Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Review – Secure, Feature-Packed, and Worth It?

I don't know about you guys, but I'm beyond excited for the return of ear-hooks to the Powerbeats Pro 2. Earbuds have been improving over the years, but we have always faced the challenge of keeping them securely in place. You would often find yourself repeatedly adjusting them, pushing them deeper into your ear canal to ensure they stay put. Well, it seems that Beats has finally listened to our concerns and brought back ear-hooks! The Powerbeats Pro 2 is officially here, now featuring heart-rate tracking and active noise cancellation, making them one of the most exciting new fitness-focused earbuds on the market.

Nearly six years after the original Powerbeats Pro, the second generation has arrived with significant improvements. They now offer noise cancellation, a more natural-sounding transparency mode, and a complete redesign both inside and out. The earbuds are slimmer, more comfortable, and packed with Apple's latest technology, including the new heart rate monitor that enhances the fitness tracking experience.

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Quick Specs

Specification	Powerbeats Pro 2
Drivers	9.5mm custom driver
ANC	Yes
Battery Life (Buds)	8hrs (10hrs without ANC)
Total with Case	36hrs (45hrs without ANC)
Weight	8.7g per bud
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3 , USB-C
Waterproof	IPX4 buds (not submersible)
Frequency	Not Defined
Miscellaneous	Heart Rate Monitoring, Beats app, Find My Earbuds, Low Lag Mode
Price	$250

Design

The new Powerbeats Pro 2 has slimmed down significantly, boasting a 20% reduction in size and weight, along with a 50% reduction in the ear hook size. This makes them much easier to wear comfortably, even for those who wear glasses. The ear-hooks provide a secure fit, ensuring that the earbuds stay in place during running, gym workouts, and even high-impact exercises. The fit is especially important now that the Powerbeats Pro 2 includes heart rate monitoring, which requires firm contact with the sensors for accurate readings. Beats includes five different ear tips, allowing users to find the perfect fit rather than being stuck with a single, non-adjustable option.

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While the charging case has been reduced in size by a third, it is still relatively large compared to competing wireless earbuds. This could be a downside for those looking for ultra-compact portability. The Powerbeats Pro 2 is available in several stylish colors, including Electric Orange, Hyper Purple, Jet Black, and Quick Sand.

Sound Quality

The Powerbeats Pro 2 delivers a satisfying sound experience, though it may not compete with high-end earbuds that prioritize premium audio fidelity. While it is a step below the AirPods Pro 2 in overall quality, it still offers a balanced and energetic sound signature. The earbuds feature custom 9.5mm drivers, though Beats does not disclose the full frequency range. The low-end response is punchy, making bass-heavy tracks enjoyable, but the midrange and treble could use some refinement.

Compared to the AirPods Pro 2, the Powerbeats Pro 2 lacks the same level of spatial audio precision and high-frequency clarity. Meanwhile, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer superior noise isolation and a more refined soundstage, particularly for audiophiles. If you prioritize deep bass and workout-friendly tuning, the Powerbeats Pro 2 holds its own, but for those seeking absolute sonic fidelity, the Sony WF-1000XM5 might be a better alternative.

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Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

Unlike their predecessors, the Powerbeats Pro 2 finally introduces active noise cancellation. However, while it’s a welcome feature, it doesn't quite match the performance of AirPods Pro 2 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. There is no Adaptive mode, only basic ANC on, Transparency mode, or ANC off. The ANC is effective at reducing low-end noise, such as airplane engines and bus rumble, but struggles more with higher-pitched sounds. In a noisy cafe, the ANC helps reduce background chatter but doesn’t completely block out nearby conversations.

Transparency mode, while functional, doesn’t sound as natural as the AirPods Pro. It also introduces some background hissing and struggles to reproduce higher frequencies accurately. While the Powerbeats Pro 2’s ANC is a great addition, it’s clear that Bose and Apple still hold the lead in noise cancellation technology.

Controls

 A button on the face of each earbud underneath the Beats logo lets you play or pause audio, answer or mute a call (one press), skip to the next track or end a call (two presses), or go back to the previous track (three presses). You cannot customize these simple playback controls; however, you can customize what a press-and-hold does on each earbud. By default, it switches between Transparency and Noise Cancellation modes on both earbuds. You can select for it to cycle to Off mode or to activate Siri. Both buds have a volume rocker on the top edge that is relatively easy to find and control.

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The controls are simple to use, and thanks to their physical nature, you won’t be pressing them accidentally when you go to take the buds in and out. They’re also a whole lot better if you’ve got sweaty fingers, or if you’ve got gloves on. No more will your fingers not register taps and swipes as they might with some of the alternative options out there.

Gestures	Left Bud	Right Bud
Single Press	Play/Pause, Answer/ Mute Call	Play/Pause, Answer/ Mute Call
Double Press	Skip Forward, Decline Call	Skip Forward, Decline Call
Triple Press	Skip Back	Skip Back
Press and Hold	Noise Cancellation/ Transparency mode	Noise Cancellation / Transparency mode

Connectivity

The earbuds connect to your phone via Bluetooth 5.3 and support just the AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs. They include Apple's proprietary H2 chip, which eases connectivity between iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices and allows you to transfer between them seamlessly. The earphones don't support Google Fast Pair but have what Beats calls one-touch pairing with Android devices via the Beats mobile app.

Software experience will vary depending on the OS you use. On iOS, there is no actual app. Instead, you will have to Access the controls in the bluetooth and settings menus. You can control noise cancellation modes, tweak some controls, and access the Find My feature. In the settings Menu, you can also conduct a fit test for the eartips nut you don't get the Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, or Hearing Protection Features of the Airpods Pro 2, which is frustrating.

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On Android device, you need to use the Beats app. The app mirrors most of the controls and settings available to iPhones. Neither Beats nor Apple offers a user-adjustable EQ for any of their earphones. Codec support of the Powerbeats Pro 2 isn’t spectacular, especially for Android users: There’s no LDAC support, or AptX, so you don’t get treated to the highest quality streaming. That’s no great loss, but it is a shame. Apple users can listen to the higher quality streams from Apple Music though, so that’s a bonus.

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Heart Rate Monitoring 

A heart rate sensor is new to the Powerbeats Pro 2. Beats says it combines data from both earpieces and runs it through a custom algorithm to deliver the most accurate readings possible. Due to this design, the heart rate monitor function only works when both earbuds are in your ears. You can access the data in the Apple Health app and third-party iPhone apps, including Nike Run Club, Peloton, and Runna. Beats says the heart rate monitor should also work with any Android app that can track heart rate data.

Battery life & Charging

Beats claims an impressive battery life of 8 hours per charge with ANC on (10 hours without). The charging case provides an additional 28 hours of playback with ANC on, or 35 hours without. A quick five-minute charge delivers 1.5 hours of playback, and the total charging time from 0 to 100% is about two hours.

The case now supports wireless charging in addition to USB-C, making it more convenient than before.

Price 

At $250, the Powerbeats Pro 2 is priced competitively with the AirPods Pro 2. While not the most affordable fitness earbuds, they offer a strong mix of features, making them a great choice for active users.

Should You Buy Them?

The Powerbeats Pro 2 is an excellent choice for fitness enthusiasts looking for secure, feature-rich earbuds. While they aren’t the best-sounding or most advanced noise-canceling earbuds, their unique design, heart rate monitoring, and long battery life make them a compelling option for active users.

Pros

✔ Secure and comfortable fit 

✔ Heart rate monitoring 

✔ Good battery life

 ✔ Physical buttons for controls

Cons

✖ Large charging case 

✖ Audio quality is decent but not top-tier 

✖ Lacks advanced EQ settings                

Similar Alternatives

• AirPods Pro 2 ($250) - Offers superior ANC, seamless iOS integration, and better transparency mode. Lacks ear hooks and heart rate monitoring.
• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ($300) - Best-in-class ANC and richer sound, but slightly bulkier and not as workout-friendly.
• Sony WF-1000XM5 ($300) - Superior sound customization with EQ tuning and top-tier ANC, but no ear hooks and slightly weaker water resistance.
• Jabra Elite 8 Active ($200) - More affordable with good ANC, a durable build, and strong workout focus, but less refined sound.