The first true wireless headphones from B&W is a workaround for in-flight entertainment.

Bowers and Wilkins’ first pair of real wireless earbuds, canceling the PI7, fixes a significant annoyance with the form-factor – it’s usable with an in-flight entertainment system because the case doubles as an audio transmitter it happens. Plug the case into the audio source using the 3.5 mm included in the USB-C cable and it will send the audio wirelessly back to the earbuds. Along with this, Bowers and Wilkins have also announced cheap PI5 wireless wireless headphones, which also offer noise-canceling.

Bowers and Wilkins claim that the broadcasting case of PI7 is an industry first, and certainly this is the first time we have heard of such a feature. Conversely, trying to use other popular true wireless earbuds like the AirPods Pro requires a third-party dongle with the built-in entertainment system of the plane. Of course, PI7’s broadcast case should also work with any other non-Bluetooth device you have, such as an older iPod.

Beyond the fancy case of the PI7, it offers a fairly standard set for a pair of true wireless headphones. The earbuds are noise-cancelers, and in total are equipped with six microphones or use sound assistants. It uses the AptX adaptive standard, which should allow it to dynamically compress audio to maintain a stable connection, and this may be the case randomly. The earbuds themselves have a modest battery life of 4 hours (compared to 4.5 for AirPods Pro), while the case offers 16 hours more. The buds have an IP54 dust and water resistance rating, so they should avoid light splashes and limited amounts of dust.

The cheaper PI5 earbuds also offer noise-canceling and comes with a case that can be charged wirelessly, but they only have four headphones. There is also no mention of the AptX Adaptive – just the regular AptX – and there is no indication of the PI7’s audio retransmission case. Battery life for the PI5 is slightly better than the more expensive PI7, however, earbuds offer 4.5 hours of playback on a single charge. The case provides 20 hours more. The PI5 also has a dust and water resistance rating of IP54.

Both earbuds are available from today. The PI7 is priced at $ 399 / £ 349 / € 399, while the PI5 is priced at $ 249 / £ 199 / € 249.