Editors’ Note: The first pair of Powerbeats Pro 2 we received for testing exhibited lackluster audio and noise cancellation quality; we believe we received a defective review unit. Beats sent us a replacement pair that is free of these performance issues, so we’ve updated our review and changed the rating from three to four stars.
Six years after launching the Powerbeats Pro, Beats is back with a sequel, the aptly named Powerbeats Pro 2 ($249.99). Beats carries over the ear hook design that helps the earbuds remain in place during workouts while improving their durability and extending their battery life. It ups the ante further by adding solid noise cancellation and accurate heart rate monitoring to accompany the energizing, bass-forward sound signature. If you can do without the ear hooks and heart rate monitor, we prefer the $249 AirPods Pro 2 for their superior noise cancellation and sound quality, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 are more than capable audio companions for your next workout.
Features: Refined and Ready for Workouts
The Powerbeats Pro 2 earphones don’t reinvent the wheel in terms of design compared with the original, but they’re refined enough to make a difference. The earbuds are available in several different colors, including Electric Orange (pictured in this review), Hyper Purple, Jet Black, or Quick Sand.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)
The earbuds feature an over-the-ear hook design that ensures they stay firmly in your ears during workouts or other vigorous movement. Beats includes five pairs of eartips to ensure a stable and comfortable fit. The earbuds have an IPX4 water-resistance rating, which means they can handle sweat and rain but not submersion. The charging case is not water-resistant. By comparison, Jabra’s IP68-rated Elite 8 Active earbuds are completely dustproof and waterproof.
An arm extends forward from the in-ear module and houses the controls. A button on the face of each earbud underneath the Beats logo lets you play or pause audio, answer or mute a call (one press), skip to the next track or end a call (two presses), or go back to the previous track (three presses). You cannot customize these simple playback controls; however, you can customize what a press-and-hold does on each earbud. By default, it switches between Transparency and Noise Cancellation modes on both earbuds. You can select for it to cycle to Off mode or to activate Siri. Both buds have a volume rocker on the top edge that is relatively easy to find and control.
The earbuds connect to your phone via Bluetooth 5.3 and support just the AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs. They include Apple’s proprietary H2 chip, which eases connectivity between iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices and allows you to transfer between them seamlessly. The earphones don’t support Google Fast Pair but have what Beats calls one-touch pairing with Android devices via the Beats mobile app.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)
A heart rate sensor is new to the Powerbeats Pro 2. Beats says it combines data from both earpieces and runs it through a custom algorithm to deliver the most accurate readings possible. Due to this design, the heart rate monitor function only works when both earbuds are in your ears. You can access the data in the Apple Health app and third-party iPhone apps, including Nike Run Club, Peloton, and Runna. Beats says the heart rate monitor should also work with any Android app that can track heart rate data.
Performance is more or less in line with the Apple Watch. In testing, the earbuds always recorded within a few beats per minute of the watch. That’s helpful for those who own and use both, as it means the data collected won’t be skewed by one device. More importantly, it lets people who don’t want to wear a watch use the earphones to keep tabs on their heart rate instead.
The case measures 2.95 by 2.60 by 1.34 inches (HWD). This is larger than the cases for most wireless earphones, but keep in mind it has to accommodate the over-ear hooks. I could still carry the earbuds in my pocket, albeit with some discomfort. The case is a clamshell design with a USB-C port on the back for charging. It supports Qi wireless charging but not MagSafe.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)
Beats claims the Powerbeats Pro 2 will run for eight hours of continuous listening with active noise cancellation (ANC) on or 10 hours with it off. The case holds an additional 28 hours of charge with ANC on or 35 hours with it off. Beats says five minutes of charging provides 1.5 hours of audio playback, while the total time to charge both the case and earbuds from 0 to 100% is two hours.
App: Works Best With iPhones
Your software experience will vary depending on which platform you use. On iOS, there’s no actual app to speak of. Instead, you access controls in the Bluetooth and Settings menus. You can control noise cancellation modes, tweak some controls, and access the Find My feature. In the Settings menu, you can also conduct a fit test for the eartips. You don’t get the Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, or Hearing Protection features of the AirPods Pro 2, which is a little disappointing.
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 settings in iOS (Credit: Apple/PCMag)
If you use the earbuds with an Android device, you need to use the Beats app. The app duplicates most of the controls and settings available to iPhones. Even on Android, however, one major feature is missing: an EQ. Neither Beats nor Apple offers a user-adjustable EQ for any of their earphones, which is an ongoing frustration.
Noise Cancellation: Keeping Your Workouts In Focus
Unlike the original Powerbeats Pro, the new earphones have active noise cancellation (ANC). This makes them a better option for those who want to reduce outside sounds during their workouts. The Beats don’t include some of the advanced features of the AirPods Pro 2, such as Adaptive mode, but you can switch between ANC and Transparency modes.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)
The noise cancellation here is solid, even if it doesn’t reach the level of the AirPods Pro 2 or the class-leading Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ($299). The Powerbeats do a good job of cutting out unwanted noise and allowing you to focus on the task at hand.
In testing, the earbuds effectively reduced much of the low-end rumble and high-mid frequencies from a plane engine, allowing only some midrange frequencies to bleed through. On a city bus, they cut the low-end noise from the bus engine, and while they weren’t as good at entirely eliminating high-pitched sounds like the squeals of the door closing, they still lowered these noises enough. In a busy cafe, the Powerbeats eliminated much of the surrounding chatter, with only the closest voices remaining audible.
Sound: Beats Pumps Up the Bass
Internally, the buds feature 9.5mm drivers, but Beats doesn’t disclose their frequency range. The Powerbeats don’t target audiophiles or anyone who prefers a flat or natural sound. Instead, they deliver a high-quality signal with enough bass to kick you into high gear when you’re at the gym.
We typically test earbuds with any EQ elements or features turned off. However, the Powerbeats Pro 2 earphones have an adaptive EQ that cannot be disabled. It tweaks the frequency response in real time based on the shape of your ear and how the buds fit in your ear canal to produce a consistent sound each time you put them in.
On a track like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the Powerbeats can produce much of the sub-bass, highlighting the deep kick drum while still separating the higher-frequency percussion. The lead synth sounds present and avoids being buried by the boosted bass.
(Credit: Christian de Looper)
That low-end boost helps a track like Bill Callahan’s “Drover.” Callahan’s voice is given all the body it deserves, and while the driving kick drum is prominent, it isn’t overpowering. I do miss some of the sparkle and detail from the cymbals, but there is still enough high-end detail to make up for it.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” sounds particularly good through the Powerbeats Pro 2. On this track, high-end detail isn’t quite as important, and the boosted bass helps the track sound powerful and exciting. The kick drum is nice and weighty, and the bass synths are smooth and rich. The earbuds are able to produce all but the lowest of the bass synth tones at the 34-second mark, which is common to earphones, given the physical limitations of small drivers
On an orchestral track like the opening scene to John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, the earbuds give string instruments plenty of body, while the vocals sound present and the brass is bright. The instruments aren’t quite as separated as I would like, and the low-mids make for some muddiness, but the buds still deliver an enjoyable listening experience.
Turning the ANC on does not impact the audio response. Enabling the spatial audio feature, which supports both fixed and head-tracked listening, does change the sound signature, but only to a small degree.
The microphones sound quite good. I had no problem hearing myself in a recording I made with the Voice Memos app on an iPhone.
Verdict: Excellent Earbuds for the Gym
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 fit securely, have long battery life, and accurately monitor your heart rate. We like their seamless compatibility with iPhones and Apple Health, and their easy-to-manage controls. More importantly, their sound signature is exciting, and their noise cancellation does a respectable job of toning down your surroundings. If you like bass and want noise-cancelling earphones that are sure to remain in place during workouts, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are easy to recommend. That said, the AirPods Pro 2 sound a little better, cancel noise more effectively, and offer many of the same features, so they remain our Editors’ Choice.
The Bottom Line
The fitness-focused Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 up the ante with noise cancellation, wireless charging, and heart rate monitoring, for bass-forward earbuds that excel at the gym.
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About Christian de Looper
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