For those who push their limits, demand secure audio, and crave cutting-edge technology, the arrival of the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 marks a significant leap forward in the world of wireless earbuds. Building upon the legacy of their popular predecessor, these next-generation earbuds have been meticulously refined and packed with innovative features designed to elevate your workouts and active lifestyle. Get ready to experience a new level of immersion and data-driven fitness tracking, all wrapped in a design that stays put no matter how intense your activity.
What's New Under the Hood?
The Powerbeats Pro 2 aren't just a minor refresh; they represent a substantial upgrade across the board. Here are some of the key enhancements that make these earbuds a compelling choice:
- Integrated Heart Rate Monitoring: For the first time in Apple's wireless earbud lineup, the Powerbeats Pro 2 incorporate heart rate tracking technology. This miniaturized sensor, drawing inspiration from the Apple Watch, provides real-time heart rate data during your workouts. This information seamlessly integrates with popular fitness applications on both iOS and Android, offering valuable insights into your training intensity.
- Powered by the Apple H2 Chip: Embracing Apple's advanced silicon, the inclusion of the H2 chip unlocks a suite of premium features. Expect effortless one-touch pairing across Apple devices, Audio Sharing capabilities, hands-free Siri access, and the convenience of Find My integration.
- Enhanced Audio Experience with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Immerse yourself in your music and eliminate distractions with the addition of active noise cancellation. This significant upgrade effectively reduces external noise, allowing you to focus on your performance.
- Transparency Mode for Awareness: Stay connected to your surroundings when needed with the intuitive transparency mode. This feature allows external sounds to filter through, ensuring safety during outdoor activities or when you need to be aware of your environment.
- Slimmer and More Comfortable Design: The Powerbeats Pro 2 boast a 20% lighter build and a more streamlined profile compared to their predecessors. The ear hook, crafted from a new nickel titanium alloy, is now 50% smaller, offering improved comfort and flexibility without compromising a secure fit. The earbud shape itself has also been refined for enhanced comfort and a better seal.
- Extended Battery Life: Power through even the longest workouts with significantly improved battery performance. Enjoy up to 10 hours of listening time with adaptive EQ enabled, or 8 hours with ANC or transparency mode active. The charging case provides multiple additional charges, delivering a total listening time of up to 45 hours.
- Convenient Wireless Charging and USB-C: The redesigned charging case now supports wireless charging, adding a layer of convenience to your charging routine. A USB-C port is also included for traditional wired charging.
- More Colour Options: Express your personal style with a range of vibrant and classic colour options, including electric orange, hyper purple, jet black, and quicksand.
Designed for the Demands of Your Active Life
The signature over-the-ear hook design remains a cornerstone of the Powerbeats Pro 2, ensuring a rock-solid and dependable fit even during the most vigorous movements. This makes them the ideal companion for running, gym sessions, and any activity where earbuds might otherwise slip out. The new nickel titanium alloy in the ear hook provides a comfortable yet secure hold.
Continuing the user-friendly approach, the Powerbeats Pro 2 feature physical tactile buttons on each earbud. This includes a dedicated button for play/pause and track skipping, as well as a volume rocker, providing precise and immediate control without the need for finicky touch gestures, especially when your hands might be sweaty. With five sets of included ear tips, finding the perfect seal for optimal sound quality and noise isolation is easier than ever. The earbuds also boast an IPX4 water resistance rating, making them resilient against sweat and splashes.
Tracking Your Heart Rate, Seamlessly
The integration of a heart rate sensor is a game-changer for fitness enthusiasts. This innovative feature allows you to monitor your exertion levels directly from your earbuds, eliminating the need for a separate chest strap or relying solely on a smartwatch. The sensor utilizes a green LED light to measure blood flow with impressive accuracy.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 passively track your heart rate when used with supported fitness apps on both iOS (including Nike Run Club, Peloton, and more) and Android. The data is displayed in real-time within the app, providing valuable feedback during your workouts. Interestingly, while the technology is Apple-developed, there is currently no direct integration with Apple's own Fitness app, a point of disappointment for some users. However, the ability to connect directly to compatible gym equipment via a double-press and hold on the 'b' button offers another avenue for utilizing the heart rate data. When wearing an Apple Watch alongside the Powerbeats Pro 2, the watch's heart rate data will take priority.
Immersive Sound and Crystal-Clear Calls
Beats has evolved its audio signature, and the Powerbeats Pro 2 deliver a surprisingly balanced sound profile that excels with energetic music while maintaining clarity across different genres. While a touch of the classic Beats bass is still present, it's now more controlled and impactful, complementing detailed mids and cleaner highs. The inclusion of Adaptive EQ dynamically adjusts the low and mid frequencies based on the fit of the earbuds in your ear, ensuring a consistent listening experience. Furthermore, Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking creates a more immersive three-dimensional soundstage for compatible content.
For calls, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are equipped with new microphones and an accelerometer designed to focus on your voice while effectively blocking out background noise. This, coupled with voice isolation technology on compatible Apple devices, results in clear and natural voice pickup even in noisy environments.
Power That Keeps Pace with You
The Powerbeats Pro 2 offer impressive endurance. With up to 10 hours of playtime on a single charge (with adaptive EQ), and a total of 45 hours with the charging case, you can confidently tackle multiple workouts or a full day of activity without worrying about running out of power. Even with ANC or transparency mode active, you still get a solid 8 hours of listening on the buds and 36 hours total. The Fast Fuel feature provides a quick 1.5 hours of playtime with just a 5-minute charge, perfect for those moments when you realize your battery is low before a workout. The convenience of wireless charging for the case further simplifies the charging process.
Seamless Integration Across Platforms
While deeply integrated with the Apple ecosystem thanks to the H2 chip, the Powerbeats Pro 2 also offer excellent compatibility with Android devices. Android users benefit from one-touch pairing, product customization through the Beats app, listening mode controls, and battery widgets. While some features like iCloud pairing, automatic switching between Apple devices, and hands-free Siri are exclusive to the Apple ecosystem, the core functionality and the new heart rate monitoring are accessible to Android users as well.
Weighing the Competition
While the Powerbeats Pro 2 stand out as premier workout earbuds, it's worth considering how they stack up against alternatives. The AirPods Pro 2 offer a more compact design and potentially a slightly more refined transparency mode and natural sound quality. However, they lack the secure fit of ear hooks, making them less ideal for intense workouts for some individuals. The Beats Fit Pro offer a similar feature set at a potentially lower price point but do not include the new heart rate monitoring. Other specialized workout earbuds, such as the Sennheiser Momentum Sport, offer heart rate tracking but may come at a higher cost.
The Verdict: Are the Powerbeats Pro 2 Right for You?
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 represent a significant evolution, delivering a compelling package of performance, comfort, and innovative features, most notably the integrated heart rate monitoring. They are particularly well-suited for athletes and individuals with active lifestyles who prioritize a secure fit and appreciate real-time fitness data. The enhanced audio with ANC and transparency mode, improved battery life, and cross-platform compatibility further solidify their position as a top contender in the premium wireless earbud market.
While the price point places them in the premium category and the lack of direct integration with Apple Fitness on iOS might be a drawback for some, the overall package offers a powerful and versatile solution for those who demand the best from their workout audio. If you're seeking workout earbuds that stay put, provide valuable fitness insights, and deliver a premium audio experience, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are undoubtedly worth considering. Unleash your potential and experience your workouts like never before.