Powerbeats Pro 2 Review: Big Improvements, Big Sound

Powerbeats Pro 2 offers a secure fit, great sound, ANC, and heart rate monitoring—perfect for workouts with up to 45 hours of battery life.

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Beats earbuds lineup has improved a lot in recent years with models like the Beats Studio Buds+ and Beats Solo Buds offering great features at a good price. Now, it’s time for Powerbeats Pro 2 to get an upgrade—this time with a fresh design, improved ANC, new colors and even a heart rate monitor.

Designed for fitness enthusiasts, the heart rate monitor aims to provide more accurate tracking during workouts. But above all, Powerbeats Pro 2 must deliver great sound and a reliable listening experience on the go.

They do a solid job, despite minor heart rate tracking issues. But how do they compare to the best workout headphones or even the top wireless earbuds?

Powerbeats Pro 2- Key Specification

🔹 Feature	🔹 Details
💰 Price	$249.99
🎨 Colors	Jet Black, Quick Sand, Hyper Purple, Electric Orange
🎧 Fit & Design	Lightweight, secure-fit earhooks
❤️ Heart Rate Monitor	Yes – tracks workouts in real-time
🔇 Noise Control	Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) & Transparency Mode
🔊 Sound	Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio, Dual-layer drivers
🔋 Battery Life	10 hrs (ANC off), 8 hrs (ANC on)
⚡ Total Battery	Up to 45 hrs with case
⏳ Fast Charging	5 mins = 90 mins playtime
🔌 Charging	Smaller case, supports wireless charging
💦 Water Resistance	IPX4 – sweat & water-resistant (earbuds only)
🎛 Controls	On-device buttons & volume rockers
📞 Call Quality	3-mic system for clear calls
🏎 Chipset	Apple H2 chip for better performance
🍏 Apple Support	Works with iOS, free Apple Music trial
🤖 Android Support	Works with Beats app (Android 9.0+)
📦 What’s in the Box	Earbuds, 5 ear tips, wireless case, guides (No USB-C cable or adapter)

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Price and Availability

Powerbeats Pro 2 aren’t the cheapest fitness earbuds but they keep the same price as their predecessor, which is a plus. They cost $249 / £249, similar to the AirPods Pro 2 but $50 less than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Sony WF-1000XM5.

Sony and Bose offer better sound, stronger ANC and more compact cases. But if you want a secure fit and fitness-focused features, Powerbeats Pro 2 could be the perfect choice.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Design and Comfort

✅ Great color options
✅ Comfortable fit
❌ Bulky case

Stylish Powerbeats Pro 2 include an ear hook for a snug fit. They still appear fashionable & little even if they are a little bigger than standard earphones. Subtle Beats branding adds a premium feel, and even in bright colors, they remain gym-friendly without being too flashy.

However, charging case is huge—a thick, square shape designed to fit the ear hooks. It’s not pocket-friendly, especially in skinny jeans or leggings, so it’s best carried in a bag or backpack. The buds, however, fit snugly inside with strong magnetic locks.

The ear hooks and various ear tip sizes provide a snug fit in terms of comfort. They must be inserted with a twist-and-settle motion, but once in position, they remain there, making them ideal for exercise. Plus, the app includes a fit test that checks if you’re getting the best seal for sound and ANC performance. More earbud brands should include this feature!

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Connectivity

✅ Bluetooth 5.3 & Multipoint pairing
✅ Seamless Apple integration
❌ No high-quality audio codecs

The Powerbeats Pro 2 work effortlessly with Apple devices, thanks to the H2 chip. Just open the case near your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook, and they pair instantly, syncing across all your Apple gadgets.

For Android users, pairing is also simple with one-touch setup, but you’ll need the Beats app for updates. Multipoint connectivity allows switching between devices, though pairing requires opening the case manually.

The drawback? Android users lack of high-quality streaming due to the lack of support for LDAC and AptX codecs. But for iPhone owners, Apple Music streams in higher quality.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Controls & App

✅ Physical buttons for easy control
✅ Seamless integration with iPhone
❌ Limited features on Android

Unlike many earbuds with touch controls, the Powerbeats Pro 2 have physical buttons, making them easy to use—even with sweaty fingers or gloves.

Each bud has two buttons:
🎵 Volume rocker to adjust sound.
🎵 Multifunction button to play/pause (1 press), skip tracks (2 presses), rewind (3 presses), and switch ANC modes (hold).

iPhone users can manage settings directly in the iOS menu, adjust EQ, ANC, and spatial audio, and use Siri. Android users need the Beats app, but it lacks EQ settings—though it still supports ANC control, updates, and Find My Beats.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2: Fitness Features

✅ Secure fit with ear hooks
✅ Great for workouts—running, HIIT, cycling
✅ IPX4 water resistance
❌ Inconsistent heart rate tracking
❌ Limited app compatibility on iOS

The Powerbeats Pro 2 stay firmly in place, making them perfect for workouts. Fitness expert Nick Harris-Fry tested them over 150 miles of running, plus HIIT, cycling, and yoga, and found them one of the best workout headphones due to their secure fit, sound quality, and physical controls.

Heart rate monitor has issues—it only works with seven iOS apps (missing Strava) and often gives inaccurate readings. Android offers more flexibility but a chest strap is still best for accuracy.

Despite these drawbacks, Powerbeats Pro 2 is still a well-liked option for fitness enthusiasts especially those who need an ear hook that is secure.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2: Sound Quality

✅ Strong bass with deep punch
✅ Rich lower mids for warm sound
❌ Harsh highs and upper mid dip
❌ Limited EQ options on Android

The Powerbeats Pro 2 deliver deep, punchy bass and rich mids, making them great for hip-hop, EDM and bass-heavy music. Kick drums hit hard and vocals stay clear in most tracks.

However, high frequencies can be harsh, especially with cymbals and sharp sounds. Guitars in rock and metal can feel a bit flat due to a dip in the upper mids.

Apple users get more control with EQ adjustments and Spatial Audio support in Apple Music, offering a wider, immersive soundstage. Android users, however, lack custom EQ settings and Spatial Audio doesn’t work on all apps.

These buds are fun and bass-heavy, but treble sharpness and limited Android support may be a downside for some.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 ANC

✅ Decent noise cancellation
✅ Good transparency mode
❌ Struggles with loud voices
❌ No adjustable ANC levels

The Powerbeats Pro 2 offer basic ANC that mutes background noise like keyboards, AC units and general commuting sounds. However, they struggle with loud conversations in busy places, like grocery stores.

Unlike Sony or Bose, there’s no adjustable ANC, so you can’t tweak it for different environments. In noisy areas, you may need to raise the volume to fully block out distractions.

On the plus side, transparency mode works well, letting you stay aware of your surroundings when needed.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Call Quality

✅ Clear for casual calls
❌ Sounds distant on the other end
❌ Struggles with background noise

For regular calls, the Powerbeats Pro 2 work fine—voices come through clearly, but you may sound like you’re on speakerphone to the other person.

In noisy environments, your voice remains audible, but the earbuds don’t block background noise, making it harder for the other person to hear you.

Great for quick chats, but not ideal for work calls or meetings.

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Battery Life

✅ 10 hours without ANC
✅ 35 extra hours in the case
✅ 5-minute charge = 90 minutes of playback

Battery life is solid, outperforming many rivals. With ANC off, you get 10 hours per charge, and the case adds 35 more. A quick 5-minute charge gives 90 extra minutes—great for long days or flights.

However, other Beats models last longer (Solo Buds: 18 hours). Features like ANC and heart rate monitoring drain more power, but they aren’t always active. Great battery life, but could be better.

Conclusion

✅ Great for workouts – secure fit, comfortable, and stylish
✅ Perfect for podcasts, audiobooks and music
✅ 10-hour battery life – ideal for gym sessions and runs

If you need top-tier sound and ANC, consider AirPods Pro 2, Sony WF-1000XM5, or Bose QuietComfort Ultra—they offer better audio and noise canceling but less secure fit for workouts.

For fitness lovers, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are a standout choice, and our fitness team loves them. Throw them in your bag and go!