Main trade-off
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
At 320 g it is 10 g heavier than Px8 S2.
Head-to-head
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 vs Px8 S2: S2 is lighter, rated playback remains 30 hours
The short answer
Choose Px8 S2 if its current codec support and lighter build matter to your setup. Choose the original Px8 if the exact offer is better and aptX Adaptive plus the included cables cover your needs. Both advertise 30 hours of playback.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
The frame is 3.1% lighter
Px8 S2 removes 10 g from the original’s 320 g figure.
What this is based on
(320 − 310) ÷ 320 × 100 = 3.1%.
Main trade-off
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
The shared battery and connection specifications do not prove a benefit over Px7 S3 for your use.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
- Choose it for
- You have no use for aptX Lossless and prefer the older offer.
- You already know that the original Px8 fits you well.
- Main trade-off
- At 320 g it is 10 g heavier than Px8 S2.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
- Choose it for
- You have a source that can use aptX Lossless.
- You want the updated 310 g frame rather than 320 g.
- Main trade-off
- The shared battery and connection specifications do not prove a benefit over Px7 S3 for your use.
About this comparison
Compare Px8 and Px8 S2 by weight, compatible Bluetooth codecs and wired listening. Both advertise 30 hours, so battery life is not the upgrade case.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
I listen mostly over a USB cable
Both support that path, so the new wireless codec is not required.
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8
- Good
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
- Good
I want more time away from a charger
Both have the same 30-hour playback claim.
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8
- Similar
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
- Similar
I have an aptX Lossless source
S2 adds the codec, subject to transmitter and connection conditions.
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8
- Good
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
- Better fit
I found an attractive original Px8 price
Its wired options and playback claim remain relevant. Check condition and included accessories.
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8
- Good
- Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
- Depends
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
The frame is 3.1% lighter
Px8 S2 removes 10 g from the original’s 320 g figure.
How we reached this conclusion
(320 − 310) ÷ 320 × 100 = 3.1%.
Neither battery number improves
The published standard and quick-charge playback claims are equal.
How we reached this conclusion
30 = 30 hours of playback. Seven hours after 15 minutes is also shared.
The cable-first buyer already has the main paths
Both include digital USB and analog-source listening connections.
How we reached this conclusion
The two product records each list a USB-C audio interface and a USB-C-to-3.5 mm audio cable.
Check your own setup
Which headphones work with the way you listen?
Start with the way you listen. USB charging is not the same as USB audio, and some headphones need power even with a cable. These choices are examples until you apply yours.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
Meets these checksBluetooth listening.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
Meets these checksBluetooth listening.
Battery figures are manufacturer claims for the stated mode, not measured travel time. Volume, codec, calls and battery age change runtime. Closed earcups can still leak sound. Weight alone does not predict comfort. USB audio needs a compatible source and cable. This check does not assess sound quality, microphone quality or amplifier power.
Choice A
Bowers & Wilkins, Px8
Px8
A leather-and-aluminum option with the same advertised playback duration as Px8 S2. The older model can be worth a look at a better offer, but materials alone do not establish a sound-quality win.
- Best matched use
- An older leather-trimmed Px8 offer
Checked facts
- Headphone weight is 320 g without the case.
- The advertised playback figure is 30 hours.
- The package includes USB-C and analog-source audio cables.
- Supports aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC and SBC.
Choice B
Bowers & Wilkins, Px8 S2
Px8 S2
Choose this if you specifically prefer the leather-and-aluminum build and have tried the fit. Px7 S3 retains the same 30-hour playback claim and key cable options in a 10 g lighter frame.
- Best matched use
- Leather-and-aluminum construction with current Bowers connections
Checked facts
- Headphone weight is 310 g without the case.
- Advertised playback is 30 hours, with up to 7 hours from a 15-minute charge.
- Includes 1.2 m USB-C and USB-C-to-3.5 mm audio cables.
- Supports multipoint and aptX Lossless with compatible sources.
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | Bowers & Wilkins Px8 | Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 320 g | 310 g | S2 saves 10 g. |
| Advertised playback | 30 hours | 30 hours | The new generation does not add published playback hours. |
| Quick-charge claim | 7 hours from 15 minutes | 7 hours from 15 minutes | The stated quick-charge result is also unchanged. |
| USB audio | Supported | Supported | Both cover direct USB listening. |
| Analog-source cable | Included | Included | Both provide the specific USB-C-to-3.5 mm path. |
| aptX Lossless | Not listed | Listed | The upgrade depends on a compatible wireless source. |
| Construction emphasis | Leather and aluminum | Leather and aluminum | Materials are shared positioning, not evidence of a measured audio improvement. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose Bowers & Wilkins Px8
- No aptX Lossless support in the published codec list.
If you choose Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
- aptX Lossless requires compatible source hardware.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
Name the source before choosing the codec
The S2 codec upgrade can matter if your phone or transmitter supports aptX Lossless. It is not enough for only the headphone to support it. If you listen over USB, that wireless feature is not the reason to choose the newer pair.
A newer luxury model is not a battery upgrade here
Both retain the same 30-hour playback claim and the same 15-minute quick-charge claim. The deciding factors are the supported features you will use, the fit and the exact offer, not a supposed increase in hours.
Treat materials as preference
Leather and aluminum can matter to feel and appearance. They do not establish better frequency response, noise cancellation or durability without relevant evidence. A careful comparison can respect that preference without turning it into an unsupported performance claim.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- The reviewed 30-hour playback figures are not used as verified ANC-mode runtime.
- No measured sound, microphone or noise-reduction comparison is claimed.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current headphones comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
Compared set
Only 18 of 60 models checked match every need here: “I switch between my laptop and phone” and “I want sound through a USB-C cable”.
18 matching models from 60 checkedSee the checked facts and calculation notes
Match countThe count uses the current product-to-need assignments for “I switch between my laptop and phone” and “I want sound through a USB-C cable”. A need with no documented match does not count.
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowers & Wilkins Px8 |
|
| |
| Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 |
|
|
Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Bowers & Wilkins Px8
You have no use for aptX Lossless and prefer the older offer.
See price & reviews on AmazonBowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
You have a source that can use aptX Lossless.
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.