Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 (Anthracite Black) review

The Px7 S3 is a distinct current U.S. model, not a finish update for the Px7 S2e. Bowers & Wilkins' product page identifies the S3 as an over-ear noise-cancelling headphone and documents the exact Bluetooth, microphone, weight, accessory and cable details that separate it from the earlier S2e. This is a source-based assessment: no unit was worn, measured or tested, so the manufacturer’s ANC language is not treated as an independent result.

The useful differences from Px7 S2e

On the published specifications, the Px7 S3 weighs 300 g rather than 307 g, uses Bluetooth 5.3 rather than 5.2, adds aptX Lossless to its listed codecs, and has eight microphones rather than six. Both models use two 40 mm bio-cellulose drivers, list ANC and ambient pass-through, include analog and USB-C audio cables, and have a 30-hour wireless ANC-on maximum. These are model distinctions, not proof that the S3 will sound better, fit every head more comfortably or cancel more noise in a real commute.

The S3 page lists aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX Classic, AAC and SBC. Host-device support matters: the Bluetooth source needs to support the desired codec, and the actual connection can use another supported option. The technical page also names a USB-C audio interface and a true 24-bit connection. The manual supports USB computer playback; neither the USB specification nor a codec list substitutes for checking the source's own output capability.

Multipoint is switching, not mixing

The S3 manual documents two Bluetooth devices connected simultaneously. It says playback switches when the listener pauses the first device and starts the second, while a call on the second device can pause the first stream. In practice, that fits a phone-and-computer handoff better than a need to hear both sources at once. The manual also describes an app for device connections, environmental controls and software updates. A remembered device list is distinct from the number of live Bluetooth links.

ANC is a listed feature, and the product page describes eight microphones. Those details establish what the manufacturer specifies, not how well the headset will handle a particular train rumble, conversation or wind condition. Ear-pad seal, placement, ambient mode and the wearer's hearing all affect perception. A good fit should be checked during a seller's return period; none is claimed here.

Interpreting the 30-hour maximum

The manufacturer states up to 30 hours with ANC enabled and also lists up to seven playback hours from a 15-minute charge. The manual's battery paragraph qualifies continuous wireless streaming by average playback volume and says Bluetooth, ANC and ambient pass-through use affect duration. This is a useful reference for comparing published ratings, but it is not a guarantee that the headset will last a full workday, a flight or a multi-day trip without a top-up. Battery aging, calls, temperature and settings can change the result.

Do not carry the 30-hour figure over to a cable mode. The source documentation provides no separate ANC-on runtime for analog or USB audio, and the advertised fast-charge figure does not predict the remaining battery in a used or partially charged headset.

What the wired instructions do—and do not—say

The in-box list includes a 1.2 m USB-C-to-3.5 mm audio cable and a USB-C charging/data cable. The analog cable connects the right-earcup USB-C socket to a source with a conventional 3.5 mm analog output; the manual says sufficient charge and power-on are required for analog playback. Thus, it is a powered cable arrangement, not a passive battery-empty fallback. The manual also says the headset disconnects from Bluetooth and its volume/play-pause buttons do not function through the analog interface.

For USB digital audio, the manual describes the headset as a USB sound output device when connected to a capable computer. This route also disconnects Bluetooth. Although the manual lists ANC and ambient controls elsewhere, it does not explicitly establish ANC availability or an ANC-on runtime while audio is carried by the analog cable. This review leaves that specific point open instead of assuming that a general ANC feature remains active in every connection mode.

Fit, finish and package checks

The model's listed mass is 300 g and it has an over-ear format, but neither figure can resolve a personal fit question. The U.S. selector names Canvas White, Anthracite Black, Indigo Blue, Frost Blue and Vintage Maroon. The reference image remains Anthracite Black; the four other finishes have separate U.S. selected-variant records and official images below. The shared product table does not document a functional difference by color, so this assessment treats them as finish-only variants.

Before buying, confirm the exact Px7 S3 generation and finish, that the package includes the USB-C-to-3.5 mm and USB-C cables if you need them, and that the source computer supports USB audio or the analog player provides a 3.5 mm output. An airplane's seat jack may require a separate adapter, so check the connector and cable length for that use. For the complete manufacturer wording, use the Px7 S3 U.S. product page and official manual.