Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Review – Enhanced Wireless Earbuds with Heart Rate Monitoring

The Powerbeats Pro was an awesome wireless earbuds from Beats (or Apple) back in 2020 when I reviewed it. It pairs very easily with an iPhone (also works on Android via Bluetooth), has that ear hooks design that keep the earbuds steady, and has a fun and punchy sound signature.

Years have gone by and I’m glad to see that the Powerbeats Pro is making a comeback with the Powerbeats Pro 2. It keeps what’s great about the original Powerbeats Pro and amps it up even further with improvements across the board.

UNBOXING AND PACKAGING CONTENTS

The Powerbeats Pro 2 comes in a sleek, compact package containing the earbuds, charging case, multiple ear tip sizes (XS to XL), and a USB-C charging cable. The packaging is minimal yet premium, reflecting Apple’s influence on the Beats brand.

SETUP

Setup is fairly easy especially if you are using an iPhone, thanks to the Apple H2 chip within – which is the same chip that is powering the Apple AirPods Pro 2. A pop up will appear on your screen once you start opening the case for the first time, and you can just simply tap to connect.

On iOS, you’ll also see that Apple has added the Powerbeats Pro 2 into the iOS Settings (where you can access more advanced options). Neat. No additional installation of an app is required.

DESIGN AND FEATURES

The new Powerbeats Pro 2’s design has a similar resemblance to the original. It still has that hook design that wraps itself behind your ear, ensuring they stay in place. For those who like to wear these earbuds to exercise (jogging, gymming, etc), they will love how unmoved these earbuds are compared to traditional earbuds like the AirPods or Jabra’s.

These hooks are quite nice as they give you a sense of security whenever you wear these earbuds out. They don’t come off at all no matter what I did, and they never felt like they were about to fall off. It’s really good and feels comfortable too. Sure, it takes a bit more fiddling to get them in place compared to traditional earbuds, but the secure fit is worth the effort if you are going to wear these often while exercising.

Beats wants to make sure that the earbuds fit perfectly around and on your ears. Inside the packaging, you’ll find many ear tips sizes which include XS and XL. I thought I’d like the XS-sized tips but I found that they didn’t exactly create a tight seal in my ear canal, so I opted for the M size. To make sure you get the perfect fit, Beats also offers an ear tip fit test accessible from your iPhone settings. This will ensure that you get the right earbud tips so you can get the best passive noise isolation possible.

And this is very important because when I picked the XS (and S)-sized tips, I couldn’t get the earbuds to get deep inside my ear canals. Music would leak out and I could barely feel the bass when I played my favourite tunes. They just felt off. I then tried to use the M-sized tips and that felt so much better. I could get them through my ear canals and the music listening experience has increased tenfold.

You can cycle through ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) and Transparency mode directly from the earbuds. The noise cancelling is pretty good to reduce the noise ambiance around you. It’s not as aggressive and good as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II I reviewed (which I think has the best noise cancellation), but you don’t get that heavy air pressure feel when you have the ANC enabled. And I like that better for general, daily usage.

I brought the earphones to an open-space office working environment. While it reduces the chatter noise, it can’t completely eliminate them if they get loud. Once I turn the music on, however, I couldn’t hear them anymore. While walking through the busy, peak hours of Melbourne traffic, the Powerbeats Pro 2 works great as well and though I can still hear the tram passing by or a siren from afar, they are for good reasons.

The Transparency mode is one of the most natural ones I’ve experienced so far. They don’t feel amplified into your ears and sound quite natural somehow.

Sound Quality

I like the sound quality coming from these earbuds as I switch listening to my favourite music from one genre to another. The bass is not overpowering (gone were the days where Beats used to do this) and the audio clarity is great.

The sound profile has been refined compared to the original model, offering better balanced audio with crisp highs, clear mids, and controlled bass. When listening to acoustic tracks, you can hear the subtle details in the instruments, while electronic and hip-hop tracks still deliver that satisfying Beats signature punch without overwhelming the mix.

Heart Rate Monitoring

What makes the Powerbeats Pro 2 special is the heart rate sensor though. Beats ensures that the heart rate monitor provides the most accurate readings possible while you wear the earbuds for exercising (you need to wear both of the earbuds for it to measure). It supports Apple Health app and also third-party apps such as Peloton, etc. This doesn’t run all the time automatically (or else your battery will be running out pretty fast).

Battery Life and Charging

According to Beats, it has up to 45 hours of continuous playback with the charging case (up to 10 hours per earbud on a single charge). The case is much smaller and less bulky compared to the original (though it’s not as small as most earbuds charging case due to the ear hook design). This time, it also supports wireless charging so that’s great if you have a wireless charging stand like this Twelve South HiRise 2 Deluxe 15W Qi2.

Controls and Connectivity

The physical buttons on each earbud are responsive and easy to use, even during intense workouts. You can control playback, volume, calls, and switch between ANC modes without reaching for your phone. The connection stability is rock solid thanks to the H2 chip, with no dropouts even when leaving my phone in one room and walking to another.

BEATS POWERBEATS PRO 2 REVIEW CONCLUSION

The Powerbeats Pro 2 is a worthy successor to the original model and stands out as one of the best fitness-focused earbuds on the market. The secure fit, excellent battery life, improved sound quality, and added heart rate monitoring make these an excellent choice for active users who demand more from their audio gear.

While they’re not the smallest earbuds out there, and the case is still larger than most competitors, these design choices enable the secure fit and extended battery life that make them excel for their intended purpose. The improved ANC, while not class-leading, strikes a nice balance between noise reduction and comfort.

For iPhone users especially, the seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem makes these earbuds a joy to use. Android users aren’t left out though so don’t fret if you don’t own an iPhone.

Disclosure: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review sample was supplied for reviewing