Tech review: Powerbeats Pro 2 are ready for your sweaty workout

Miami Herald

2 days ago

I've turned into one of those people who wear earbuds all day at work.
We don't have traditional phones at my office. We use Microsoft Teams as our voice phones, so when the phone rings, I usually answer it on my computer.
And because I work with three other people in one big room, we all use headphones.
I have been wearing Apple's AirPods Pro 2, paired to my Dell laptop. I love the AirPods, but sometimes they don't stay in my ears very well.
A few months ago, I started reading about Beats by Dre's Powerbeats Pro 2 True Wireless Sport Earbuds, which reminds me a lot of the AirPods Pro 2, but they have an over-the-ear loop to keep them in place.
Most of you probably know Apple owns Beats. This means Beats headphones and earbuds have the latest Apple technology inside that facilitates automatic pairing with Apple devices as well as cool sound features like noise cancellation, adaptive EQ and spatial audio.
What's new?
The original Powerbeats Pro were released in 2019, so Beats has had plenty of time to plan and produce the new version to make it better - and I think they did.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 uses Apple's H2 chip for improved audio quality, one-touch pairing, automatic device switching, audio sharing and sound management with active noise canceling and transparency mode, which brings in some sounds from outside so you can hear your surroundings.
One of the biggest additions is heart rate monitoring. There are sensors on each bud that can accurately monitor your heart rate and send it to the Apple Health app and other compatible apps on your iPhone or Android phone. It works automatically with apps like Nike Run Club, Runna, Peloton and a few others.
They are built with an ear loop to keep them firmly in your ear. Beats says they conducted more than 1,500 hours of testing with more than 1,000 athletes to come up with the design that produces what they call their "best fitting headphones - ever."
You can customize the fit with four sets of silicone ear tips so you can tailor the tip to fit snuggly in your ear canal, because the sound quality and noise cancellation depends on how well the tips seal in your ears.
The ear hook is made from a nickel-titanium alloy that is very light and flexible but still keeps its shape. The buds are 20 percent lighter than the previous version and they are very comfortable and stay in place wonderfully when you get the fit just right.
The buds are sweat and water resistant, but not for water sports (no swimming).
Each bud has a 10-hour battery life, and the battery in the case can charge them up four times for a total of up to 45 hours of playback. USB-C charging is fast. Five minutes of charging will net you 90 minutes of listening.
Because of the ear hook design, the case is rather large at 3 inches by 2.6 inches by 1.3 inches. It fits in my front pocket, but because of the size, I tend to put the buds on in the morning and leave the case on my desk.
Speaking of charging, the case charges with USB-C or it can sit on a Qi-compatible wireless charger. The case also shows up in the Find My app on your iPhone, so maybe you won't lose them.
There are physical buttons on each bud. There's a rocker button for volume up and down and a button behind the B logo you can use to play/pause music as well as answer and hang up calls. I prefer the physical buttons, as they are easier to tell when you press them.
How do they sound?
Like most other earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro 2 sound quality will depend on how well they seal in your ear and how well they stay in place.
When you bring them home, take your time and try the different ear tips to see which ones seal the best in your ear canal.
I still think the AirPods Pro 2 sound a bit better, but the Beats are designed for your workout, and they are much better at staying in place when you're on the move. I do think the noise canceling does a good job of keeping out the mundane noise like traffic or office background noise.
I now own both the AirPods Pro 2 and Powerbeats Pro 2 and the Beats get the most use.
Pricing
The Powerbeats Pro 2 cost $249.99 and they are available in Jet Black, Quicksand, Hyper Purple and Electric Orange.
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