After awarding the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 our Product of the Year, we didn’t expect the story to continue so quickly. But it has, this time in racing colors. Bowers & Wilkins has just launched a new McLaren Edition of the Px8 S2, blending the brand’s top-tier wireless headphone tech with a design that leans even harder into motorsport vibes.
This isn’t the first time B&W and McLaren have teamed up—previous collaborations include the Pi8 McLaren Edition earbuds ($599 at Amazon), the McLaren-themed Zeppelin wireless speaker, and the original Px8 McLaren Edition headphones ($799 at Amazon). But the Px8 S2 McLaren Edition takes things further, adding visual flair and upgraded internals while keeping all the audio features that made the standard S2 a standout.
If you’ve heard the regular Px8 S2, you already know what to expect on the inside. The McLaren Edition sticks with Bowers & Wilkins’ custom 40mm Carbon Cone drivers, but they’re housed in a newly refined chassis and angled inside the earcups to line up more naturally with your ears. That setup helps create a more open, detailed soundstage with less distortion.
Wireless performance is handled by Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless codecs, with support for 24-bit/96kHz playback over Bluetooth. It’s paired with the same adaptive noise cancellation system found in the regular S2—tuned to block out distractions while keeping your music clear and dynamic.
Battery life holds steady at 30 hours on a full charge, and if you’re in a rush, just 15 minutes of charging will get you up to 7 more hours of listening time. Everything can be controlled and customized through the Bowers & Wilkins Music app, including EQ settings, transparency mode, and the Quick Action button.
Design is where the McLaren Edition really separates itself. The color scheme combines an Anthracite Grey base with bold Papaya orange accents—McLaren’s signature racing color—across the headband, earcups, and logo plates. There’s even a nod to the brand’s Speedmark logo, subtly etched into the headband and earcups.
Beyond the paint job, Bowers & Wilkins has upgraded the materials too. The headphones feature diecast aluminum arms, diamond-cut metal detailing, and memory foam cushions wrapped in soft Nappa leather. The end result is a headphone that looks and feels like a limited-run piece, even if it's not being marketed that way.
Lyle Smith, President of Sound United at Harman, said: “This exciting new edition of our exceptional Px8 S2 headphones perfectly celebrates our long-term partnership with McLaren, and gives fans another industry-leading audio product showcasing McLaren’s design DNA to express their passion for their team.”
This new McLaren Edition lands just in time for the Las Vegas Grand Prix hype, and it’s no coincidence. Bowers & Wilkins has been McLaren’s official audio partner for years, supplying high-end sound systems for their supercars and even their Formula 1 team. The Px8 S2 McLaren Edition is kind of a celebration of that long-standing partnership.
And while this may be the third McLaren headphone collab, it’s the most refined one yet. Earlier models, like the first-gen Px8 McLaren Edition and the Pi8 McLaren Edition earbuds, leaned on visual cues. This one does too, but now with a little extra engineering under the hood.
The McLaren Edition comes in at $899 / £729 / €829—about $100 more than the standard Px8 S2, which is priced at $799. It’s available now through the Bowers & Wilkins website and select retailers. So while you’re paying a bit extra for the McLaren-themed design and materials, you're still getting the same acoustic performance as the model we named Product of the Year.
If you’re a McLaren fan, a motorsport junkie, or just someone who likes their tech with a little personality, this version of the Px8 S2 makes a strong case. You still get all the sonic upgrades and app features of the standard model, just with a Papaya-orange twist.
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