AirPods Pro 2 or Beats Powerbeats Pro 2? I tested both top buds to find a winner
The AirPods Pro 2 are the de-facto earbuds of choice when it comes to most people I see out in the wild every day, but the small army of folks wearing Beats' Powerbeats Pro aren't far behind. It's easy to understand why: Beats' popular workout earbuds offer a more secure fit than the AirPods whether you're hitting the gym or your daily commute, all while still giving you most of those sweet Apple perks. It's no surprise, then, that the new Powerbeats Pro 2 are even closer to parity with the superb AirPods Pro 2, with both buds offering similar sound quality, immersive spatial audio and hassle-free pairing to your iPhone, iPad and Mac.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 2 are easily among the best true wireless earbuds you can buy, but with so many similarities between the two, you're probably wondering which pair you should commit a few hundred bucks to. Fortunately, I've used both sets of buds extensively — from sweaty basketball sessions and crowded commutes to existential evenings spent listening to sad music — and am ready to make that decision easy for you.
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Our favorite wireless earbuds for Apple users, the AirPods Pro 2 offer superb audio quality, noise cancellation and seamless compatibility with your iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
The Powerbeats Pro 2 are some of the best workout earbuds we've tested yet, with a sleek, slimmed down design, great battery life, integrated heart rate tracking and most of the AirPods Pro 2's key audio features.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
1.79 oz
2.74 oz
IPX4 (sweat and water resistance)
IPX4 (sweat and water resistance)
No
Yes
Yes
No
6 hours (earbuds), 30 hours (with case)
10 hours (earbuds), 45 hours (with case)
Yes
Yes
White
Jet Black, Quick Sand, Hyper Purple, Electric Orange
iOS
iOS, Android While they do a lot of the same things, the AirPods Pro 2 and Powerbeats Pro 2 couldn't be more different in the design department. The AirPods Pro 2 are simple and discreet, whereas the Powerbeats Pro 2 are big, bold and sport large ear hooks to all but eliminate the chance that they'll slip out when you're a sweaty mess at the gym.
There's no objective winner here; it really just depends on what kind of fit you like. I'm not a fan of ear hooks, and never really feel like my AirPods Pro 2 are in danger of falling out — even during the dozens of hours I've spent playing basketball with them on. That said, I find the Powerbeats Pro 2 to be very comfortable, and it was often easy to forget I had their soft rubber hooks nestled around my ears when I was in the middle of a workout or commute. You should still try before you buy if you can; while I liked the fit, my colleague Henry T. Casey found these buds to go a bit too deep into his ear canal for his liking.
Beats' buds offer a total of five ear tip sizes over the AirPods Pro's four, meaning they'll likely fit a wider range of people. And while Apple continues to only release the AirPods Pro in boring ol' white, the Powerbeats Pro 2 pull through with four attractive color options including Jet Black, greyish Quick Sand, Hyper Purple and the Electric Orange version that I own (go Knicks).
Even with all of that in mind, I'm still team AirPods here. While the Powerbeats Pro 2 are a good deal more compact than their predecessor, they're not nearly as pocketable as the sleek case that houses the AirPods Pro 2. I also find wrapping the Powerbeats Pro 2's hooks around my ears and finding the right fit to be a bit of a process, whereas I can pop my AirPods Pro 2 in within seconds and be good to go. And while Beats' buds have a more exercise-friendly fit, both the AirPods Pro 2 and Powerbeats Pro 2 carry the same IPX4 rating, meaning they're equally good at surviving a sweaty workout or a run in the rain.
TL;DR: Get the AirPods Pro 2 if you want the more compact, less obtrusive earbuds. If you want maximum stability for workouts (or just really like colors), go with the Powerbeats Pro 2.
If sound quality is your main priority, this is a no-contest: just get the AirPods Pro 2. The neurotic indie rock of Petey USA's 'I'll Wait' absolutely crackled on Apple's buds, from the blistering drums to the layers of frantic vocals made incredibly clear in spatial audio. When I switched over to the Powerbeats Pro 2, the song sounded disappointingly flat, with only its bouncy bass guitar coming through with a satisfying punch. The difference was even more stark when I threw on Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us' — the track's menacing bass punched me in the gut on the AirPods Pro 2, whereas it barely had enough oomph to end Drake's career on the Powerbeats.
To Beats' credit, the Powerbeats Pro do sound good on their own terms, and I eventually got used to their thinner output when using them over the span of a week. But the difference is pretty stark when you put them side-by-side. Fortunately, you get most of the same audio perks on both sets of buds, including Personalized Spatial Audio for engrossing 360-degree sound and the Adaptive EQ tech that tunes things to your surroundings.
The AirPods Pro 2 continue to have the edge when it comes to active noise cancellation. Having used both sets of buds extensively while riding loud subway cars and walking busy New York City streets, I always found myself wishing the Powerbeats would drown out just a bit more noise than they did. This remained the case when I switched between the two buds while blasting some airport sounds from my computer; there was a much more dramatic difference between Transparency and ANC mode on the AirPods Pro 2. And while both earbuds' Transparency mode did a great job keeping me aware of my surroundings, only the AirPods Pro 2 have the handy Adaptive Audio mode that mixes Transparency and ANC on the fly based on your environment. It's my go-to mode on the AirPods Pro 2, and definitely something I miss on the Powerbeats.
TL;DR: Get the AirPods Pro 2 if you want the best possible sound quality and noise cancellation.
The AirPods Pro 2 and Powerbeats Pro 2 are both powered by Apple's H2 chip, which means you'll enjoy effortless pairing with your iPhone and perks like spatial audio and 'Hey, Siri' support no matter which pair of buds you buy. But if you're on team Android or use a mix of Android and iOS devices around the home, the Powerbeats Pro 2 have a clear advantage.
Like all of the best Beats headphones, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are blissfully platform agnostic. Whether you're popping into the iOS settings menu or using the dedicated Beats app for Android, you'll be able to do things like customize the controls, adjust various microphone and noise settings and perform an ear tip fit test to find the right fit. You'll also get perks like one-touch pairing and the ability to track down your lost buds (Find My on iOS; Locate My Beats on Android), no matter which platform you're on. By comparison, the AirPods Pro 2 can pair to an Android phone just fine, but you'll miss out on key features like spatial audio and the ability to customize settings.
Athletes may be swayed by the Powerbeats Pro 2's unique heart rate tracking capabilities, which isn't something you'll find on most wireless earbuds (and certainly not the AirPods Pro 2). The feature worked reliably enough in my testing, and as someone who can't be bothered to wear an Apple Watch, I appreciated the ability to get a bit of extra insight into my workouts without any extra gear. It works with most iOS and Android apps that can track your heart rate, which is a nice perk to have. Just know that the Powerbeats Pro's heart rate tracking is designed specifically for workouts, and isn't meant to be an always-on solution that can alert you to possible health issues like the Apple Watch can.
While the AirPods Pro 2 can't track your heartbeat, they can potentially protect your hearing. Thanks to a recent software update, Apple's flagship earbuds have a suite of Hearing Health features — including a hearing test that has you respond to various tones and can identify possible hearing loss. Should you find yourself in need of assistance, you can use what Apple says is a 'clinical-grade' hearing aid feature that can amplify certain sounds for you. While my test showed little to no signs of hearing loss, I did get a demo from Apple last year that showed off the dramatic difference between what a hearing impaired person might hear normally and how it can be improved with the AirPods Pro 2. Even if you're not hard of hearing, you can toggle the earbuds' Hearing Protection feature that's designed to make loud environments (like concerts or construction sites) more bearable. While I personally can't speak to the possible medical benefit of the AirPods Pro 2's assistive hearing tools, I certainly appreciate having them handy.
TL;DR: Get the Powerbeats Pro 2 if you want a smoother experience on Android and want earbuds that can track your heart rate. If protecting your hearing is a concern, the AirPods Pro 2 can help.
Looking for good endurance? Go with the Powerbeats Pro 2. Beats' workout buds are rated to last up to 10 hours on a single charge, with a whopping total of up to 45 hours when you factor in the charging case. That makes the AirPods Pro 2's battery life, which is rated for 6 hours of continuous playback and a total of 30 with the case, seem paltry. These runtimes are largely in line with what I experienced in the real world;I usually felt like I was getting a day or two of extra use out of the Powerbeats before I had to plug the case in. I'm generally fine with the AirPods Pro 2's battery life, but I've definitely had a few moments where they died a bit too soon for my liking — particularly towards the end of most cross-country flights.
Helping Beats secure this round is the fact that the company finally, finally added wireless charging to a pair of its earbuds. This has always been a major drawback of Beats buds compared to their Apple counterparts, but now I can just plop the Powerbeats Pro 2 onto my wireless charging pad the same way I do with my AirPods. It's yet another feature that brings the two buds to near-parity, and paired with the Powerbeats' superior battery life, makes Beats' earbuds a great pick for folks who want to avoid constantly reaching for that charging cable.
TL;DR: The Powerbeats Pro 2 will get you longer battery life.
Both of these earbuds might carry the same $249 MSRP, but the AirPods Pro 2 are easy to find for less than that. Apple's beloved earbuds are almost always on sale at most third party retailers for around $200, and have dropped to as low as the $150 range during major sale events like Black Friday. The Powerbeats Pro 2 have held steady at their $249 retail price since they first launched in early 2025, though they're a much newer product, and will likely start to see some drops once the holidays roll around.
TL;DR: The AirPods Pro 2 typically cost about $50 to $90 less than the Powerbeats Pro 2 — for now, at least.
You can't really make a bad choice between the AirPods Pro 2 and Powerbeats Pro 2, but they each serve a pretty distinct purpose. The latest AirPods Pro are the ultimate all-arounders, and have more or less become the default for anyone with an iPhone in their pocket. They offer better sound and noise cancellation than the Powerbeats, and can usually be found for cheaper.
As their athlete-laden advertisements suggest, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are tailor-made for people who live in the gym or on the track. Their ear-hook design, while not for everyone, is ideal for maximum security while working up a sweat. They can even track your heart rate, which is great if you want a better overall look at your exercise sessions. They match most of the AirPods Pro 2's key features, and unlike Apple's buds, work equally well whether you're rocking an iPhone or are fully team Android.
CNN Underscored thoroughly vets all the products we cover, and we provide full transparency about how these products are tested, so you know they'll meet your standards because they meet our requirements. Our skilled writers and editors have many years of testing experience that informs them how to properly review products, and we ensure each article is edited for accuracy and clarity.
Senior tech editor Mike Andronico has been covering electronics for more than a decade and has overseen Underscored's consumer tech reviews since 2022. In those years, he's accrued and tested more sets of wireless earbuds than his desk can reasonably fit. He's been a loyal AirPods Pro 2 user since they first launched a few years back, but he's always testing the latest competitors to see if his go-to buds can be dethroned.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
39 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
iOS 19's redesign had me worried — but now I think it will turn out fine
Change can be scary — especially when it's change to something you rely on every day. So I'm guessing that news of the impending iOS overhaul that Apple will announce next week at WWDC 2025 is being anticipated in some quarters like a trip to the dentist. I mean, I'm certainly nervous about what's going to happen to the interface in iOS 19 (or iOS 26, depending on who's doing the rumor-mongering). And the natural inclination to distrust change only becomes heightened when you hear phrases like "the biggest iOS update in a decade" bandied about. There have certainly been tweaks here and there, but the iPhone interface we have now looks a lot like the one we've been using since iOS 7. There's comfort in that, and the idea that it's all about to change later this year can be unsettling. It doesn't help that it's really hard to assess interface updates until you actually get to see them in person. We can talk all about the rumored changes Apple is going to implement in iOS 19 and other software updates getting previewed at WWDC, but until we're actually using the update ourselves, who knows how smooth the transition will be. We won't be entirely clear what Apple plans to do until the iOS 19/iOS 26 preview gets underway as part of the WWDC 2025 keynote on June 9. But I've been spending some time reviewing some of the leaks and rumors out there about the proposed changes. And I'm feeling a lot less worried about the prospects of an interface update as a result. Here's why. Our best looks at potential iOS 19 changes have come from Front Page Tech videos posted by Jon Prosser, though not everyone's convinced some of those screen captures reflect Apple's final plans for its iPhone software. Still, an iOS 19 preview video posted about a month ago seems to be based on the most up-to-date info about Apple's plans, at least as Prossser tells it. Watching the video, a few things stand out, starting with the rounded — though not perfectly circular — icons on the home screen. A lot of visual elements are rounder in the posted designs, particularly widgets and sliders in the Control Center. The animations when you interact with the interface get a refresh — Prosser describes them as more fluid and bouncy — and there's a glass-like shimmer to some elements like the lock screen shortcuts. To me, the most noteworthy iOS 19 interface changes are the translucent menus that pop up on the home screen when you hold and press on an icon. Do that in iOS 18, and you'll see the same pop-up menu, but it's markedly more opaque. And you'll find a lot of elements at the bottom of your iPhone screen like search bars and a revamped dock that will be part of the iPhone's built-in apps. This will all look very familiar if you've ever strapped on an Apple Vision Pro, as the interface changes seem to be inspired by the look of visionOS — the platform for Apple's spatial computing headset. I haven't had a go with the Vision Pro, but my colleague Mark Spoonauer has. And his Apple Vision Pro review notes a lot of the visual elements like translucent panels and streamlined menus that look like they're coming to the iPhone with the new iOS update. If you're in the same Vision Pro-free boat as me, I'd suggest reading this MacRumors post on the visionOS elements likely to make their way to the iPhone. It helps explain how translucent menus, floating navigation bars and more work on the headset and how they might translate to a different device like an iPhone. Having reviewed all that and taken a closer look at some of the iOS 19 redesign mockups, I'm a lot less nervous about what Apple's going to show off at WWDC 2025. In fact, at the risk of being very wrong in public, I'm not prepared to think that the iOS 19 redesign isn't that big of a deal after all. And I mean that in a good way. When I say the iOS 19 interface update won't be a big deal, I'm not talking about the look of the software. From the images we've seen so far, iOS 19 is going to look radically different from the software currently running on the iPhone. And while that certainly is going to take getting used to, it doesn't seem like those interface changes are fundamentally altering how people use their iPhones. Oh, there will be some changes in that regard. It sounds like search menus are being located to the bottom of the screen, at least in apps like Messages and Music. But that's not a bad thing if you like using your phone one-handed or are used to the Safari layout with the search bar already at the bottom of the screen. From what I can tell, it looks like there's a more visually distinct animation when you switch tabs in one of Apple's built-in apps with that tab highlighted more prominently than it is in iOS 18. That sounds like a great change to me, as I appreciate anything that makes it easy to remember where I am in an app at just a glance. There's one visionOS style element in particular that I'm hoping makes the grade in iOS 19 — less cluttered menus. Since you navigate the Vision Pro with your eyes, you need spaced-out menus so that it's clear what exactly you're looking at when you want to select something. I think the iPhone could benefit from that, too, as it might reduce the number of mistaken taps where you select the wrong item from a drop-down menu. Again, changes like that aren't radically reshaping how you use your phone currently — they're fine-tuning the process you already have in place. To me, that will make the iOS 18 to iOS 19 transition a lot easier to manage. I reserve the right to hoot and holler during the WWDC 2025 keynote if I'm wrong and it turns out Apple is trying to reinvent the wheel in terms of the iPhone's interface. But the changes floating around out there right now sound more evolutionary than anything. And that's change we can all get behind.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
你的舊 iPhone 用不了 WhatsApp？因為系統太舊了
WhatsApp 在 6 月 1 日起更新最低的作業系統要求，提升到使用使用 iOS 15.1 及更新版本的 iPhone 才能正常使用 WhatsApp 服務，而這個門檻也剛好把幾款曾經極為受歡迎的經典 iPhone 拒諸門外，包括 iPhone 5s、iPhone 6、iPhone 6 Plus。是說，這三款手機早在 2018 年獲得最後一版 iOS 12.5.7 更新後就已經停止獲得支援，系統安全性早就未能跟上今天的要求。 而且這次 WhatsApp 提升最低作業系統要求的安排已經延遲了，原定是在上個月就會發生，只是只終在 6 月才正式實行。與此同時，Android 版本的最低的作業系統要求也提升的 OS 5.0 版本。 下一波被停止使用 WhatsApp 服務的，預計就是到 iPhone 6s、iPhone 6s Plus 和第一代 iPhone SE，這三款機型目前最新系統版本為 2021 年發佈的 iOS 15.8.1。 iPhone 16e 香港售價 HK$5,099 起 立即購買 更多內容： PSA: WhatsApp will stop working on these iPhones starting June 1 關於支援的作業系統（WhatsApp） iOS版本歷史（維基百科） 緊貼最新科技資訊、網購優惠，追隨 Yahoo Tech 各大社交平台！ 🎉📱 Tech Facebook： 🎉📱 Tech Instagram： 🎉📱 Tech WhatsApp 社群： 🎉📱 Tech WhatsApp 頻道： 🎉📱 Tech Telegram 頻道：
Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
Scoop: Apple to appeal EU requirement to share info with tech rivals
Apple filed an appeal to the European Commission's specifications around how the company complies with its interoperability requirements, which compel it to share user information with outside developers as part of the Digital Markets Act, per a source familiar with the situation. Why it matters: Apple continues to push back forcefully against requirements imposed by the DMA, which the company has said forces it to give up its intellectual property and compromise user privacy. The deadline to appeal this particular requirement was May 30. How it works: The interoperability requirements are meant to give other device manufacturers and app developers access to Apple features that are normally exclusive to Apple products, including WiFi pairing and notifications on non-Apple smartwatches and headsets. Apple and Meta were the first companies to be hit with DMA fines in April, as Axios first reported. Apple put out a report last December arguing that the DMA's interoperability reports could be abused and expose private user information. What they're saying: "We design our technology to work seamlessly together, so it can deliver the unique experience our users love and expect from our products. The EU's interoperability requirements threaten that foundation, while creating a process that is unreasonable, costly, and stifles innovation," an Apple spokesperson told Axios. "These requirements will also hand data-hungry companies sensitive information, which poses massive privacy and security risks to our EU users." Per the Apple spokesperson, as allowed under the DMA's interoperability requirement, companies including Meta, Google, Garmin and Spotify have requested from Apple user notification content and stored WiFi networks, "giving them the ability to access personal information that even Apple doesn't see." The spokesperson added, "In the end, these deeply flawed rules that only target Apple—and no other company—will severely limit our ability to deliver innovative products and features to Europe, leading to an inferior user experience for our European customers." The other side: Companies that rely on the App Store to distribute their products have welcomed the DMA's requirements of Apple, saying they are long overdue for developers and other businesses to offer customers better features on their apps and devices.
