Latest news with #BeatsPowerbeatsPro2
Tom's Guide
6 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I love these tiny headphones for running and you can get them for $29 in a limited time deal on Amazon
The JLab JBuds Mini claim to be the world's smallest earbuds and that fact, along with their low price, might make you assume they don't offer much in terms of sound quality. However, they punch well above their minuscule size and weight with regards to sound, and they have a great fit for running and workouts. I use them regularly ahead of sports buds that cost many times as much, and you can get the JLab JBuds Mini for just $29 on Amazon right now thanks to this limited time deal. The tiny JLab JBuds Mini are reduced by 25% on Amazon right now, with seven colors of the earbuds included in the sale (teal for the win, but the black buds are more subtle). The small headphones have a great fit for workouts and sound surprisingly good given their price and size, and even last 5.5 hours on a charge despite their tiny case. While I can't conclusively verify the claim that the JLab JBuds Mini are the world's smallest headphones, the buds weigh just 3.3g each and the case is less than two inches long. The convenience of such small headphones can't be overstated, because you can easily slip the case into your shorts or a running belt to carry with you when training. The case even has a keyring so you can attach to your keys if you want to — it's small enough for this to be practical. Despite their small size, the buds last 5.5 hours on a charge, which is more than enough for long runs and other workouts, and you get 20 hours in total with the case. The sound quality is also unexpectedly good. They don't outperform the best running headphones like the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 on this front, but the JBuds Mini cost a fraction of the price and still have powerful and clear sound. I've also found the fit to be excellent, because the buds are so small that they sit comfortably inside the ear. I've done many long, sweaty runs with the headphones and they haven't budged, and they fit comfortably underneath a headband, if you wear one. While you don't get active noise cancellation, which is fair at this price, the JBuds Mini do have a transparency mode you can use to hear your surroundings when exercising outdoors. They're excellent value and occasionally so much more convenient than larger buds that it's worth picking up a pair at this sale price just to have around the house. Or two, if you can't pick between colors. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
CNET
14-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
My Teen Loves Her AirPods Pro 2. You Can Save $50 on a Pair of Your Own Right Now
My 13-year-old daughter loves her music and her privacy, and for years she has wanted a pair of AirPods. I always considered them too expensive and she's been using cheaper options, like the Amazon Echo Buds, as a result. But after one too many pairs being mysteriously "lost", I figure there's never been a better time to upgrade her to a pair of AirPods Pro 2. I picked them up during last year's sales, and they were definitely well-received. She's happy, she uses them every day and she hasn't lost them yet. They are currently $199 at Amazon -- a nice $50 discount on the usual price. While that's more than the low $149 we saw during Prime Day, it's still a solid price for a high-quality pair like these. We can't promise that this price will last for long, unfortunately, which means you should probably think about placing your order soon. Read more: Best Prime Day Apple Deals Still Remaining Why I didn't wait for the AirPods Pro 3 Rumors abound that Apple will replace the Pro 2 with an updated Pro 3 version later this year. My kid wanted headphones sooner, so I got her the Pro 2s. But if you're on the fence, here's my perspective. The main improvements to the Pro 3 are said to be heart-rate monitoring like the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 have, as well as a new design. Other speculation points to improved sound and processing with Apple's H3 chip, temperature sensors, built-in infrared cameras, a touchscreen on the case, live translation of languages and more. There's no way to know what they actually will have, but I do know that they'll be more expensive than the Pro 2 (especially at this sale price). I don't think those new features are going to be worth the money, however. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. You might have a different take, especially if you want heart-rate monitoring on your headphones for fitness sessions or one of those rumored extras. In that case it might be worth waiting to see what the new versions include. The AirPods Pro 3 are expected to be announced in September and on sale soon after. Why I didn't get the AirPods 4 instead Why did I choose AirPods Pro 2 instead of the newer AirPods 4 with ANC? First off, as I mentioned in another article about a different pair of earbuds I bought, I think sealed, in-ear buds are better than open-design models like the AirPods 4. The seal creates another layer of noise isolation and contributes to superior sound quality, and if you want to pay attention to the world you can always engage ambient sound mode, which Apple calls transparency mode. XS eartips mean an XL hug from a happy kid may be coming soon. Lexy Savvides/CNET Also a factor was the commentary of CNET reviewer David Carnoy, who considers the Pro 2 the best Apple noise-canceling wireless earbuds: "While we're quite impressed with those new models -- and with the AirPods 4 ANC in particular -- the AirPods Pro 2 remain arguably the best Apple AirPods you can buy if you don't mind having silicone ear tips jammed in your ears." My daughter uses earplugs all the time to help her sleep, so she definitely qualifies as somebody who's comfortable stuffing things in her ears. Like her fingers, when I start using words like "sigma," "skibidi" and "relatable" to try to relate to her. I asked Carnoy about the Pro 2s potentially not fitting in her kid-size ears and he reassured me that the range of eartips that come with the Pro 2s "now include XS, so they should fit." Should you buy now with the threat of tariffs? It's no secret that President Donald Trump's tariffs are leading to higher prices for a lot of things, including electronics. We're actually tracking the price of the AirPods Pro 2 in our tariff tracker and as of press time the price has actually decreased since January. If you're in the market for AirPods 2 now anyway, now is a good time to buy. A Reuters report from April said AirPods could be subject to a 39% price hike to cover tariff costs, but the tariff situation is fluid, so I wouldn't use that potential increase as a reason to buy now. If you wait until the new model comes out later this year, the price on the older AirPods Pro 2 might even get lower. Do AirPods make a great gift? It took me years to finally understand, but yes, for someone looking for wireless earbuds, AirPods -- especially the Apple AirPods Pro 2 -- make the perfect gift, regardless of whether you're a teenage girl or not. If you're looking for more gifting options, check out our roundup of the best tech gifts under $100.
Tom's Guide
10-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 just hit their lowest ever price for Prime Day
It took a long time for Beats to release a successor to the original Beats Powerbeats Pro, but the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 were worth the wait. They're as good as sports headphones get, and I've run hundreds of happy miles while wearing them, as well as doing bike rides and strength workouts with them. This Prime Day you can get the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 for $179, a $70 and the lowest price I've ever seen them. The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 have crashed to their lowest ever price on Amazon right now as part of the Prime Day sales. I found the buds perfect for running and other workouts thanks to their secure and comfortable fit, long battery life and great sound quality. I have the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 as my top pick in my round-up of the best running headphones, and they also sit at the top of our list of best workout headphones. There are several reasons why I rate the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 so highly as sports headphones, but it all starts with the fit. The earhook creates a secure fit not matter how intense your activity is, and the buds didn't budge at all during 20 miles runs during marathon training runs. They are also slimmer and lighter than the original Powerbeats Pro, which makes them more comfortable to wear and also means they fit easily alongside glasses and other headwear. The Powerbeats Pro 2 also offer great battery life of eight hours even when using ANC, and they have physical button controls, which I always find much easier to use on sports buds than touch panels. I also found the sound quality good on the headphones, with the powerful bass-forward profile you expect from Beats. The ANC is also pretty good, if not as outstanding as on some buds I've tried like the Bose QC Earbuds, and the transparency mode on the Powerbeats Pro 2 helps you to stay aware of what's going on around you when exercising outdoors. There are some downsides to the buds, the main being that I wouldn't rely on the built-in heart rate monitor because it's hard to use and sometimes inaccurate, in my experience. Even with all of the excellent features, I still think they are a little overpriced at $249, but at this reduced price of $179 the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are well worth looking at if you're shopping sports headphones in the sale.
CNET
08-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
These Beats Earbuds Are My New Favorites for Workouts, and They're Down to an All-Time Low Price for Prime Day
Amazon Prime day sale: The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are available at their lowest price ever for Amazon Prime Day. These ear-hook style true-wireless earbuds normally cost $250, but they're now down to $180 on both Amazon and Best Buy. That's the lowest price we've seen on earbuds that are still relatively new to market. Grab them while you can since this is a limited-time deal and we don't know how long it'll stick around. Beats launched the Powerbeats Pro 2 earlier this year after a six-year hiatus in the lineup. The new pair introduced a built-in heart rate tracker, improved the ergonomics, and borrowed the Apple H2 chip from the AirPods Pro 2. I've been using them on and off since launch, and these are my new go-to earbuds to use for workouts. The Powerbeats Pro 2 are feature-packed Prakhar Khanna/CNET Beats' new workout earbuds represent one of the biggest generational updates to this model. They come equipped with the Apple H2 chip, which puts them on par with the AirPods Pro 2. Beats says it's "leveraged Apple's best noise canceling." I find that I get a good, secure seal when I'm wearing them, so the noise cancellation performance is pretty good. However, they're tuned differently compared with the flagship Apple earbuds. The Powerbeats Pro 2 are more bassy, which some gym enthusiasts might appreciate. The best part about them is their fit, thanks to their ear hook build. The music never left my ears. Whether I was on a run or in the gym, the earbuds sat comfortably. More than the fit, I was surprised by the voice-calling performance. As CNET's David Carnoy noted in his review, "Thanks to the H2 chip, new microphones and voice accelerometers to help pinpoint your voice, Beats has made some big improvements in the voice department." Read more: Best True Wireless Earbuds With Ear Hooks for 2025 Android users have to manually start the heart rate monitor in the app or use the control button on the buds. Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET I haven't relied on their heart rate monitoring system, because I have an Apple Watch. And if you're like me and you already own the Apple Watch, your iPhone will prioritize readings from the Watch. If you don't own one, it'll show the heart rate data in Apple's Health app. Like other Beats products, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are also platform-agnostic, and the company says all Android fitness and wellness apps with heart rate monitoring capabilities are compatible with its earbuds. That said, the Powerbeats Pro 2 offer a few Apple-exclusive features, like personalized spatial audio with head tracking, hands-free Siri, audio sharing and iCloud pairing across all your Apple devices logged in to your iCloud account. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 key specs Weight: 8.7 grams per earbud (case weighs 69 grams) Bluetooth 5.3 Apple H2 chip Custom designed, dual-element dynamic diaphragm transducer IPX4 splash-proof and sweat-proof Active noise cancellation (adaptive) Transparency mode Adaptive EQ Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking Six microphones total (one dedicated voice microphone on each earbud) Sensors (per bud): Optical in-ear detection, optical heart rate monitoring, accelerometer, gyroscope Customizable controls Five sizes of soft silicon ear tips (XS, S, M, L, XL) Wireless charging case (Qi compatible or via USB-C cable) Battery life: Up to 10 hours with ANC off (8 hours with ANC on) 35 additional hours from charging case with ANC off (28 hours with ANC on) Fast Fuel: 5-minute charge gets you up to 1.5 hours of playback Telephony: Up to five microphones employed for phone calls, wind-noise reduction, voice accelerometer isolates user's voice Colors: Electric Orange, jet black, Hyper Purple and Quick Sand The case isn't easy to carry Prakhar Khanna/CNET Though Beats made the Powerbeats Pro 2 50% smaller, the case is still on the bigger side. It isn't as comfortable as carrying other earbud cases, especially when you go for a run. I leave the case at home most of the time, but if you want a pair of earbuds that's easy to carry in a case, the Powerbeats Pro 2 aren't for you. That said, if portability isn't a priority, the Powerbeats Pro 2 can be counted among the best ear hook earbuds on the market right now, which is why they're on CNET's list of the best wireless earbuds of 2025. They offer good sound quality and great noise cancellation and voice call performance, and they stay snug in your ears. They also offer heart rate detection. With the $50 discount, this might be the best time to buy them. If you're interested in other options to improve your listening experience, check out our roundup of the best earbud and headphone deals.
New York Times
08-07-2025
- New York Times
The 13 Best Prime Day Earbud and Headphone Deals
Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter Sony LinkBuds Fit Earbuds — Top Pick Amazon deal price: $128 (deal on black); street price: $170 What we like: Our top wireless Bluetooth earbuds pick. Balanced, full-bodied sound, which you can adjust in the Sony app. Comfortable. Hands-free voice control works with any operating system. Microphones sound clear on phone calls and significantly reduce background and wind noise. Other things to know: Allows more higher-pitched sounds to pass through than other models. The 5- to 6-hour battery life is less than we'd like, but on a par with that of other feature-heavy earbuds. Charging case adds another 15 hours, but we wish it supported wireless charging. Read more: The Best Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds — Worth Considering Amazon deal price: $180; street price: $250 What we like: Wireless Bluetooth workout earbuds worth considering for people who want a built-in heart-rate monitor. Can work with popular fitness apps. Apple-friendly with hook-over-the-ear design. Battery life is eight to 10 hours. Provides ample bass and a slight emphasis on the highs to ensure clear vocals. Other things to know: Pricey. Extra high-frequency boost may sound artificially hyped to sensitive ears. Heart-rate measurements may not be as accurate as those of a chest-strap monitor. Water resistance sufficient for light rain but may not be enough for people who sweat profusely. Read more: The Best Workout Earbuds and Headphones Anker Soundcore Space C30i Earbuds — Worth Considering Amazon deal price: $49 (deal on white or black); street price: $70 What we like: Earbuds worth considering for runners who prefer an ear-cuff design. Best combination of design, performance, and price in that category. Leaves the ear canal completely open and uncovered. Fit was comfortable and stable in our tests. Call quality is clear. Other things to know: Less bass response than our open-ear pick offers, but still enjoyable. Touch controls are small and hard to find. No EQ tool in app. Available in white or black. Read more: The Best Headphones for Running EarFun Free 2S Earbuds — Budget Pick Amazon deal price: $28 (use promo code EAFRE2SF); street price: $40 What we like: Our budget wireless Bluetooth earbuds pick, and the best sub-$50 earbuds we've tried. Impressive sound and features for the price. IPX7 dust- and water-resistance rating. Quality of background-noise-reducing microphones rivals those of more expensive models. Other things to know: Lack active noise cancellation and hear-through mode. Sound quality isn't as balanced as that of our top pick. Use code EAFRE2SF to get the deal. We once saw a $16 lightning deal for these earbuds, but we doubt they'll drop that low again. Read more: The Best Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds — Worth Considering Amazon deal price: $150; street price: $200 What we like: Wireless Bluetooth earbuds worth considering for people who use Apple devices exclusively and prioritize staying in the Apple ecosystem above all else. Offers a few great features for Apple fans, including always-listening Siri and a new hearing-aid capability. Other things to know: Most of its major specs — including its six-hour battery life, always-on voice control, head-tracking spatial audio, and IPX4 water resistance — are matched by Sony's LinkBuds Fit, which have a smaller design, a more secure fit, easier controls, and a lower price. ANC isn't nearly as effective in airplane band as that of our noise-cancelling picks. Not the best deal price we've seen, but we think it might drop even lower later this week. Read more: The Best Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
