Tested · Scored · RankedNEWinstax mini Evo 2 — full review & score →
Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2
Bowers & Wilkins · Released June 15, 2026

PX8 S2

B&W's PX8 S2 pairs carbon-cone drivers and nappa leather with 30 h of battery, but Bose cancels more noise.

Over-ear
8.8/10What the pros sayExcellentExpert consensus · Verified Oct 8, 2026See score breakdown ↓
Buying call

Buy the PX8 S2 if sound and build matter more to you than ANC: reviewers praised its 40mm carbon-cone drivers, aptX Lossless and USB-C audio, and one test found B&W's 30-hour ANC battery claim accurate. It launched at $799. Skip it if you fly a lot, because one review found the Bose QuietComfort Ultra blocks more noise, especially high-pitched sounds, and Bose's QC Headphones (2nd Gen) cost far less. It's also leather-only with no vegan option, and it costs much more than the $549 AirPods Max 2 (Apple, Oct 8, 2026).

Full verdict ↓
Lowest new price · 128GBCheck price0 retailers
See availability Check the store for today’s priceGet a price-drop alert
Compare prices at
Editor testedHands-on testing and real-world use
Real-world useBased on everyday testing, not a spec sheet
Unbiased reviewIndependent and objective, sources shown
PX8 S2Check priceSee price
Highlights

Specs that matter

Audio
Type
Headphones
Wear
Over-ear
At a glance

Product highlights

Verified attributes, grouped for quick scanning.

AudioHeadphones · Over-ear
2 attributes · See all specifications
Price & availability

Where to buy

Prices from trusted US retailers, updated daily.

Set price alert

We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are stored at the time of last verification and may change.

0 price points tracked.
Check the store for today’s price.
Buying decision

Should you buy it?

Buy the PX8 S2 if sound and build matter more to you than ANC: reviewers praised its 40mm carbon-cone drivers, aptX Lossless and USB-C audio, and one test found B&W's 30-hour ANC battery claim accurate. It launched at $799. Skip it if you fly a lot, because one review found the Bose QuietComfort Ultra blocks more noise, especially high-pitched sounds, and Bose's QC Headphones (2nd Gen) cost far less. It's also leather-only with no vegan option, and it costs much more than the $549 AirPods Max 2 (Apple, Oct 8, 2026).

Best for

Listeners who want luxury build and sound, and don't rank ANC first.

Not for

Frequent flyers, and anyone shopping on value.

Main strength40mm carbon-cone drivers that earned top review scores
Main weaknessANC beat only 49% of over-ear headphones in one lab's measurements
Reasons to buy
40mm carbon-cone drivers that earned top review scores
aptX Lossless and USB-C audio with a built-in DAC
Nappa leather pads that reviewers found comfortable
30 hours with ANC on (B&W claim), confirmed in one test
Reasons to avoid
ANC beat only 49% of over-ear headphones in one lab's measurements
Bose and Sony block more noise
Controls are awkward
Very expensive, with no IP rating
Measured view8.8/10What the pros say · verified oct 8, 2026.
ScoreVerified Oct 8, 2026
Independent coverage

What other reviewers say

Reviews from other sites and creators. They don't change the Gadget Clash score.

Submit your review
SoundGuys7.4/10
Article · Full reviewBowers and Wilkins Px8 S2 review: an unlikely successorChristian Thomas · Nov 2025

Tests whether B&W's luxury sequel lives up to its price.

Read on SoundGuys ↗
What Hi-Fi?4/5
Article · Full reviewBowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 reviewAndy Madden, Ketan Bharadia · Sep 2025

Luxury wireless headphones whose sound matches the build.

Read on What Hi-Fi? ↗
Tom's Guide4.5/5
Article · Full reviewBowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 reviewTammy Rogers · Sep 2025

Rich sound and excellent comfort.

Read on Tom's Guide ↗
Mark Ellis ReviewsBowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Review: A BIG UPGRADE!Watch on YouTube ↗
Head to head

How it stacks up

Open a comparison for the full side-by-side view.

Choose a gadget
Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2
This devicePX8 S2
VS
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Wireless Headphones
AlternativeBowers & Wilkins Px8 Wireless Headphones
Score
8.8—
Full comparison
Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2
This devicePX8 S2
VS
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e Wireless Headphones
AlternativeBowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e Wireless Headphones
Score
8.8—
Full comparison
Same category

Alternatives worth a look

Other phones in the database, with their stored scores and prices.

All over-ear →
Px8 Wireless Headphones—
Bowers & WilkinsPx8 Wireless HeadphonesNappa leather, cast aluminum and carbon cone drivers in a luxury ANC headphone.
Px7 S2e Wireless Headphones—
Bowers & WilkinsPx7 S2e Wireless HeadphonesClass-leading detail, a gorgeous build and 30 hours of battery in a refined ANC headphone.
Product data

Full specifications

2 attributes, grouped for quick scanning. Verified Oct 8, 2026. Spot a wrong value? Hit the next to it.

Launch

Released
2026-06-15
Vote & discuss

Community says

No reader votes on the PX8 S2 yet. Votes happen on head-to-heads: pick a matchup and say which one you would buy.

PX8 S2No store price yetSpecs