ZDNET's key takeaways The Powerbeats Pro 2 retail for $250 in vibrant Black, Quick Sand, Hyper Purple, and Electric Orange colorways.
The earbuds can replace your smartwatch or fitness tracker, offering exercise and activity data via companion apps.
The sound isn't very robust, delivering weak bass and hollow mids. View now at Apple
I've tested dozens of earbuds over the past year, and even new releases can feel monotonous after a while. Most brands make product upgrades in small strides, keeping the form and functionality the same but incrementally refreshing the sound, noise cancellation, or battery life.
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Until now. Beats' new Powerbeats Pro 2 are a game changer for the audio industry. The successor to the widely loved Powerbeats Pro are workout earbuds with one competitive and unique feature that simply makes sense: the earbuds can record your heart rate as you exercise. I tested the Powerbeats Pro 2 out for a little over a week; I lifted weights, ran, worked, and commuted with them in my ears. So, how'd they do? Keep reading to find out.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 has several upgrades, including a smaller case, wireless charging, adaptive EQ, spatial audio, and noise-canceling and transparency modes. Apple's Beats ownership is fully displayed through the Powerbeats Pro 2, which uses the same chip as Apple's AirPods Pro 2.
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The H2 chip lends the Powerbeats Pro 2 more effective noise cancellation, enhanced audio processing, stable Bluetooth connections, spatial audio, and more efficient power consumption.
Studies have shown that the ear is a great place for monitoring heart rate. Beats isn't the first to unveil an earbud with an in-ear heart rate sensor, but Apple's ability to integrate the feature into its other personal devices makes it much simpler to use.
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