Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: The king of workout headphones returns with a bang

I’ve been waiting for this day for so long, at least since Beats started rolling out new products a couple of years ago, beginning with 2023’s Beats Studio Buds Plus. Every time I was told there was a new Beats model coming, I prayed it would be the Powerbeats Pro 2. And while I’m sure the company didn’t release the new headphones because of me, it doesn’t take away from my enjoyment of them.

The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are exactly what I wanted from the next iteration of admittedly one of the most important franchises from the brand. They sound better, are lighter and have longer battery life than the amazing Beats Powerbeats Pro. And thanks to their ear hook design, they are more secure than the Beats Fit Pro.

Heaploads of improvements have been made to the headphones, making them one of the best running headphones you can buy today. I’ve been testing the Powerbeats Pro 2 for the last couple of weeks, and if you liked the previous version, you’ll love these. Without further ado, let’s get cracking with this Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review!

Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review

Price and availability

The Powerbeats Pro 2 was announced on 11 February 2025 and is available to buy now at Beats for a recommended price of $249/ £249/ AU$349. It comes in four colours (for now): Jet Black, Quick Sand, Hyper Purple, and Electric Orange. This is the same price the headphones’ predecessor was sold for. These days, you can get them for cheaper around big shopping events such as Black Friday.

Specifications

• Type: Bluetooth in-ear true wireless with ear hooks
• Battery life (ANC on): 8 hours (3.5 additional charges in case)
• Fast charge: yes, 5 minutes = 1.5 hours of playback time, wireless charging (Qi-certified), USB-C charging
• ANC: Yes
• Weight (per bud): 8.7g
• Weather resistance: IPX4

Design and build quality

The Powerbeats Pro 2 underwent an almost complete transformation. The concept stayed the same – in-ear Bluetooth wireless headphones with ear hooks – but they are 20% smaller and 20% lighter than the Powerbeats Pro used to be. The ear hook is made with nickel-titanium alloy and is over 50% smaller, too.

The brand claims it also improved the overall ergonomic shape of the earbud and acoustic housing. It’s true that the Powerbeats Pro 2 look slimmer than before. The large air vent from the top of the buds was moved further back, and Beats also added another vent at the bottom, presumably to enhance airflow and improve acoustic performance.

The number of ear tips included in the box went from four to five – extra-small, small, medium, large and extra-large – to ensure a better for everyone. At 8.7g per bud, the Powerbeats Pro 2 certainly aren’t too heavy, especially since the majority of the weight is distributed around the top of the ears.

Thankfully, the physical buttons remained, meaning that you can start/stop playback, switch between different modes (e.g. ANC, Transparency, etc.) and adjust the volume without using your iPhone. The ingress protection rating remains the same (IPX4), which is more than enough for most workouts. You won’t be able to rinse them under the tap like the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2, though (use a damp cloth instead).

Just a quick note on the microchip. The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 uses Apple’s H2 chip, a slight departure from recent products from the company, which used Beats’ proprietary audio platform. The H2 chip powers both the Apple AirPods Pro 2 and the new Apple AirPods 4, renowned for their audio performance.

In-ear heart rate monitoring

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The headliner feature is heart rate tracking, a first in Beats headphones (other models, such as the Sennheiser Momentum Sport, already have this feature). I have a feeling that in-ear HR monitoring is the main reason why the Powerbeats Pro 2 is using the Apple H2 chip; Apple will likely want to roll out a similar feature soon in AirPods. Rumours are flying around about camera-enabled AirPods, which can see inside your ears – likely to check blood flow/heart rate.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 use an optical sensor with an LED that pulses 100 times per second to detect blood flow. The light reflects off red blood cells, and a photodiode measures the modulated light, similar to how the Apple Watch tracks heart rate. Motion accelerometer helps compensate for movement artefacts, ensuring more accurate readings during workouts. This feature requires both earbuds to be worn for optimal accuracy.

On iOS smartphones, workouts auto-start heart rate tracking when an app records an activity. You can ask Siri for real-time heart rate updates (e.g., “Hey Siri, what’s my heart rate?”). Data is automatically logged into Apple Health (iOS) or third-party fitness apps, as per below:

• Nike Run Club (Running)
• Runna (Marathon/10K training)
• Peloton (Strength, cycling, treadmill)
• Open (Breathwork & meditation)
• Ladder (Strength training)
• Slopes (Skiing & snowboarding)
• YaoYao (Jump rope training)

If you’re tracking a workout with an Apple Watch as well as the Powerbeats Pro 2, iPhones will prioritise the wrist wearable over the headphones. Even though the setup was modelled after the Apple Watch, the Powerbeats Pro 2’s HR-tracking module is smaller, which might compromise data quality.

That said, Beats claims that since the Powerbeats Pro 2 uses a similar optical sensor system as the Apple Watch, the readings should be comparable. If anything, because the ear is close to the head (obviously) and major arteries, heart rate readings are expected to be highly accurate, potentially even better during movement than wrist-based monitors.

The heart rate tracking process is different on Android smartphones. For them, heart rate tracking works with any fitness app that supports heart rate monitoring, but you’ll need to manually start each session with a double tap and hold on either earbud.

Beats says heart rate tracking is low-power and does not significantly affect battery life. Since it only runs during workouts, its power consumption is minor compared to ANC and Transparency Mode.

I need to test the headphones for more workouts, but the initial tests show that for steady workouts (e.g. jogging), the Powerbeats Pro 2 is accurate enough. It would be better if the phones would recognise the headphones as heart rate monitors so I wouldn’t have to fiddle with the Apple Health app.

Like the Sennheiser buds, heart rate monitoring on the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 is a novelty feature, but it adds to the versatility of the headphones. I won’t throw away my Garmin watch yet, but if they are out of battery and I’m desperate to log a run in Strava right now, it’s good to know the Powerbeats Pro 2 can step in and track my heart rate straight into the app.

Audio performance

A long time has passed since the release of the Powerbeats Pro in 2019, and many modern headphones have features the Powerbeats Pro don’t. One of these is Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC), which, thankfully, has been added to the Powerbeats Pro 2. Beats says the headphones process external sounds 200 times per second for a real-time noise-blocking experience. Of course, Beats also added Transparency mode for those who prefer to know what’s happening around them when they exercise.

As for audio quality, the Powerbeats Pro 2 introduces a new 9.5mm dual-layer transducer for richer, more precise bass. Bass response is further enhanced by the new venting system, which also reduces ear pressure. Even though Beats clearly paid a lot of attention to improving bass on the Powerbeats Pro 2, the headphones move away from the signature, bass-heavy Beats sound yesteryear and provide a more even soundscape.

The sound output is excellent, which I’m sure many people will be happy about. In quieter environments, you can listen to the headphones on almost the lowest volume. Better still, even when you crank up the volume, there is little to no evidence of distortion. I haven’t gone higher than 85% of the maximum volume because I didn’t want to damage my hearing, but up until that point, the audio sounds pristine.

Furthermore, the Powerbeats Pro 2 supports Personalised Spatial Audio (PSA) support with Dolby Atmos for immersive 360° sound. PSA is a 3D sound technology that adjusts the audio experience based on the unique shape of your ears and head. Adaptive EQ ensures that even when PSA is off, the Powerbeats Pro 2 automatically adjusts mid and high frequencies based on your ear shape.

I haven’t tried this, but the headphones enable lossless audio with ultra-low latency on Apple Vision Pro.

As for call quality, the Powerbeats Pro 2 has five microphones (when using both earbuds) for clearer calls. The machine learning-based noise isolation ensures people on the other end of the line can hear your voice, which is made even more distinct thanks to the voice accelerometer that detects when you're speaking to enhance clarity.

Battery life and charging

Heart rate monitoring is cool and all, but battery life is more important from an everyday use point of view. Thankfully, Beats introduced some serious improvements in this department. The Powerbeats Pro 2 have a total battery life is 45 hours (buds + case), which is 21 hours longer than the Powerbeats Pro (24 hours).

You get 10 hours on the buds and an additional 3.5 charges in the case. This changes to eight hours with the ANC/Transparency mode enabled, which is still not too bad. The headphones have fast-charging functionality, too: five minutes of charging will get you 1.5 hours of playback (ANC off). Real-life testing confirms these numbers.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 is the first Powerbeats model with wireless charging (Qi-certified). You can pop it on any wireless charger unit and let technology do its magic. The case can also be charged via USB-C. The headphones charge from zero to 100 per cent in about two hours.

Verdict

I almost said that the Beats did the impossible with the Powerbeats Pro 2 by improving something perfect (i.e. Powerbeats Pro). The reason why I won’t say this is because it was very much possible for a company like Beats to better their hero product. Not just because five years have passed since the release of the Powerbeats Pro but also because the company knows how to create exceptional audio products.

I’m glad Beats chose to keep the in-ear approach with the Powerbeats Pro 2. Open-ear headphones are all the rage now (see some recommendations below), but the Powerbeats series has always been about sound isolation and letting you exist in your world when you exercise. The ANC adds another layer to this experience, which is a real boon.

Considering the headphones sell for the same recommended price as the Powerbeats Pro, it’s impossible not to recommend them. Even if they were more expensive, I’d suggest you check them out, but the lack of price increase means the Powerbeats Pro 2 should be on top of your imaginary shopping list when looking for new workout buds. Just get them already!

Also consider

Beats Fit Pro: If you love the Beats sound but want something smaller and more discreet, the Beats Fit Pro are a great alternative. They have wing tips instead of ear hooks, making them more compact while still offering a secure fit. They also feature ANC, Spatial Audio, and Apple’s H1 chip, but lack heart rate tracking and have a shorter battery life than the Powerbeats Pro 2.

Bose Ultra Open Earbuds: If you want open-ear comfort rather than in-ear isolation, the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are a unique alternative. Unlike the Powerbeats Pro 2, they don’t seal inside your ears or use ANC but instead rest outside the ear for an ultra-lightweight, pressure-free fit. This makes them ideal for situational awareness, like running in busy areas, but they won’t provide the same deep bass or noise-blocking experience as the Powerbeats Pro 2.

Apple AirPods Pro 2: For Apple ecosystem fans, the AirPods Pro 2 (which share the same H2 chip as the Powerbeats Pro 2) offer seamless iOS integration, ANC, and Spatial Audio, but lack the secure fit needed for intense workouts. They’re perfect for everyday use but won’t stay put as well during high-impact exercise.