The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds are the second generation of Beats’ workout earbuds, featuring over-the-ear hooks that keep the buds in place during runs, weightlifting, and other activities where regular earbuds would tend to shake loose. The Powerbeats Pro 2 adds active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and a heart rate sensor in each earbud for tracking workouts without an Apple Watch. The H2 chip inside is the same one Apple uses in the AirPods Pro 2, which means the Powerbeats Pro 2 deliver the same level of audio quality and noise cancellation in a workout-focused form factor.
A powerful pair of headphones that sound and feel fantastic
The main reason to go with the Powerbeats Pros 2 is their over-the-ear earhooks, which keep the earbuds securely attached during high-intensity activity by fitting behind the ears and locking them in place. They remain in place even while running sprints, performing deadlifts, or doing burpees and other activities that could dislodge most standard earbud designs. You also get five sizes of ear tips, which means almost everyone can find their perfect fit.
Heart rate monitoring uses a sensor in each earbud to track heart rate during workouts and sync the data to compatible iPhone fitness apps. For users who already wear an Apple Watch, the Powerbeats Pro 2 handoff heart rate seamlessly between the two, with the watch remaining the primary source. For users without a watch, the earbuds alone are enough to log a workout to the Apple Fitness app.
Active noise cancellation runs through the H2 chip and delivers the same high-quality cancellation the AirPods Pro 2 are known for, blocking gym noise, treadmill mechanics, and overhead ambient music. Transparency mode lets outside sound back in for situational awareness on outdoor runs near traffic.
The earbuds’ battery life runs up to 10 hours per charge with ANC off or 8 hours with it on. You get another 35 hours of runtime with the included charging case, bringing the total to 43-45 hours from a full charge. If you find yourself running low, you can get back to listening fast with a 5-minute quick charge in the case, which adds about 1.5 hours of listening time. The case supports both USB-C charging and Qi wireless charging, so you’ve got some options for topping off.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 are sweat and water-resistant with an IPX4 rating, which covers heavy sweating, rain, and accidental splashes. The H2 chip also enables hands-free Siri, Find My support for locating misplaced earbuds, and one-tap pairing with iPhones, iPads, and Macs through iCloud. The earbuds also support spatial audio with head tracking on compatible Apple devices for immersive movie watching.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 normally retails for $250, but it’s currently down to $200 on Amazon. That includes the earbuds, the wireless charging case, five sizes of ear tips for fit customization, a USB-C charging cable, and the Beats documentation pack.
