Powerbeats Pro 2 is the new TWS from Beats, a company that has launched some great products in the past. The original Powerbeats Pro launched in 2019, and six years later we have a successor, but can they deliver? Well, that’s true in almost every department compared to the OG model.
If you are in the market for a fitness-focused TWS, chances are you will be recommended affordable options priced under Rs 100. 10,000 and till the end, the next set are premium products from Bose, Sennheiser and Sony. Powerbeats Pro 2 belong to the latter group and were meant to be business from the start. It comes with a range of features, including a heart rate monitoring sensor, ANC and adaptive EQ, and claims up to 45 hours of battery life. Additionally, Beats claims to have made several upgrades to the OG model, which certainly makes the Powerbeats Pro 2 a worthy upgrade on paper. Let’s dive into the review and see if it actually delivers.
The charging box weighs 77.7 grams
Powerbeats Pro 2 design and comfort: Thicker case, but great for workouts
- Dimensions – in-ear
- Weight – 8.7 g (bud) and 69 g (box)
- Dimensions – 66x75x34mm (casing)
Fitness issues are a common problem with TWS, and they become worse when exercising. Powerbeats Pro 2 stand out from the crowd with their unique earhook design. The moment you take them out, you know this isn’t your ordinary product. Beats claims that the new headphones have a redesigned earhook design compared to the originals (launched in 2019). This provides ultimate stability.
Although they look heavy, they feel lighter and provide good in-ear stability. Not many companies focus on the basics, but Beats (or now Apple) has done just that. The company claims that the Powerbeats Pro 2 were tested by nearly 1,000 athletes, and the improved ergonomics are proof of that.
The earhooks on the TWS are reinforced with nickel-titanium alloy, which is one of the biggest reasons why it’s lighter than its predecessor and offers flexibility, grip, and comfort. I also really like the sealing quality of the Pro 2, I’m really impressed with it.
The Powerbeats Pro 2’s design betrays this; they’re built to handle tough workouts and can be your daily companion at the gym or on your morning run. The Pro 2 is also IPX4 rated for sweat and water resistance. In the retail box, Beats is the only brand to offer five earbud sizes – Extra Small, Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large for better personalized comfort.
Powerbeats Pro 2 is IPX4 rated sweat and water resistant
Available in Jet Black, Quicksand, Ultra Purple, and Electric Orange. I got the orange one for review and after using it for a few weeks, I can confidently say that the color is eye-catching. For everyday workout clothing, if you’re like me and don’t like pops of color, jet black and quicksand are probably two better subtle colors.
After all these weeks, this sturdy box is the one thing I can’t stand. While Beats claims the Powerbeats Pro 2 have a smaller case than the original, it’s still quite large compared to current competitors.
Powerbeats Pro 2 sound quality: top-notch
- Apple H2 chip
- Siri integration
- Available for iPhone and Android devices
- heart rate monitoring sensor
In terms of sound quality, the Powerbeats Pro 2 can be a great companion for your morning run or gym. Now, while morning runs create ambient noise, gyms often have loud music playing, and the Powerbeats Pro 2 can handle both situations.
Powerbeats Pro 2 also comes with spatial audio
Powerbeats Pro 2 feature active noise cancellation (ANC) that adapts to ambient noise and personal fit. The company says the ANC on the Pro 2 uses a hybrid system of outward-facing feed mics and inward-facing feedback mics. Powerbeats Pro 2 continuously monitor and adjust noise cancellation to match ambient sounds. There’s also a transparency mode on board that lets ambient sound back in for a natural listening experience. Interestingly, when ANC and Transparency mode are disabled, Adaptive EQ is enabled, which Beats claims provides personalized tuning for an individual fit. The ANC effect is good, but I still feel that AirPods Pro 2 does a better job of noise reduction.
The Pro 2 supports SBC and AAC codecs, which is a bit disappointing considering there’s no support for high-resolution audio. The exception is, of course, if you’re using Vision Pro. This is the advantage of Powerbeats Pro 2 using Apple H2 chip.
It comes with active noise cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, and adaptive equalizer
Purely in terms of sound quality, the Powerbeats Pro 2 deliver a great audio experience. On Hans Zimmer’s “Why So Serious,” from the Dark Knight movie, the headphones handled the low end without distortion or muddiness. Great tracks feature deep, rumbling bass lines and sudden low-frequency drops.
Billie Eilish’s “Bury a Friend” was handled equally well, with the Pro 2 producing deep and controlled bass. This track is great for checking out prominent and often sub-bass frequencies. “Come Away With Me” by Norah Jones is a great track to test midrange clarity and detail. Pro 2 processed her vocals and acoustic instruments in the song, highlighting mid-range clarity and detail. You can hear the nuances of her voice and instrument.
The Pro 2 also processed Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” song at varying volumes without compression or distortion. The track features a wide range of dynamics, from quiet harmonies to powerful rock sections.
The earhooks on Powerbeats Pro 2 feature nickel-titanium alloy wiring for comfort and flexibility
Another highlight of the Powerbeats Pro 2 is the feature set it offers. It’s like TWS is filled up. Heart rate monitoring is a great feature of the Pro 2, but it still leaves a lot to be desired. During weeks of testing, there was no way to simply put on the earbuds and start heart rate monitoring. There are a limited number of apps that can do heart rate monitoring, including the Nike Run Club, Slopes, Runna, Open, Ladder, and Peloton apps. Of course, you’ll need to sync the Health app with these running apps. Interestingly, on Android, any heart rate-capable app can be linked to the Pro 2 to measure heart rate. Sadly, this is not the case on iOS. This feature works well with the aforementioned apps on iPhone. Bottom line, the Pro 2 has heart rate monitoring, which is a big plus for those who miss out on that feature.
The Pro 2 is also a great headset for calls. During my review, I was able to test call quality in different scenarios, and the Pro 2 performed well. ANC can be put to good use during calls. I wish Beats would add a full-fledged IP rating instead of IPX4.
Five eartip sizes are available in the retail box – Small, Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large
Powerbeats Pro 2 battery life: Best of all
- Up to 45 hours of battery life
- Up to 8 hours of playback time with ANC turned on (without protective case)
- Case supports fast charging (almost)
Battery life is another highlight of the Pro 2, setting the benchmark for other sports headphones. The company claims that the Pro 2 can offer up to 10 hours of continuous playback without a case, and up to 45 hours of combined playback with a case. As an added bonus, the Pro 2 also supports fast charging, so a quick 5-minute charge can provide over 90 minutes of music playback time. According to the company, the Powerbeats Pro 2 earphones can provide up to 8 hours of playback time with ANC turned on, and up to 36 hours with the charging case.
In my lengthy review, I found the Pro 2’s battery life to be very satisfactory, lasting nearly three days without additional charging with intermittent use. That’s a number I’ve never seen any other competitor match. It takes approximately two hours to charge the TWS from 0% to 100%.
These headphones are said to have up to 45 hours of battery life (with charging case)
Powerbeats Pro 2 Verdict
For those who want a fitness companion, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are an excellent TWS option. It works cross-platform and is compatible with Android devices as well. If you value comfort and amazing sound quality, the Pro 2 will easily meet your needs. The secure and comfortable fit is unmatched. Battery life is another benchmark-setting highlight. Of course, heart rate monitoring is the icing on the cake, although I wish there was an easier way to measure heart rate. The ANC performs well, but I still believe the AirPods Pro 2 (review) do it better compared to the competition. However, I wish the charging case was more pocket-friendly and smaller.
If you’re looking for an alternative, the AirPods Pro 2 are still the best second choice. You can also check out the Sony WF-1000XM5 (review) and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra.
