Everything about the sound signature is better than the original but doesn’t add much of anything in the way of features and technical improvements. Some similarities like drivers and build are welcome to stay the same, but a new true wireless earbud using Bluetooth 5.0 doesn’t make it feel like a current product. When you consider the price, these issues become a lot more prevalent. However, if you’re just in it for the sound, then the PI7 S2 will definitely be a satisfying upgrade.

As I mentioned in the beginning, the Pi7 S2's $399 price point is what's mainly holding the Pi7 S2 back from being an impulse purchase. Don't get me wrong, they sound fantastic, besting the output from Apple's $250 AirPods Pro and the $230 Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro that I typically use. But are they $150 better? I don't think so, unless you value raw, high-quality audio playback above better active noise cancellation and have a use for the charging case's audio transmitter function.

Yes, the PI7 S2s are technically a second-gen product, but they feel more like a generation 1.5 product. Bowers & Wilkins has essentially smoothed out some of the rough edges on the original buds (I mean that metaphorically, not literally). The extra hour of battery life and extended Bluetooth range (with seemingly a slightly more reliable wireless connection) are welcome changes. And the setup and integration with the Bowers & Wilkins Music app creates a better overall user experience, despite its somewhat bare-bones quality (compared to Sony's Headphones app anyway).

The Pi7 S2 are some of the best-sounding in-ear monitors for Android users who listen to high-resolution files or music streaming services, but frequent flyers will find their noise cancellation wanting.

Excellent like its predecessor, these earbuds are a great choice for many users — but not those who only use Apple products.

The premium Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 earphones stand out for their dual-driver setup and hi-res streaming capabilities, but offer just average noise cancellation for the price.