We’ve waited six years for this moment. Yes, it’s taken Beats (an Apple company) almost six years to release a successor to the Powerbeats Pro. The ear-hook-style truly wireless stereo (TWS) sport earbuds were quite popular, so a successor was eagerly awaited. Beats has had many years to fine-tune and improve them, and I’m happy to report that the Powerbeats Pro 2 is a resounding success. It all comes down to the design.
In addition to the significantly enhanced design that offers greater comfort, the new features include the formidable Apple H2 chip, active noise cancellation—a first for any Powerbeats earbuds—a built-in heart-rate sensor, and a selection of four colour options.
Powerbeats have never been on my radar, but that will change in 2025. The improved ergonomics and completely redesigned ear hooks (now 50% smaller) make them easier on the ears. Thanks to the nickel-titanium alloy, they’re also more flexible and durable. Additionally, the earbuds are 20% lighter than their predecessors.
One thing that immediately jumps out is the physical “b” button for controlling playback and the volume button. Having physical buttons is a godsend for runners and many others. Physical control buttons are much more manageable when jogging, running, biking, or doing something similar. Fiddling around with touch controls is a pain when you only want to change the song while completing your third kilometre. The ear-hook design also helps keep the earbuds in place while performing some physical activity.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 is IPX4-rated (splashproof) and has undergone extensive testing for sweat resistance, which is essential because these are marketed as workout buds.
The one downside is the beefy case. Yes, it’s 33% smaller, according to the company, and also incorporates wireless charging for the first time, but still, it’s probably one of the bulkiest cases I’ve kept in my jeans pocket in a long while.
The battery life has improved, albeit modestly. The battery life has gotten a one-hour jump from its predecessor. It’s now rated for ten hours instead of the nine hours on the previous model. These 10 hours are with noise cancelling off and volume at moderate levels. You can expect up to eight hours on a single charge with noise cancelling. The case provides for an additional three and a half charges.
Thanks to the new H2 chip, there is seamless connectivity with all your other Apple products. There’s also spatial audio for music and movies, Siri support, audio sharing and more. One thing I’m happy to see is that the Powerbeats Pro 2 does support advanced features on Android. You can use the Beats app for one-touch pairing, customisation, updates, and more.
Signature Beats Sound
With new drivers, a new venting system and an amplifier, the Powerbeats Pro 2 outputs a louder, bolder, and clearer sound. There’s better sound separation (hello there, jazz aficionados) and less distortion at higher volumes. The soundstage is also fuller. I’m not a fan of super strong bass performance, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 check off that box, in case you’re one of those. Overall, it’s a balanced sound output, wherein neither the treble nor the midrange take precedence.
I listened to Take Five by Dave Brubeck and immersed myself in the many instruments. A peppy song by Hozier called Too Sweet offers the depth required for the low, raspy vocals to shine. Thanks to the H2 chip, active noise cancellation is fantastic. It doesn’t best those earbuds from Bose and Sennheiser, but it stands tall. There is a transparency mode that is one of the best in any workout buds I’ve used recently.
These are the best earbuds Beats’ have ever released. The Powerbets Pro 2 can easily handle the punchiness required for songs like (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones. They do fall off a bit during rap numbers when words get mumbled up. Unfortunately, they fall behind a few other earbuds out there as there is no way to adjust the sound. Some songs could do with some mixing, and it’s an unfortunate miss for Beats here.
Heart rate monitoring
Do you need optical heart rate sensors right in your ear? Sennheiser’s Momentum Sport had them, and now, the Powerbeats Pro 2 also has them. The sensors are supposed to be equivalent in accuracy to the optical heart rate monitors on smartwatches. Despite having the sensors in both earbuds, they only work when you’re wearing both earbuds. The data is compared between both earbuds, and then a reading is sent out via Bluetooth to your smartphone every five seconds.
They may not accurately beat a heart-rate monitor strapped to your chest, but they’re on par with the readings of many smartwatches. With the Powerbeats Pro 2, you need a workout app connected to the earbuds to get a reading. I tried the popular Nike Run Club app, and it worked without any issues.
Voice-calling performance
Thanks to the new H2 chip, the Powerbeats Pro 2’s voice-calling performance is top-notch. Yes, I could have crystal-clear calls even while buzzing traffic sounds surrounded me. Usually, my voice gets muddled, and people on the other side have a hard time hearing me, but not anymore. The earbuds do a fantastic job of filtering out the background noises while making my voice the hero of the conversation.
Above-average battery life
Again, the battery life isn’t the best in class, but it is pretty good. It may not have gotten a big boost from the original Powerbeats Pro earbuds, but at ten hours with noise-cancelling off and an additional three and a half charges in the case, I had zero issues lasting a week without having to charge these.
Verdict: Best workout earbuds out here?
At Rs 29,990, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are expensive. Earbuds you can rely on to stay put (thanks to their ear-hook design), and with robust build quality, these earbuds are fantastic workout companions. Their sound signature is good, they’ve got pretty good battery life (I would have liked for a more significant improvement here), and one can finally take calls amidst buzzing traffic.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 ticks many boxes but is expensive and not for everyone. Although it does come with a heart rate sensor, most people don’t buy it for that feature.
Sony’s WF-1000XM5 and Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds sound better and are similarly priced.
If you’re active in sports or workouts, need earbuds that stay put, and are willing to spend a bit, the Powerbeats Pro 2 can become your daily workout companion. These earbuds are excellent for iPhone users (if you don’t need workout earbuds, consider the slightly cheaper AirPods Pro 2), but even Android users needn’t worry.
I’m happy that a successor to the Powerbears Pro earbuds has finally been released. The Powerbeats Pro 2 earns its title of fantastic successor with aplomb.
