Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: AirPods Pro for athletes

Published On: 24 May, 2025

Choosing the right headphones for the gym or running can be tricky. In-ear buds are great for portability, but getting a secure fit during workouts is often hit or miss. Personally, I prefer over-ear headphones for their stability, but they come with their own drawbacks – mainly sweat management and limited portability. There now appears to be a compelling (equally pricey) solution to bridge this gap.

Beats, now part of Apple, solves this with its latest Powerbeats Pro 2. These earbuds stand out in design, with ear hooks that keep them in place even when adjusting volume or skipping tracks on the move. I’ve been using them for over a month and can vouch for the rich audio quality and smooth compatibility with both iOS and Android. But to stand out in the cluttered market, Beats is taking a different route by equipping the Powerbeats Pro 2 with a built-in heart rate sensor for serious gym-goers and athletes, which could be a game-changer, at least on paper.

But with a price tag of Rs 29,990 – Rs 5,000 more than the AirPods Pro 2, the real question is: Are they worth so much?

Table of Contents

Design and fit

Unlike Apple AirPods or several other wearable audio products from rival brands, Beats continues to stand out for the variety of colour options it offers customers. For instance, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are available in four colourways, with my favourite being the Quick Sand (grey) option. Both the case and earbuds share the same primary colour, with subtle black accents in a few spots, giving them a clean and consistent look. I would’ve preferred a more compact case, but that’s understandable, given the size of the earbuds with attached ear hooks.

The build is mostly plastic, but it does not feel cheap by any metric. I like that Apple continues to include a physical pairing button inside the case, which I find far more convenient for connecting the earbuds to phones, laptops, or tablets than the touch-sensitive pairing methods found on some high-end earbuds. The Powerbeats Pro 2 further stand out for offering physical buttons to change songs, manage audio levels, or even Siri voice assistant, which Apple skips on AirPods Pro over touch-sensitive stems.

Of course, the highlights of the Powerbeats Pro 2 include the heart rate sensors and ear hooks to provide the “best running” experience. These are among the best implementations of ear hooks I’ve seen on any headphones, thanks to their thoughtful design that accounts for different ear shapes and the super-light nickel-titanium alloy build that provides a comfortable fit. It can take a little time to get used to the ear hooks when putting the earbuds on, especially if you wear glasses.

But once the earbuds are in the correct ears, you get one of the snuggest fits, no matter what kind of workout you’re doing. I’d still be careful with water as the Powerbeats Pro 2 have a modest IPX4 rating for protection against water splashes.

If durability and a secure fit are your priorities, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 with their IP54 rating are a more compelling option. However, a few features place the Powerbeats Pro 2 on a higher pedestal.

Setup, heart rate sensor and other features

Unlike the Pixel Buds Pro 2, the Powerbeats Pro 2 work seamlessly with both iPhones and Android devices. For iPhone users, there’s no need to download a separate app, and everything can be accessed directly through Settings. There are added benefits like Apple’s Quick Pair, Find My, Live Listen, and Background Sounds.

However, you still cannot tweak the EQ, which is a bit disappointing at this price point. The Settings app allows you to customise touch controls and manage ANC and transparency mode.

Android users will need to install the Beats app to manage settings for the Powerbeats Pro 2. I tested the earbuds with the Pixel 9 Pro XL (review) and faced no issues with connectivity or lag. Spatial audio is also supported on Android, though there may be a slight difference in audio quality compared to iOS.

Heart rate monitoring works on Android as well but with a small caveat. On iPhones, you can track heart rate data directly via the Apple Health app. If you’re wearing an Apple Watch along with the Powerbeats Pro 2, the watch takes priority for heart data collection. On Android, you’ll need a third-party fitness app (such as Nike Run, Peloton, or Strava) and must connect the Powerbeats Pro 2 within that app. You’ll also need to enable heart rate tracking through the Beats app as well. It’s important to note that the earbuds don’t monitor heart rate continuously like a smartwatch, which makes sense to preserve battery.

In theory, in-ear heart rate monitoring using optical sensors can be more accurate than wrist-based tracking. During my testing, the Powerbeats Pro 2 consistently reported a slightly higher BPM than the Pixel Watch 2, though not by a significant margin. I couldn’t fully verify the accuracy of the readings, so it’s best to take the data with a grain of salt.

Other key features, including ANC, transparency mode, spatial audio with head tracking, and auto-detection, all work seamlessly, thanks to the proprietary H2 chip onboard, the same chip that powers Apple’s latest-generation AirPods Pro. Apple could have included more accessibility features, such as Conversation Boost, to better justify the higher price.

Sound quality

Unlike some of the newer Beats earbuds and headphones, the Powerbeats Pro 2 stand out with a balanced sound profile. In many ways, the tuning feels similar to the Apple AirPods Pro, though it occasionally lacks the extra punch in bass-heavy tracks from artists like Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott. The issue can be addressed by adjusting the EQ, but doing so requires the use of third-party tools, as there’s no EQ control on the app.

The mids and highs remain clear and well-defined, which I especially appreciated while listening to pop tracks by Harry Styles and SZA.

When it comes to the movie viewing experience, the Powerbeats Pro 2 deliver an exceptional experience, which I noticed while watching content on my iPhone 14 Plus (review). The addition of Spatial Audio makes a noticeable difference, offering a more immersive, surround-sound-like effect.

That said, audiophiles or purists may still prefer wired headphones for their ability to deliver high-fidelity sound. The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 only supports the standard AAC codec on both Android and iOS, missing out on advanced codecs like LDAC or aptX.

For calling, the Powerbeats Pro 2 were a reliable companion with their three-microphone setup, similar to that on AirPods Pro 2. The voice accelerometer, combined with the iPhone’s noise isolation, provided clean audio even in the busiest environments.

Battery and Charging

Apple has done an exceptional job optimising battery life with the H2 chip. On a single charge, the Powerbeats Pro 2 delivered around 6 to 7 hours of music playback with ANC enabled. Combined with the case, you get a total of up to 30 hours, which is impressive, especially for casual users who typically listen for about 4 hours a day. You can extend the battery even further by disabling ANC and keeping the volume moderate.

The case supports wireless charging, which is a nice addition given the premium price tag. With the wired solution using a 65W charger, the earbuds took about an hour to fully charge. Another bonus is that the case features a USB-C port, which aligns with the new standard across Apple’s ecosystem, including iPhones, iPads, and AirPods.

Verdict

The Powerbeats Pro 2, in many ways, feel like an extension of Apple AirPods Pro, but are designed for athletes. Their balanced sound, snappy connectivity, and strong battery life make them a compelling choice for both iPhone and Android users.

The built-in heart rate monitoring is a handy feature, though it wasn’t a game-changer in my use. Apple could improve this by enabling continuous heart rate tracking, even when you’re stationary, which would add an interesting health-focused element. Additionally, push notifications alerting users to abnormal heart rates could enhance the user experience, especially during workouts or long listening sessions.

However, durability remains a concern. With just an IPX4 rating, the dust and water resistance feels subpar for the price. In that respect, the AirPods Pro 2, which cost less and offer similar features with better protection, may be a more sensible choice for some users.

That said, if you’re after an exceptional fit, balanced sound, long battery life, and a variety of colour options, the Powerbeats Pro 2 stand out as one of the most well-rounded fitness-focused earbuds on the market.