Beats PowerBeats Pro 2 — Fitness Earbuds With Big Upgrades but Surprising Flaws

The PowerBeats Pro 2 arrive six years after the original model, bringing a long-awaited refresh for fitness-focused users. You get lighter earbuds, improved comfort, better sound, wireless charging, active noise cancellation, and even built-in heart-rate sensors. On paper this looks like the ultimate gym earbud upgrade — but in real-world use, several decisions hold it back from being the perfect successor.

Design, Fit & Ear Hooks

The most defining feature of the PowerBeats Pro lineup is the ear hook. While most modern earbuds rely on in-ear tips alone, these hooks give a locked-in fit that refuses to budge during running, lifting, cycling, or inverted movements. The hooks aren’t bendable; they simply curve over the ear and stay in place.

The inner ear tips use a firmer rubber than Apple’s AirPods Pro 2. The seal feels similar in comfort but is clearly designed for sweat-heavy workouts. Five tip sizes are included for precise fit. Physical controls remain a huge advantage — both earbuds have volume buttons and mode controls, which are far more reliable than touch surfaces when you’re moving.

Sound Quality & Audio Signature

AirPods Pro 2 still hold the “best all-rounder” title for wireless earbud audio, but the PowerBeats Pro 2 deliver a very intentional Beats-style profile. Expect a V-shaped signature: boosted bass, bright treble, lively energy. It’s fun, punchy, and excellent for gym motivation, even if it’s not studio-flat accuracy.

Mic quality is similar to AirPods Pro 2 — clear enough for calls but not standout.

Active Noise Cancellation: Strong and Weak at the Same Time

Apple’s H2 chip powers ANC, transparency, and spatial audio. Performance is mixed:

ANC strength:
– Great for constant background noise (treadmills, AC units, airplane hum)
– Roughly “8 out of 10” compared to AirPods Pro 2

ANC weakness:
– Very poor handling of sudden impacts like weight drops, bar slams, machine clanks
– Surprisingly worse than AirPods Pro 2 despite using the same chip

This is disappointing because fitness earbuds need strong suppression of chaotic noise — and this is exactly where they fall short.

Heart Rate Sensor: Accurate but Not Practical

Each earbud has an optical heart rate sensor on the underside. Accuracy is impressive — typically within 1–2 BPM of a Polar chest strap — but actual usability is awkward.

To check your heart rate, you must:

1. Open a supported third-party fitness app
2. Tap through menus
3. Wait for connection and readout

It’s not instant, not integrated into iOS like Apple Watch, and only works with a few apps. The friction makes it feel like a feature that sounds great but gets used rarely.

Heart rate monitoring also drains battery significantly faster — up to several hours less runtime.

Charging Case, Battery Life & Convenience

The new case is smaller than before but still larger than typical earbud cases. It finally uses USB-C and wireless charging, and the magnetic docking system is dramatically improved. You can drop the earbuds in casually and they connect instantly — even upside down. No more fiddling or reseating like the original model.

Battery life is excellent:
– 10 hours per charge
– Up to 45 hours including the case

For workout earbuds, this is top-tier endurance.

Real-World Use: Where They Shine & Where They Fail

Strengths
– Rock-solid fit for intense movement
– Fun, energetic sound signature
– Physical buttons perfect for workouts
– Long battery life
– Reliable magnetic charging
– Sweat-friendly build

Weaknesses
– ANC struggles with sudden noise — big flaw for gym use
– Heart rate feature feels unnecessary and inconvenient
– Pricing is out of step with the competition
– Strong alternatives exist at $100 less

Price & Value

At $249 USD, the same price as the original model’s launch six years ago, the PowerBeats Pro 2 feel expensive in today’s crowded market. Numerous fitness-oriented earbuds under $150 offer similar durability, strong sound, and equal or better ANC.

The question becomes: Is the heart rate sensor worth a premium?
For most users — no.

Final Verdict

The PowerBeats Pro 2 bring meaningful upgrades in comfort, charging, and battery life, but fall short where it matters most for fitness earbuds: noise cancellation and practical workout features. The sound is fun, the fit is exceptional, and the physical buttons are perfect — but ANC inconsistency and a cumbersome heart-rate system leave the product feeling stuck between great hardware and confusing priorities.

A strong update, but not the definitive workout earbud Apple easily could have delivered.