Bowers & Wilkins have been off the radar for a little while since the release of the Pi8s and the subsequent decline in hype. The company’s prices have not helped that fact, either, reaching a whopping $499 now. This product launched with an amazing following and hype for such expensive earphones, but for the most part, people felt they were worth it. They launched in 2024, so companies typically perform a two-year refresh on products. They do not always, but most of the time they do, and there are telltale signs that this is about to take place if you pay attention.
- One they discount the cost down really low, lower than it has ever been.
- They stop making the product.
Since we are talking about Bowers and Wilkins, the cost staying the same does not surprise me at all. But having zero stock does tell me that they are either going through a material crisis or they have just stopped making the product, hoping that the stock in their partners’ warehouses is bought out too. This clears the way for something new to come in and fill those empty production shelves, if you ask me.
I will be the first to admit I was completely taken aback by this company’s inability to stand by their product once I found out about the battery drainage issues these products have that nobody sued them for. Basically, these earphones start an immediate drainage of battery life once they reach 100%, and they never recharge once the discharge starts, even if the case has 100% battery life. Bowers & Wilkins refused to acknowledge this issue because, of course, they would be in trouble for doing so. They claim that it is the app that just does not read the battery correctly and that your earphones are fully charged even though the app says they are not, which of course is not true, as the battery life tracked independently by your phone matches the battery life listed on the app.
For me, it will be a very tall order to trust them again, but you are free to do whatever you feel is right for your life. Regardless, my gut tells me they are coming out with something new very soon, and I think it will arrive before the end of the year. If you are interested in trusting this company again with another possible hardware failure for yet another generation, you might want to keep your eyes out for an announcement by Bowers and Wilkins about the Pi9s. Trust me, you might need the time to prepare because it will be a very expensive endeavor.
