Compare EarFun Wave Life Wireless Headphones vs Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3 Headphones

There is no 3.5mm analog input; wired listening is described as USB-C rather than a normal headphone cable.

Review evidence treats the included analog cable option as a practical premium accessory for wired use, not just a box-checking extra.

ANC is widely discussed but rarely praised as excellent; reviewers generally found it acceptable for low-frequency noise and limited for traffic, voices, or stronger expectations.

Reviewers broadly find ANC improved and often very good, though several still place Sony, Bose, or AirPods Max ahead in specific noise scenarios.

Advanced software support is strong, with hearing tests, sound profiles, custom controls, and app-based features repeatedly mentioned.

Advanced software is intentionally restrained: reviewers appreciate the fundamentals but note fewer rich extras than Sony, Bose, or Sennheiser-style rivals.

The profile is discreet but plain, with black-only styling and a generic look.

The slimmer, more discreet profile is repeatedly praised for looking less bulky while preserving Bowers & Wilkins' premium identity.

ANC reduces some low-frequency noise but struggles with chatter, traffic, or busier environments across several reviews.

A couple of reviewers report a mild pressurized or adjusting sensation with ANC, making the background behavior good but not perfectly invisible.

Tom's Guide specifically praises the ANC for making little to no audible change to the sonic character.

Tom's Guide describes ANC's impact on the audio itself as minimal, a positive contrast to algorithms that alter the sound.

Android compatibility is directly supported through the EarFun Audio app availability on Android and iOS.

The EarFun app is consistently viewed as useful, easy to navigate, and important for improving or customizing the headphones.

The app is generally seen as clean, useful, and easy to use, though not especially full-featured compared with richer competitors.

aptX support is treated as a meaningful high-quality and future-looking benefit, especially for non-iOS listeners with compatible devices.

Low-latency and audio-video sync evidence is positive overall, with reviewers reporting game mode, low latency, or no noticeable delay.

Auracast is discussed as an upcoming capability, but reviewer enthusiasm is cautious rather than proven by hands-on performance.

Wear detection or auto-play behavior is missing, with one reviewer saying the headphones do not automatically pause.

Tom's Guide's audio award recognition reinforces the product's strong overall standing in its price class.

Bass is one of the most discussed traits, ranging from powerful and enjoyable to overemphasized, muddy, or bloated depending on reviewer and tuning.

Bass is usually praised for control, depth, slam, and texture, though a few reviewers find it elevated or less sub-bass-heavy than some rivals.

Battery life is a clear strength, with repeated support for 60 hours without ANC and around 37 hours with ANC.

Battery life is considered solid and sufficient at around 30 hours, but reviewers do not treat it as class-leading.

Bluetooth performance is a strength overall, with reviewers citing long range, stable connections, and Bluetooth 5.x support.

Bluetooth performance is generally praised for reliable pairing and flexible transmission quality, with one reviewer noting rare hiccups.

Most reviews cite Bluetooth 5.4, with one citing Bluetooth 5.3; overall, the evidence supports a modern Bluetooth version.

Build quality is mixed: some reviewers found solid construction for the price, while others criticized plastic, rough edges, or flimsiness.

Build quality is a major strength, with repeated praise for premium materials, finish, and construction.

Hi-res or wired playback evidence is mixed: USB-C lossless and hi-res playback are supported, but one reviewer found wired playback worse.

The built-in DAC and hi-res USB playback are appreciated, though one reviewer hears little improvement over strong wireless codecs.

Button controls are mostly useful and tactile, although one review thought the controls felt cheap.

Physical controls are widely liked for being tactile, reliable, and easier than touch panels, despite some limitations in available shortcuts.

Cable quality is a weakness: reviewers described the bundled USB-C cable as very short, thick, or awkward.

Cable quality is viewed positively when reviewers mention the included cables, though one reviewer wishes for longer cables.

Carry case quality scores poorly because reviewers repeatedly state that no carrying case, pouch, or bag is included.

The hard case is consistently praised as sturdy, premium, protective, and well finished.

Charging is well supported through USB-C and quick-charge claims, though cable length or quality can be a drawback.

Fast charging earns strong praise, especially the short top-up that adds several hours of playback.

Clamp is the main comfort caveat: some reviewers find it secure or well judged, while others feel pressure or tightness.

Codec support is disputed: one review notes only AAC/SBC and no high-fidelity codecs, while another reports LDAC support.

Codec support is viewed as ample and premium, with aptX Lossless and high-resolution options standing out.

Comfort is one of the strongest areas, with reviewers repeatedly praising long-wear comfort and low fatigue.

Comfort is mostly strong across long sessions, helped by padding and fit, though clamp, heat, or glasses pressure appear in some reviews.

Connectivity options are good for the price thanks to Bluetooth multipoint, USB-C wired playback, and pass-through or ANC modes.

Connectivity options are considered flexible, especially USB-C and wired modes, but dead-battery wired listening is a noted limitation.

Design is functional but plain: some reviewers liked the budget-friendly design, while others found it generic or forgettable.

Design earns strong consensus for being elegant, understated, attractive, and premium-looking.

One review raises a durability-over-time concern by warning that scratches may appear quickly with bag use.

Ear cup padding is consistently positive, with foam, memory foam, and soft cushions repeatedly called comfortable.

Ear cup padding is praised in one review as plush, while another says the cushions feel less supportive than previous B&W models.

Ear cup movement is strong, with several reviews describing 90-degree swivel, rotation, or folding behavior.

The swivel and rotation range earns praise from one reviewer who specifically likes the inward and outward twisting motion.

Ecosystem integration is a useful extra for owners of other supported Bowers & Wilkins devices.

EQ customization is a major strength, with repeated support for custom EQ, sliders, and a 10-band or graphic equalizer.

The 5-band EQ is widely welcomed as a big upgrade, though some reviewers still find it limited versus deeper EQ systems.

One review frames the launch feature set as strong for the price, delivering most core features at a lower cost.

Launch features are good but incomplete, with some promised functions missing at release.

The firmware roadmap is seen as encouraging because reviewers expect missing features to help the headphones catch up.

Frequency response evidence is polarized, from clean and controlled in one review to distorted or lacking dynamics in another.

TechRadar praises the frequency balance for avoiding obvious overstatement or understatement across the range.

The headband adjustment is supported by one review noting a metal slider with good range.

Headband adjustment earns praise for smooth, well-damped movement and resistance.

Headband padding is supported by comments about pleather or memory-foam padding that contributes to comfort.

Headband padding is usually praised, but one reviewer notes slight top-of-head pressure.

Hinge and flex durability evidence is mixed but generally acceptable, from concerns about flimsiness to solid hinges and little creaking.

One reviewer praised the headphones for picking out subtle gameplay sounds, suggesting passable immersive performance for gaming.

SoundGuys' measurements and commentary point to unusually strong immersiveness for spatially oriented content.

Included accessories are minimal, usually limited to a USB-C cable, documentation, and no case.

Included accessories are described as practical and premium, especially the case and both USB-C and analog cables.

Instrument separation is mixed: ZDNET praised discernible sounds, but PCMag and Tom's Guide found details lost or buried.

Instrument separation is one of the most consistent audio strengths, with reviewers praising clarity, layering, and imaging.

Integrated microphones are confirmed across multiple reviews, typically as four built-in or AI-assisted mics.

The integrated microphones are judged positively by at least one reviewer for everyday conversation use.

One review specifically credits LDAC support with enabling high-quality wireless streaming.

LDAC absence is treated as a drawback by reviewers who prefer that more common high-res Android codec.

LE Audio readiness is treated as an upcoming feature, but the reviewer expresses limited excitement before hands-on results.

Maximum-volume clarity receives mixed support, with some reviewers reporting clean playback and others hearing distortion or amplified flaws.

Audio46 praises the louder output for staying clean without distortion.

Microphone noise handling is present and sometimes effective, but reviewers also heard room echo, sibilance fuzziness, or only moderate background suppression.

Microphone noise reduction is generally good, reducing background noise, but some road noise or muffling remains.

Call quality is generally serviceable to good, with several reviewers reporting clear speech and others noting fuzziness, echo, or limited nuance.

Call microphone quality is mostly good to excellent, though a few reviewers find it less clear than Apple or Sony.

Midrange performance is mixed: some reviewers heard clear vocals or adjustable mids, while others found vocals muted, recessed, or muffled.

Midrange impressions are mixed: several praise natural vocals and body, while RecordingNow finds stock mids recessed.

Multi-platform use is supported by pairing across phones, laptops, tablets, iPhone, MacBook, and Android devices.

Multipoint support is consistently mentioned and generally reliable, with some minor app-side friction in one review.

Multipoint is a standout when mentioned, with reviewers praising fast and seamless switching.

Passive isolation is weak in the Tom's Guide review, where environmental noise became more obvious in Normal mode.

Passive isolation benefits from an easy seal and contributes meaningfully to noise reduction.

Recommendations are split: several reviewers call them strong budget buys, while others advise looking elsewhere because of sound or ANC limitations.

Overall recommendations are strongly positive, especially for buyers prioritizing sound, build, and style over absolute ANC dominance.

Portability benefits from folding and swiveling cups, but the lack of a case limits travel confidence.

Portability is mixed: the case and lay-flat design help, but the headphones do not fully fold and can take more bag space.

Premium feel is mixed: some reviewers were impressed for the price, while others emphasized plastic or less premium construction.

Reviewers describe the headphones as premium-feeling and worth their price visually and physically.

Preset EQ quality is mixed: reviewers liked the variety but some presets were too quiet or less useful than custom tuning.

The TrueSound-style preset is described as giving the headphones a dynamic signature without requiring much user adjustment.

Replaceable earpads are a positive repairability point, although service involvement makes the process less convenient.

Replaceable pads and headband improve repairability, but reviewers note the process may require B&W service.

Sensor support appears limited because one review states the headphones do not automatically pause.

Smart listening features are represented by hearing tests, sound-profile tools, and app-based calibration rather than advanced ecosystem features.

Smart Pause performance is absent in the review evidence, with one reviewer stating the headphones do not auto-pause.

One review notes poor resistance to visible dust on the buttons.

Setup and software use are mostly straightforward, though one review noted app connection fussiness.

Software/setup simplicity is praised for users who want good sound without constant settings fuss.

Reviewer evidence is sharply split: several reviewers found the sound fun or very good after EQ, while PCMag and Tom's Guide criticized the default tuning and overall fidelity.

Sound quality is the strongest consensus point, with many reviewers calling the Px7 S3 class-leading, refined, or highly enjoyable.

Soundstage is inconsistent, with some reviewers calling it constrained while others heard a decent or spacious presentation for the price.

Soundstage is generally spacious and well defined, though a few reviewers describe it as focused or not the widest.

Spatial audio is not yet proven in reviews, but Audioholics is genuinely interested in B&W's planned implementation.

Connection stability is generally good, with reviewers reporting largely reliable switching, rock-solid stability, and uninterrupted multipoint use.

Fit stability is positive in the limited evidence, with reviewers saying the headphones feel secure during movement.

Streaming integration is mixed: it supports direct services, but reviewers doubt many users will prefer it and note local-library gaps.

Repairability is better than many rivals thanks to replaceable cushions and headband parts, though battery replacement remains a limitation.

Material choices get a positive note for avoiding leather while still feeling soft and premium.

Transparency or ambient mode is usable but uneven, ranging from natural enough for conversation to average, boosted, or not very effective.

Transparency mode is generally good to excellent, with several reviewers calling it natural, close to not wearing headphones, or conversation-friendly.

Travel friendliness is limited by the lack of a pouch or case despite foldable design.

Travel friendliness is helped by the protective case and lay-flat design, but some reviewers dislike the larger non-folding footprint.

Treble impressions vary from clear and crisp after tuning to lacking brightness, messy top notes, or excessive tinniness.

Treble is often praised for crispness and detail, though some reviewers hear sibilance or grating highs in certain situations.

USB-C is a notable feature for charging and, in several reviews, wired audio playback or hi-res playback.

USB-C is useful for wired audio, but one reviewer reports occasional skipping over USB-C.

Value is one of the strongest themes, although the value score drops in reviews that disliked the sound quality.

Value is viewed positively for the sound, build, and feature mix, though the price is still considered premium and market-dependent.

Voice assistant access works, but one reviewer dislikes that using it can require sacrificing the ANC toggle behavior.

Voice prompt feedback is configurable in the app, including language changes.

Volume output is adequate for some reviewers but a concern for others, especially when EQ changes reduced loudness or Bluetooth volume felt limited.

Volume output is praised as very loud compared with peers.

Wear detection auto-pause is not present according to one review.

Auto-pause wear detection is mentioned as useful but less reliable than leading rivals in one review.

Wear detection performance is effectively absent because the headphones do not auto-pause when removed.

Wear detection performance receives a mixed note, with one reviewer finding the sensor less reliable than Bose or Sony.

Weight comfort is favorable, with multiple reviewers describing the headphones as light or breezy around 254-264g.

Weight comfort is mixed: the headphones are not extremely heavy, but reviewers still notice their mass compared with lighter rivals.

Wind handling is limited, with one review calling it ineffective and another only calling it decent.

Wind performance is split, with TechRadar flagging susceptibility while another reviewer praises windy call handling.