Bowers & Wilkins is giving its flagship wireless earbuds a fresh coat of paint—literally. The new Pi8 McLaren Edition takes the same Pi8 earbuds that earned our Editor’s Choice Award last year and gives them a visual makeover rooted in Formula 1 design. If you’ve already been a fan of the original Pi8, the McLaren Edition offers the same audio performance and features, but now with a distinctly motorsport vibe.

At first glance, it’s clear these earbuds aren’t your average black or white pair. The McLaren Edition comes in Galvanic Grey with Papaya Orange accents—a color combo closely tied to McLaren’s racing heritage. That vivid orange has been part of the McLaren identity since 1968, and it's used here to give the earbuds a bold, recognizable finish.

The charging case gets the same color treatment, along with a subtle McLaren “swoosh” logo for good measure. If you’ve seen Bowers & Wilkins’ previous McLaren-branded gear—like the Px8 over-ears or the Zeppelin speaker—you’ll recognize the design approach. It’s sporty, sleek, and clearly meant to stand out.

While the outside is all-new, the tech inside stays exactly the same as the standard Pi8. That means you’re still getting 12mm carbon-cone drivers, similar to the ones used in B&W’s Px8 headphones and even in their 700 Series speakers. The earbuds support aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless, streaming audio at up to 24-bit/96kHz over Bluetooth 5.4.

Battery life is unchanged, too—6.5 hours on a single charge, plus another 13.5 hours from the case. That’s 20 hours total before you’ll need to plug in again.

Noise cancellation is also carried over. While it doesn’t entirely silence the world around you—especially at higher frequencies—it does a solid job of cutting down on engine rumbles, road noise, and other low-end distractions. And with an IP54 rating, they can handle a bit of sweat or dust if you’re using them on the go or at the gym.

One unique feature worth highlighting again is Wireless Audio Retransmission. In simple terms, this lets you plug the case into any device with USB-C audio—like an airplane seat or older laptop—and wirelessly beam the sound to your earbuds. It’s a great travel companion if you’re often dealing with tech that doesn’t support Bluetooth.

You’ll also find customizable touch controls on each earbud, and you can tweak settings or check for firmware updates using the Bowers & Wilkins Music app.

It’s worth pointing out that the McLaren Edition doesn’t bring any new audio features or performance upgrades over the standard Pi8. So if you already own the original model, there’s no pressing need to swap them out—unless you’re a fan of the McLaren brand or just really into the color scheme.

That said, the McLaren Edition is part of a bigger collaboration. Bowers & Wilkins has been working with McLaren since 2015, initially providing sound systems for their supercars. That partnership now includes the McLaren Formula 1 Team, where Bowers & Wilkins is the official audio partner. The Pi8 McLaren Edition is part of what the F1 crew will be using during travel and prep throughout the 2025 racing season.

The Pi8 McLaren Edition is available for pre-order starting April 3, directly from the Bowers & Wilkins website, with a price tag of $499. That’s $100 more than the standard B&W Pi8. There’s no word yet on how many units will be available, but given the branding and past collaborations, don’t be surprised if availability is limited.

At the end of the day, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 McLaren Edition is all about bringing a bit of F1 flavor to an already well-regarded pair of wireless earbuds. If you’re someone who appreciates great sound and loves the idea of a bold, motorsport-inspired design, this could be an appealing pick. Just know that under the hood, it’s still the same Pi8 we reviewed—and really liked—last year.