Tried & Tested

On trial: Powerbeats Pro 2

Apple’s Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds in Orange

This article is part of a paid-for partnership with Beats

Olivia Adams,-Senior Editor

The bestselling fitness headphones are redesigned and ready for action. With advanced noise cancelling, elite battery performance, expert fit and more powerful sound, are these the best-ever Beats?

Powerbeats Pro 2 True Wireless Bluetooth In-Ear Sport Headphones with Mic/Remote

£249.00

Powerbeats Pro 2 headphones review

Everybody wears headphones, so I won’t go on about what makes a good pair (look good, sound great). What I’m here to do is test the new Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds, which are built for ultimate athletic performance. Now, I am not an athlete, but fitness is part of my routine, and if it’s part of yours too, these noise-cancelling earbuds with powerful sound, heart-rate monitoring (yes, really) and flexible secure-fit ear hooks might be of interest.

The original Powerbeats launched in 2010, evolving over the years to today with the Powerbeats Pro 2. They are fully compatible with both Apple and Android and available in four colours: Jet Black, Quick Sand, Hyper Purple and Electric Orange. So, are these the buds for me (and you)?

Apple’s Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds in black

What makes Apple’s Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 headphones special?

I’ll start with the battery life. It delivers up to an incredible 45 hours, and there’s a Fast Fuel charging feature so you are quite simply never out of battery – a quick 5-minute charge gives you 90 minutes again.

Next up, it’s the new and improved, flexible ear hook design. But don’t take my word for it. The design has undergone over 1,500 hours of testing with nearly 1,000 athletes to ensure a comfortable, secure fit for all ear shapes, actions and intensity levels. Plus when it comes to earbud headphones, a good fit is essential, and these Powerbeats Pro 2 have the most-ever ear tip sizes to ensure a proper fit on all different shapes and sizes of ears.

Finally, the built-in heart rate monitoring sensors. This is the first time that Apple (who bought Beats in 2014) has done that outside of the Apple Watch. The Powerbeats Pro 2 gives you real-time data on performance, with LED optical sensors pulsing over 100 times per second to measure blood flow, and relay to your favourite fitness apps to view.

Apple’s Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds inside case

Are Powerbeats Pro 2 noise cancelling?

In a word, yes. Powerbeats Pro 2 has the most advanced Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) technology the brand has ever developed. That said, when you want to stay tuned in to the world around you – for a run, biking in traffic or for awareness at the gym – the Transparency mode allows the sounds of your surroundings back in for a natural listening experience. Clever.

What makes the Powerbeats Pro 2 headphones special?

I’ll start with the battery life. The headphones deliver up to an incredible 45 hours, and there’s a Fast Fuel charging feature so you are quite simply never out of battery – a quick 5-minute charge gives you 90 minutes again.

Next up, it’s the new and improved, flexible ear hook design. But don’t take my word for it. The design has undergone over 1,500 hours of testing with nearly 1,000 athletes to ensure a comfortable, secure fit for all ear shapes, actions and intensity levels. Plus when it comes to earbud headphones, a good fit is essential, and these Powerbeats Pro 2 have the most-ever ear tip sizes to ensure a proper fit on all different shapes and sizes of ears.

Finally, the built-in heart rate monitoring sensors. The Powerbeats Pro 2 give you real-time data on performance, with LED optical sensors pulsing over 100 times per second to measure blood flow, and relay to your favourite fitness apps to view. This is the first time that Apple (who bought Beats in 2014) has done that outside of the Apple Watch, which means the feature works with all other smart watches, but it doesn't work if you're wearing an Apple Watch and these headphones at the same time.

Are Powerbeats Pro 2 noise cancelling?

In a word, yes. Powerbeats Pro 2 has the most advanced Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) technology the brand has ever developed. That said, when you want to stay tuned in to the world around you – for a run, biking in traffic or for awareness at the gym – the transparency mode allows the sounds of your surroundings back in for a natural listening experience. Clever.

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The ear tip sizes come in extra-small, small, medium, large and extra-large

Are Powerbeats Pro 2 waterproof?

No, but they are sweat and water resistant, and tough enough to handle intense workouts in rain, snow and heat.

The verdict: are the Powerbeats Pro 2 worth it?

The easiest yes, because these headphones have been perfected. Lighter (20% than the previous version), less case, unbeatable fit, easy on-ear buttons and longer battery life. These may be built for ultimate athletic performance, but basically, if you exercise, you won’t find better than these Beats. They are genuine quality and sort of exceptional for the money.

★★★★★