How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want the most adaptable noise cancelling and the clearest voice pickup for calls, choose Bose Noise Cancelling; if you need true wireless earbuds with high-res codec support, a secure in-ear fit and dust-and-splash resistance for workouts, choose Bowers & Wilkins Pi6.
• Bose Noise Cancelling — biggest strength: 11 adjustable levels of active noise cancelling plus a microphone system built to isolate your voice in noisy, windy places, on an over-ear design with a lightweight stainless steel headband.
• Bose Noise Cancelling — biggest trade-off: It's a full-size over-ear headphone, so it's bulkier to carry than earbuds, and its battery life is rated at up to 20 hours with no quick-charge figure given.
• Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 — biggest strength: True wireless earbuds with 12mm bio-cellulose drivers, aptX Adaptive and a 24-bit connection, plus an IP54 rating that makes them the pick for running and workouts.
• Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 — biggest trade-off: 8 hours per charge (24 with the case) means more trips to the charger than the Bose, the case is USB-C only rather than wireless charging, and the case itself isn't water-resistant.
• Who each is for: Bose Noise Cancelling suits commuters, call-heavy workers and anyone who wants to dial noise cancelling up and down; Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 suits listeners who want premium true-wireless sound in a pocketable, sweat-friendly package.
The headline feature here is control over your environment. Bose gives you 11 levels of active noise cancelling rather than a simple on/off switch, which matters more than it sounds. On a plane you can push cancellation to the top of the range. In a quiet office you can ease it back so you still hear a colleague walk up behind you. That granularity is the reason this headphone appeals to people who live in unpredictable noise.
The second pillar is voice pickup. Bose describes a microphone system that adapts to noisy and windy environments so your voice stays clear on calls. For anyone who spends their day on video meetings or takes calls from the street, that's the practical difference-maker. Add touch controls on the earcups, hands-free access to Alexa and Google Assistant, and a lightweight stainless steel headband with tilted earcups, and you get a headphone designed for long wearing sessions rather than quick bursts.
Buy it if you want the most tunable noise cancelling, the strongest call clarity story, and an over-ear fit you can wear for hours. Skip it if you need something that disappears into a pocket, or you want a rugged rating for sweaty workouts — the spec sheet doesn't offer one.
Bowers & Wilkins Pi6: Who It's For
The Pi6 is built around audio hardware first. The 12mm bio-cellulose drive units are adapted from Bowers & Wilkins' Px7 S2e, and the company says they reduce distortion and sharpen high-frequency detail. Paired with aptX Adaptive and a true 24-bit connection, this is a pair aimed at people who care what codec their phone is streaming and want the earbuds to adjust dynamically whether they're on music, a film or a game.
Noise cancelling here is adaptive rather than manually staged. Three microphones handle call clarity, and the cancellation level adjusts automatically to your surroundings. There's also an Ambient Pass-Through mode when you need to hear what's around you — ordering a coffee, listening for a platform announcement. It's a simpler philosophy than Bose's 11 steps: the earbuds decide, you override when you want.
The rest of the package is about mobility. A single-button control scheme keeps things minimal. The fit is in-ear with rounded tips and four sizes of ear tips (XS through L) in the box, which matters because a secure seal is what makes in-ear ANC actually work. Battery is up to 8 hours with ANC on and 24 hours total with the case, and a 15-minute quick charge buys about 2 hours. The IP54 rating covers dust and splashes, so running, gym sessions and light rain are fine — though the charging case is not water-resistant, and charging is USB-C only, not wireless. The companion app adds direct streaming from services like TIDAL, Qobuz, Deezer and SoundCloud.
Buy it if you want true wireless convenience, high-res codec support, and earbuds you can wear through a workout. Skip it if you need maximum battery per charge, a wired option, or the deepest possible noise-cancelling control.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for phone calls in wind and noise → Bose Noise Cancelling. Its microphone system is explicitly tuned for noisy, windy environments.
• Best for audio codec and driver quality → Bowers & Wilkins Pi6. aptX Adaptive, a 24-bit connection and 12mm bio-cellulose drivers are the more audiophile-leaning spec sheet.
• Best for workouts and weather → Bowers & Wilkins Pi6. IP54 dust and splash protection; the Bose sheet lists no such rating.
• Best for battery per charge → Bose Noise Cancelling. Up to 20 hours versus 8 hours in the earbuds.
• Best for total time away from a socket → Bowers & Wilkins Pi6. 24 hours with the case, plus a 15-minute charge that returns roughly 2 hours.
• Best for portability → Bowers & Wilkins Pi6. True wireless earbuds and a charging case versus a full over-ear headphone with a carry case.
• Best for wired listening and touch controls → Bose Noise Cancelling. A 2.5mm jack and earcup touch control; the Pi6 is wireless only with a push button.
In my opinion, the right answer depends entirely on where you'll wear them, so I'll be blunt: if I were buying for commuting, an office, or a job full of calls, I'd take the Bose Noise Cancelling. The 11-level ANC and the voice-focused microphone array are the features I'd actually use every day, and 20 hours of battery means I'm not hunting for a cable mid-afternoon.
If I wanted one pair for the gym, runs, and pocketable travel — and I cared about codec quality — I'd buy the Bowers & Wilkins Pi6 instead. The IP54 rating and the 12mm drivers are what sell it. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one variable I can't weigh for you.
On paper, Bose offers more control: 11 adjustable levels of active noise cancelling you set yourself. The Pi6 adjusts cancellation automatically and adds an Ambient Pass-Through mode. Bose gives you finer manual tuning; the Pi6 gives you less to think about.
They're built differently, not simply better. The Pi6 leans on 12mm bio-cellulose drivers, aptX Adaptive and a 24-bit connection. Bose emphasizes balanced, lifelike output from 20Hz–20,000Hz dynamic drivers. Codec and driver specs favor the Pi6 on paper; Bose's strength is consistency at any volume.
Bose is rated up to 20 hours per charge. The Pi6 gives up to 8 hours with ANC on, or 24 hours total with the charging case, plus about 2 hours from a 15-minute quick charge.
Yes — they carry an IP54 rating for dust and splash protection, and four ear tip sizes help you get a secure seal. Just note the charging case isn't water-resistant, and charging is USB-C only, with no wireless charging support.
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