ✗ |
bluetooth version | v5 | v5 | |
maximum bluetooth range | 10meters | 10meters | |
has aac | ✓ | ✓ | |
has aptx adaptive | ✓ | ✗ | |
has aptx hd | ✓ | ✗ | |
MICROPHONE | number of microphones | 6only | 2only |
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 |
IP ratings is the level of protection given by an enclosure, against solids and liquids. In the format of IPXX, 'X' represents a number The first value of the IP rating refers to protection against solids such as dust, while the second refers to protection against liquids (sweat).
Scoring IPX4, the Powerbeats Pro's rating for solids indicates that no data available to specify a protection rating, and of liquids that they can withstand low pressure spray similar to that of a shower head when tilted at 180° for 10 minutes.
In comparison to the Powerbeats Pro, Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a rating of IP54 meaning 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 that of liquids is that,
they both have the same rating against liquids
Powerbeats Pro have a weight of 20.3g . We take in account a lower weight better because lighter devices are easier to move with.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7, at 50g
are heavier than the Powerbeats Pro with a difference of 29.7g
For a device to be true wireless it should have no wires connecting any part of the device together, Powerbeats Pro are true wireless for this case since they don't have wires. This is a major distinction as some wireless earbuds have cables connecting the pair of earbuds together.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also is true wireless since it has no cables linking the pair of earbuds together.
Powerbeats Pro have wingtips, these are reserved for earbuds for workouts and come as an optional add-on to the separate silicone ear tip for a more secure fit.
Powerbeats Pro have sweat resistance
Powerbeats Pro are both dustproof and water-resistant.
Powerbeats Pro have stereo speakers, what this means is that Powerbeats Pro's speakers deliver sound from separate channels on both left and right sides, this creates a richer sound and a better listening experience.
Both Bowers & Wilkins PI7 and Powerbeats Pro have stereo speakers
ANC uses advanced technology to reduce ambient sounds. ANC works when, it listens to the sound pattern outside and inside the earbud and inverts the soundwaves to cancel it out. Simply put, it's like having +1 (sound from your surrounding) and producing -1 (inverted noise) to make zero hence "diluting" the noise.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have Active Noise Cancellation enabling you to listen at lower volume levels, good for your ears as you don't have to crank up the device volume to overcome background sounds.
The Powerbeats Pro sit tightly in place, this creates an acoustic covering that reduces background noise well as preventing the device sound from leaking out at the same.
Both Bowers & Wilkins PI7, and Powerbeats Pro have passive noise reduction which means that both tone down ambient noise without using technology to cancel it out.
The Powerbeats Pro have a unit size of 12mm in diameter, bigger drivers are more powerful, therefor producing better bass.
A driver unit is basically a mini speaker that makes sound in the device, the unit size corellates with the loudness of the device.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 driver unit is 9.2mm in diameter,
which means that they have a smaller driver unit than that of Powerbeats Pro by 2.8mm
, a common assumption 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 imply that they deliver better quality sound.
The Powerbeats Pro's lowest frequency is at 10Hz, low-frequency response inidcates how well an audio device generates low frequencies that can be heard, and if it alters the signal while at it.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7's lowest frequency is at 10Hz, this implies that
both devices make sound with equal bass
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, high-frequency response shows how well a particular audio device produces high recognizable frequencies and if it changes to the signal on its way through.
The Powerbeats Pro's battery life is 9 hours, these last longer than 5 hours of listening which is considered average before recharge. A device's battery life is given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and requires fewer chargings.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7's battery life is
less than that of Powerbeats Pro by 4.5 hours
. Each time you recharge your earbuds, they get a little less listening time. The effect is barely noticeable at first, but over time, your wireless earbuds will have shorter listening time.
The battery life of the charging case is given by the manufacturer, and Powerbeats Pro's case is said to have a charge of 24 hours. A charging case with more battery hours enables you to recharge your earbuds on the go many times before recharging the case itself.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7's charging case has a battery life of 18 hours,
less than that of Powerbeats Pro by 6 hours
It takes 0.7 hours to fully charge the Powerbeats Pro's battery. It is highly adivsable to fully charge the battery before using the earbuds when they have been unused for long periods.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 takes 3 hours to fully charge the battery,
more than that of Powerbeats Pro by 2.3 hours
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7, the device supports wireless charging. To charge the device, you simply place down on a compatible charging pad.
Powerbeats Pro have a battery level indicator, an indicator alerts you when the earbuds has a low battery. The battery indicator lights display the charging state of your earbuds and case.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 too have a battery level indicator, these enable you to determine the charging state of your device, if charged fully, or the battery is running low.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power through a single cable.
Powerbeats Pro have Bluetooth version of 5, Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data movement between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 has a Bluetooth version of 5,
equal to that of the Powerbeats Pro
. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.
Powerbeats Pro have a 10meters distance to connect via Bluetooth.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a maximum range of 10meters,
equal to that of the Powerbeats Pro
Powerbeats Pro 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 Powerbeats Pro will work fine with your iPad. 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.
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 Powerbeats Pro have 2 microphones.
While the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 microphones are 6,
more than that of Powerbeats Pro by 4
. More microphones result in better sound quality and help the device to filter out background sounds.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a noise-canceling type of microphone, these microphones are intended to filter out noise from the earbuds' sound.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support ambient sound mode, which uses microphones to channel ambient sound to still be heard even while wearing the earbuds
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support in/on-ear detection, the sensors in the earbuds can detect when removed from your ears so that the music is paused.
If lost in a room, or can't easily find them in your bag, Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support the find earbuds feature.
The Powerbeats Pro support fast charging. Most often, technologies like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, are used to reduce the time it takes to charge a device.
Also the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support fast charging. It's very similar to regular charging, only that the battery is filling up much faster. Say, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 have a mute function, they support the option to mute/unmute a conversation directly from the device.
The Powerbeats Pro, so you can easily access the volume control, pause, play, mute, etc whichever features are supported on the device.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also have a control panel on them.
The Bowers & Wilkins PI7 support voice prompts. Automatically receive information via audio messages, say if there is a problem with the connection.
Powerbeats Pro come with a special pouch. Carrying earphones without a case, or placing them in your bag without a casing can easily damage them.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7 also have a case included, which is useful for safe transportation.