Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 2.0 vs 3. Gen - Where are the differences?

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 2.0 true wireless headphones are among the most expensive models in the range. At the beginning of 2020 the 3rd generation Beoplay E8 has been launched on the market. Let's look at the differences and decide which of the two Bang & Olufsen headphones is better for you.

Comparison table

Differences between Beoplay E8 2.0 and the 3rd generation

The differences between the two generations are truly small. This was already the case when the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 2.0 was introduced.

Battery life

The main difference is the battery life. Here, the 3rd generation* convinces with a fabulous total performance of up to 35 hours. Bang & Olufsen thus sets completely new limits in the field of true-wireless headphones. The running time in one piece is 4 hours. This means there are another 4 charges in the charger. With 20 minutes charging time, the new generation gives you 1.5 hours playing time.

Compared to the Beoplay E8 2.0 you get a lot of added value. With the previous version you have a total performance of up to 16 hours. In one piece you get a battery life of up to 4 hours. This means that the charging cradle contains 3 additional charges. It takes 2 hours to fully charge the battery. You have to charge the headphones for 30 minutes to get one hour of playing time.

The second generation already had wireless charging (Qi charging). So the 2nd generation* was already very far in this point. In the 3rd generation this is of course maintained.

Bluetooth

There was also a big upgrade in the Bluetooh. Here we switched from Bluetooth 4.2 to Bluetooth 5.1. The new Bluetooth version means that you get a better range and stability. You can also pair more devices with your headphones with the new version.

Similarities

Both headphones also have some similarities, which are worth mentioning. Both headphones are IP54 certified. Thus both headphones are protected against splash water and dust. Both are not waterproof, however.

Both Bang & Olufsen headphones come with attachments. In total there are 5 pieces. So everyone should find a suitable shape.

Active Noise Canceling is not included with either headphone, which is a pity in my opinion.

Which headphone is better?

From the technical point of view, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 3rd Gen* is of course better. You get much more battery life and a newer Bluetooth version. That sounds like a few upgrades, but these are very important points with Bluetooth headphones.

You can also get good headphones with the Beoplay E8 2.0*. Also in the 2nd generation you get a very new state of the art. A small point of criticism is in my eyes Bluetooth version 4.2.

If the surcharge is not too high depending on the offer, I still recommend the new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 of the 3rd generation*.

Should you upgrade?

Of course you get two very interesting new features with an upgrade. Bluetooth version 5.1 and a significantly higher battery life with less charging time. However, even the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 2.0 was not cheap.

For this reason I would say that an upgrade is not absolutely necessary. I only recommend an Upgrade to the 3rd generation Beoplay E8* if you really have the budget. Also the 2nd generation offers you a very high standard.