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Beats is taking its lineup of wireless earbuds to the next level with the launch of its new fitness-focused Powerbeats Pro 2. The earbuds replace the original Powerbeats Pro, which were released in 2019. They're sleeker, more capable, and even include a heart rate sensor for exercise. They've been modernized in almost every way, from the addition of advanced active noise cancellation (ANC) to fun stylistic flourishes like a flashy Electric Orange color option.
The brand is also going all out with promotion, with the likes of LeBron James, Lionel Messi, and Shohei Ohtani putting the earbuds to the test as part of Beats' "Listen to Your Heart Campaign." But while some of the world's most notable athletes are wearing them, are the Powerbeats Pro 2 a good fit for the rest of us?
I ran dozens of miles through Central Park, across suburban neighborhoods, and on a treadmill to get a sense of how the Powerbeats Pro 2 perform in action — and they're more than up for the task. They deliver a great mix of features with excellent sound quality, a stable fit, and functional media controls.
The heart rate sensor is also a cool inclusion for people who don't already own a separate fitness tracker. But if you already work out with an Apple Watch, this perk is a useless addition. At $250, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are a premium consideration, but if you're looking for a top-notch pair of earbuds that work great for exercise and everyday use, there's plenty of value to be had.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 are excellent fitness earbuds with secure ear hooks, great sound quality, and built-in heart rate monitoring. They also deliver solid noise-canceling and use the same H2 chip found on the latest AirPods.
- Comfy, stable fit with secure ear hooks
- Built-in heart rate monitoring
- Rich sound quality and solid ANC performance
- Charging case is smaller than original model but still bulky
- Heart rate tracking is useless if you have an Apple Watch
A revised design with a stable, comfy fit
The Powerbeats Pro 2 advance the company's line of sporty earbuds in several ways, with the design being the most instantly recognizable. They're slimmer and sleeker from top to bottom than their predecessor, which should result in a more comfortable fit for most people.
The ear hooks have been reworked to be more flexible while also gaining strength, but the buds themselves should fit similarly to past versions. And this time around, you get five ear-tip sizes instead of four, which is a nice bonus.
Of course, the primary reason to opt for earbuds with ear hooks is for the increased stability. I didn't feel the Powerbeats Pro 2 shift around at all while running. It was nice that I didn't have to jam them deep into my ears to get a secure fit, either. I found them to be lightweight and unobtrusive, so I could focus on my music and not the fit.
The added stability over other in-ear buds meant I could press the volume buttons and skip songs while on the move and not have to readjust them constantly. Good buttons for media playback on fitness buds aren't easy to come by, but these exceeded my expectations. The volume controls were natural to feel for and I had no problem clicking the button under the Beats 'b' logo to skip tracks, pause, or toggle ANC on or off.
The heart rate sensor works great but is only useful if you don't own a smartwatch
The new design is the most noticeable change on the outside, but the added heart rate sensor is the most notable. The earbuds can keep track of your heart rate during a workout. These aren't the first earbuds to integrate heart rate monitoring, but Beats is using a different approach than past competitors, like the Sennheiser Momentum Sport, which only had a sensor in one bud. For the Powerbeats Pro 2, Beats worked with other Apple departments to miniaturize the sensor and split it across the left and right buds.
However, the earbuds' heart rate monitor is a moot addition if you already have an Apple Watch. If you use an Apple Watch with the Powerbeats Pro 2 during a workout, the system will prioritize data from the smartwatch — it won't use the earbuds' sensor data at all.
But while Apple Watch owners have nothing to gain from this feature, it's still a cool perk for others, including Android users. The Powerbeats Pro 2 heart rate data is available to third-party apps across both mobile platforms. So far only a few apps are participating, such as Nike Run Club, Runna, Ladder, Peloton, and Slopes, among others. I wouldn't be surprised to see more apps adopt the feature sooner rather than later.
On an iPhone, heart monitoring begins (and stops) automatically when you initiate a workout with one of the compatible apps. On Android, you'll need to trigger the action with a button-press combination on the earbuds or by using the Beats mobile app. It's not hard, but slightly annoying to remember.
I tested the Powerbeats Pro 2 heart rate sensor with the Nike Run Club app on an iPhone, and it worked as advertised. The workout and heart rate data all synced through Apple Health and showed up in the Apple Fitness app afterward.
When I used the heart rate sensor, it worked well. I just wish its utility was expanded. For instance, why can't I use the earbuds to get my heart rate whenever I want, even without starting a workout?
I wasn't able to directly compare heart rate data from the Powerbeats Pro 2 and my Apple Watch Series 10, but from my conversations with Beats' executives, my understanding is that the earbuds are just as accurate as the watch. The reason for prioritizing Apple Watch sensor data is more about logistics than it is about results. People relying only on the earbuds for the data shouldn't be sacrificing accuracy.
Sound quality is rich with an improved driver design
On the sound front, the Powerbeats Pro 2 feature a custom-designed, dual-layer transducer. They also have a new acoustic architecture compared to past models. Some of these improvements include a new venting method, better acoustic mesh, and axial-aligned transducers.
On its own, all that technical jargon is hard to get excited about. However, the change in venting should mean less sound pressure for the listener and less liquid intrusion. The new acoustic mesh should also help keep out liquid and debris with less impact on the sound.
During long runs, I still occasionally felt sweat pool in my ears and the silicon tips still moved around when wet. That problem isn't solved completely, but the overall listening experience is a bit better than that of older Beats earbuds.
In terms of audio quality, the Powerbeats Pro 2 shine brightest in a controlled environment, like sitting at home. They're impressive and sound great. On the road, while running, they're susceptible to losing some of their luster, fighting against wind, cars, and other noise factors — unless you turn the volume up to 100 and risk blowing out your ears.
Still, the Powerbeats Pro 2 sound better than competing open-ear models. The frequency spectrum is well represented from the low end to the highs. Vocals are crisp and clear, while individual drums and instruments keep more of their breathy resonance. The songs I listened to retained a lot of their depth and energy.
These earbuds also feature Spatial Audio with head tracking, which can simulate a surround sound effect. That probably won't matter while lifting weights or running, but it could be useful if you want to use the buds to watch a movie in the evening.
Apple's H2 chip enables lots of features you'd get on AirPods
When it comes to other features, the Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds compare favorably to the best AirPods, including the AirPods 4 with ANC and the AirPods Pro 2. This is because all three earbuds use Apple's H2 chip, which helps to enable many functions that you'd get on a pair of AirPods. Users get Apple-friendly features like Find My Tracking, Audio Sharing, Ultra-Low Latency, and iCloud Pairing.
ANC has also been added, which was missing on the first-generation Powerbeats Pro. I found the noise-canceling performance to be good enough to muffle distracting sounds. It should be useful for gym rats and people working out in busy locations. ANC was able to take the edge off busy New York City blocks, too, although I'm not sure that's the best place to be less aware. The feature is good enough, even if it can't fully silence an airplane cabin.
The earbuds' Transparency Mode was also fantastic in my tests. I didn't hear any digital artifacts, allowing songs to blend naturally with my surroundings. Even with buds lodged in your ear canals, you can be aware of cars and people.
Disappointingly, however, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are missing two AirPods features I've grown to like: Conversational Awareness and Adaptive Audio. The latter of which I miss dreadfully. The lack of Adaptive Audio means they can't adjust the amount of noise filtering automatically in real time. This feature works kind of like a mix between ANC and Transparency.
I've become comfortable relying on the AirPods' adaptive feature, but it's missing from these great running earbuds. It would be highly useful for instances where loud noises pop up while jogging, like engines or people blowing leaves.
Long battery life and wireless charging round out the package
Like most wireless earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro 2 rely on their carrying case for charging. The case is 33% smaller than the one included with the original Powerbeats Pro, but it still feels chunky, and it's debatable whether it's even pocketable.
The swooping ear hooks make the case hard to shrink fully, so its size is understandable, but it's something to keep in mind. Thankfully, Beats added wireless charging to the case this go around, which is now an expected perk at this price range. If you don't want to use a Qi-compatible pad, there's a USB-C port on the back for wired charging.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 should have a total battery life of 45 hours, with 10 listening hours from the buds alone. As you might expect, it's hard to burn down a long-lasting battery, especially while also checking out the wireless charging function. But they did last over a week without recharging while using them regularly.
Should you buy the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2?
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds are the total package for the fitness-minded person. They offer very solid audio quality, great media controls, and a secure and comfortable fit, with a lot of extra features on top of those foundational competencies. They certainly have some weaknesses, but it's hard to beat the sum of what they offer.
While the heart rate sensor is a notable and cool addition, it's just not useful for people who already own an Apple Watch. And I have to think that includes a significant number of people considering these earbuds. The Powerbeats Pro 2 are still good enough across the board that ignoring the heart rate sensor doesn't diminish their value significantly. And if you are someone without a fitness tracker, this feature is a great perk that works well.
You can order the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 now for $250 in Electric Orange, Jet Black, Hyper Purple, and Quick Sand color options.
