Head to head
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e vs Beats Studio Pro
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e leads 3 to 2 on the 5 rankable specs, but Beats Studio Pro costs $50 less.
Catalog as of September 1, 2026
Why, in numbers
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Compare a different headphone
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation$179Anker Soundcore Space One Pro$199AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)$249Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds$299Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds$299Sony WH-1000XM4$348Bose QuietComfort Headphones$349Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless$379Sony WH-1000XM5$399Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones$429Sonos Ace$449Apple AirPods Max (USB-C)$549Focal Bathys Hi-Fi Wireless$699Buying for
Your devices
Straight answer
Overall: 3 to 2
Buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e.
- Leads 3 of 5 rankable overall specs; Beats Studio Pro takes 2.
- Battery life: 30 hours vs 24 hours
- Multipoint Bluetooth: Yes vs No
- Beats Studio Pro is $50 cheaper. Pay the difference only if battery life matters to you.
Deal-breakers
tick what would make you walk away
- Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · No (swivel earcups)Clear:Beats Studio Pro · Yes (folds into compact carrying case)
- Clear:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBCTrips:Beats Studio Pro · AAC, SBC, Lossless audio via USB-C
- Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · 307 g (10.8 oz)Clear:Beats Studio Pro · 260 g (9.17 oz)
- Trips:Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e · No official IP ratingTrips:Beats Studio Pro · No official IP rating
At a glance
The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.
Weight
Bowers & Wilkins
307 g (10.8 oz)
Beats
260 g (9.17 oz)
Active Noise Cancelling≠
Bowers & Wilkins
Yes (Hybrid Noise Cancellation with 6 microphones)
Beats
Yes (Fully adaptive Active Noise Cancelling)
Battery life
Bowers & Wilkins
30 hours (ANC on)
Beats
24 hours (ANC/Transparency on) / 40 hours (ANC off)
The 90-Day Owner Regret Check
Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.
Bowers & Wilkins: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Beats: What to watch for
- Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Design
leads 2-0| Type | Over-ear, closed-back | Over-ear, closed-back |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 307 g (10.8 oz) | 260 g (9.17 oz) (wins this row: lower) |
| Foldable | No (swivel earcups) | Yes (folds into compact carrying case) (wins this row: has it) |
| Carrying case | Slim fabric hard-shell travel case included | Woven fabric zippered carrying case with cable storage |
| IP rating | No official IP rating | No official IP rating |
Audio
5 differences| Driver | 40 mm dynamic full-range bio-cellulose drivers (angled) | 40 mm custom active drivers (ultra-low distortion) |
|---|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes (Hybrid Noise Cancellation with 6 microphones) | Yes (Fully adaptive Active Noise Cancelling) |
| Transparency mode | Yes (Ambient Pass-Through) | Yes (Transparency mode) |
| Supported codecs | aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX, AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC, Lossless audio via USB-C (up to 24-bit/48kHz) |
| Microphones | 4 mics for ANC + 2 mics for telephony | Upgraded voice-targeting beamforming microphones |
Connectivity & Battery
leads 2-0| Multipoint Bluetooth | Yes (Bluetooth 5.2 multipoint) (wins this row: has it) | No (Google Fast Pair multipoint on Android; one-touch Apple iCloud switching) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | 30 hours (ANC on) (wins this row: higher) | 24 hours (ANC/Transparency on) / 40 hours (ANC off) |
| Charging time | 2 hours (15 min quick charge gives 7 hours) | 2 hours full charge (Fast Fuel: 10 min charge gives 4 hours) |
Ownership
leads 1-0| Warranty | 2 years (wins this row: higher) | 1 year manufacturer warranty |
|---|
Which one should you buy
Pick this one if
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e
Evolved wireless headphones with 24-bit DSP engine, custom 40mm bio-cellulose drivers, and luxe metal detailing.
- Exquisite musical detail, separation, and stereo imaging
- High-end construction with memory foam earcups and metal arms
- Direct 24-bit streaming support from Bowers & Wilkins Music App
What you give up
- ANC is good but not on par with class leaders Bose/Sony
- Microphone wind reduction in outdoor calls is average
Pick this one if
Beats Studio Pro
Over-ear wireless ANC headphones with custom 40mm drivers, lossless USB-C audio, and cross-platform native pairing for iOS and Android.
- Lossless 24-bit/48kHz audio playback via USB-C cable
- Strong battery life (up to 40 hours with ANC off / 24 hours with ANC on)
- Dual Apple and Android one-touch native pairing ecosystems
What you give up
- Plastic build feel compared to aluminum rivals
- No automatic wear-detection auto-pause
Best for each use
Flights & commutes
For flights & commutes, buy the Beats Studio Pro.
Calls & work
For calls & work, buy the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e.
Sound quality
Too close to call on sound quality from the spec sheets. Only weight is rankable here.
Done deciding?
Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.
Manufacturer pages: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e ↗ · Beats Studio Pro ↗
Common questions
Which is cheaper, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e or the Beats Studio Pro?
Beats Studio Pro costs $50 less at list price.
What is the biggest catch with the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e or Beats Studio Pro?
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e has this deal-breaker: does not fold. Takes a bigger slot in a carry-on.
Which is better for flights & commutes, the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e or the Beats Studio Pro?
For flights & commutes, buy the Beats Studio Pro. Leads 2 of 3 rankable flights & commutes specs; Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e takes 1. Weight: 260 g vs 307 g
What cannot be compared from spec sheets?
Of the 14 specs tracked here, 9 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.