There are plenty of audio technology options offered by Apple, some of which are not even labeled by Apple itself, especially in the earbuds category. If your choice has come down to the trusted AirPods Pro 2 and the newly released Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, you probably want to know the main differences between the two.
AirPods Pro 2 are highly rated, with a 5 out of 5 review from the Stuff team. While we’re yet to get our hands on the Powerbeats Pro 2, we can compare them on paper.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 is the newer pair. However, there are a few reasons you might want to skip this option and go with the AirPods Pro 2, which launched about two and a half years earlier.
Even though both earbuds serve similar purposes, they target different audiences. Apple-branded earbuds are suitable for everyday casual listening. On the other hand, Powerbeats Pro is designed for use during workout routines and has a more secure fit. Here, we’ll talk you through all the key differences (and similarities).
AirPods Pro 2 vs. Powerbeats Pro 2: price and release date
The Apple AirPods 2 were unveiled during Apple’s iPhone 14 event held on September 7th, 2022. They hit the market two weeks later, on September 23rd. Meanwhile, after a long wait, Beats finally released the Powerbeats Pro 2 in February 2025.
Both are priced at $249/£249. So, there’s no price difference – just a question of which set of features matter more to you.
AirPods Pro 2 vs. Powerbeats Pro 2: design
Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 refined the comfort of the original Pro model. These earbuds come equipped with various sizes of silicone ear tips, setting them apart from regular AirPods. In addition, the newest pair has a sleek and compact design, with a round shape and shorter stem compared to the previous model. The carrying case is also more compact and now supports MagSafe and USB-C, making charging more effortless. But, in true Apple fashion, they only come in one colour: white.
The Powerbeats Pro 2, however, go all-in on sports-friendly ergonomics. They’ve redesigned the earhooks that curve around the shape of your ear, reinforcing them with a nickel-titanium alloy. This makes them just as flexible yet super secure, even during high-intensity workouts. And for the first time, they now ship with five different ear tip sizes – ensuring a perfect fit for almost any ear shape.
Beats’ offering also wins the colour war hands down, coming in Jet Black, Quick Sand, Hyper Purple, and Electric Orange. Apple, take notes.
AirPods Pro 2 vs. Powerbeats Pro 2: features
The AirPods Pro 2 offer Apple’s H2 chip that enhances its performance and battery life. The earbuds provide up to six hours of listening time on a single charge, while the case can hold up to 30 hours of listening or 24 hours of talk time. Fast-charging allows for one hour of listening time with just five minutes in the case.
Digging deeper, the AirPods Pro 2 includes improved noise cancelation with the H2 chip, reducing unwanted noise so you can focus on music or calls. The noise cancellation here is widely revered as some of the best, so you’re in safe hands. You can make subtle sound adjustments to match the genre of music you’re currently listening to with the adaptive EQ feature.
You can experience a 360-degree virtual soundstage with spatial audio and dynamic head tracking. There’s also “Hey Siri” support for hand-free use. There are multiple touch controls on both earbuds. The buds boasts Bluetooth 5.3 and are designed to resist sweat and water (IPX4). Its advanced controls are powered by dual beam-forming microphones, an inward-facing microphone, a skin-detect sensor, accelerometers, and touch control.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 finally got ANC and transparency mode, meaning you no longer have to sacrifice it for a workout-friendly fit. While we’re yet to test it, we expect the results to be similar to that of AirPods Pro 2. They also run on the H2 chip, so they support Adaptive EQ, Personalised Spatial Audio, and one-touch Apple pairing just like the AirPods.
But the biggest Powerbeats Pro 2 exclusive feature is built-in heart rate tracking. Using new LED optical sensors, they pulse over 100 times per second to track your blood flow. If you don’t have an Apple Watch, this is a game-changer for workout tracking. However, iOS users can only use this feature with select fitness apps (Nike Run Club, Peloton, Slopes, etc.), while Android users get system-wide access via the Beats app.
For controls, both earbuds offer hands-free Siri and onboard physical controls – but the Powerbeats Pro 2 have actual tactile buttons, which is far better for sweaty workouts than the touch-sensitive AirPods.
AirPods Pro 2 vs. Powerbeats Pro 2: sound quality
In our review, we noted AirPods Pro 2’s sound was “beefier and punchier” than what was found on the original version. Sound cancellation was also improved. It was so much improved “you actually need to be careful walking down the street with full cancellation (versus transparency) switched on. It’s actually too good and you end up blocking out sounds you should be hearing.” We were less impressed with the earbuds’ head-tracking spatial audio, saying “we’d rather listen without.”
We’ve not yet reviewed the Powerbeats Pro 2, since they’ve only just released. But with the same chipset that powers AirPods Pro 2, we’d expect a near identical listening experience.
AirPods Pro 2 vs. Powerbeats Pro 2: which should you buy?
AirPod Pro 2 and Powerbeats Pro 2 are both excellent products. The earbuds are pretty evenly matched, with the same chipset inside. Gone are the days of Apple reserving its top features like effortless pairing for AirPods. If anything, the new Powerbeats almost make the AirPods Pro 2 begin to feel outdated.
If you need to buy earbuds right now, the Powerbeats Pro 2 is the best choice in our opinion. However, if you are leaning toward the AirPods Pro 2 and can wait, do so. There could be a next-generation model announced relatively soon —although there are no guarantees that will happen. Expect the newer AirPods Pro to offer even better sound quality and noise cancellation with a new chip, and we’d put our money on some new software features as well.
