Revolutionizing Sound: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Unleashes Heart-Rate Tracking and Enhanced Features

The Powerbeats Pro 2 ($250) isn’t a mystery anymore. Although Beats made the official announcement about the new workout-oriented earbuds today, they’ve been hinting at them since September of last year. In recent weeks, several professional athletes have been spotted using them in public, including some NFL players during the Super Bowl. While there wasn’t much left to unveil about the Powerbeats Pro 2, there are still additional details regarding the technology within.

Beats has revamped this model entirely, significantly cutting down on both size and weight. The company has integrated Apple’s H2 chip, providing a range of features, the standout being heart-rate monitoring. After nearly six years since the first version, there are major enhancements in audio quality and battery longevity, alongside the introduction of active noise cancellation (ANC). The Powerbeats Pro 2 will hit the market this week, and after testing them for several days, I’m ready to share if these earbuds are worth the investment. Impressively, Beats executed this significant redesign while maintaining the price similar to the previous model.

Powerbeats Pro 2 design

A significant change Beats made to the Powerbeats Pro 2 is its overall aesthetic. The over-the-ear hook has been a defining feature for this product line since the initial Powerbeats, which launched in 2010. In this redesign, Beats has used nickel-titanium alloy wiring within the hooks to enhance comfort, flexibility, and durability. The ear hooks have been reduced in size by more than 50 percent compared to the Powerbeats Pro, an adjustment made to improve compatibility for glasses wearers. This is a welcome modification since the previous model had issues with compatibility with hats and glasses. The updated version is noticeably more comfortable when paired with my Goodr sunglasses or a baseball cap.

The main body of the earbuds is more compact, being 20 percent lighter. This contributes to a less intrusive design overall. Beats states it has adjusted the structure of both the earbuds and their acoustic chambers for enhanced comfort and an airtight seal. Users will still find physical controls on the Powerbeats Pro 2, including a volume rocker on either side along with multi-function controls integrated into the «b» logo button for functions like playback and answering calls. Furthermore, this model boasts an IPX4 water resistance rating, alleviating concerns during sweaty workouts.

Fortunately, Beats has also made the charging case more compact. The brand claims this new accessory is 33 percent smaller than the previous version provided with the Powerbeats Pro. Still, it remains larger than the average earbud cases due to the need to house those hooks. The case supports wireless charging and features a USB-C port at the rear for wired charging. If you need it, the pairing button is located between the two earbud cradles inside the case.

Heart-rate tracking

There’s a lot to explore regarding the features of the Powerbeats Pro 2, but the heart-rate tracking stands out the most. These represent Apple’s first earbuds to include this functionality, which Beats has adapted from the Apple Watch. The sensor is positioned just behind the ear tip, capturing readings from both earbuds every five seconds.

Beats indicates that the heart-rate sensor in the Powerbeats Pro 2 was developed entirely from scratch, relying on four primary components. A green LED emits over 100 pulses per second that penetrate the skin to reach red blood cells. A photodiode captures the reflected light from the blood cells while an optical lens keeps the incoming and outgoing light separate. An accelerometer also helps ensure accuracy and consistency by compensating for movement.

In my experience, measuring heart rate with the Powerbeats Pro 2 was both precise and dependable. During my trials, the data displayed on the Runna app closely aligned with what my Apple Watch indicated. Occasionally, it took a second or two for them to sync due to different measurement intervals, but once they settled, the readouts were always consistent.

The main drawback of heart-rate tracking at the moment is the limited app compatibility on iOS. The Powerbeats Pro 2 cannot interface with Apple’s own Fitness app. Instead, for workouts, users will have to rely on apps like Nike Run Club, Runna, Ladder, Slopes, Open, Peloton, and YaoYao. All collected data will still appear in the Health app on iOS. Android users, however, will find that nearly all fitness and wellness applications featuring heart-rate monitoring functionalities are compatible with these earbuds. On Android, you will need to enable heart-rate tracking manually via either the Beats app or the earbuds themselves — and remember to deactivate it once your session is over. On iOS, it activates automatically upon granting permissions to your selected app(s).

Software and additional Powerbeats Pro 2 features

This time around, Beats has utilized Apple’s H2 chip, the same technology found in the AirPods Pro 2. This chip supports various features, from heart-rate sensing to Spatial Audio and active noise cancellation. Several handy functionalities typical of AirPods are also available on the Powerbeats Pro 2, courtesy of this chip. Although the AirPods Pro 2 Hearing Aid and Hearing Test capabilities are absent here, Beats asserts that Apple’s Hearing Protection feature is accessible on these earbuds.

The feature set for iOS users surpasses that available for Android this time. On iPhone and iPad, you’ll find quick one-tap pairing that syncs with iCloud across all devices linked to your account. There’s also Audio Sharing with another set of Beats headphones or AirPods, hands-free Siri functionality, the Find My tool, Personalized Spatial Audio, and options for control customization. Similar to other recent Beats devices, all these functionalities are integrated into iOS and can be accessed through the Bluetooth settings without needing any additional apps.

For Android, installation of the Beats app is necessary. Once installed, users will gain access to one-tap pairing, locating their Beats, customizing controls, switching listening modes, and enabling or disabling heart-rate monitoring.

Sound quality

Beats has reimagined the acoustic structure of the Powerbeats Pro 2, introducing new venting, a more powerful amplifier, updated protective mesh, and a uniquely designed dual-layer transducer. The company claims to have also modified the angle of the transducers to create a more direct pathway for sound towards the ear canals. These enhancements contribute to “remarkable dynamic range across the frequency spectrum” according to Beats. Their promise of a «balanced, powerful sound profile» holds true across most music genres, particularly excelling with bass-heavy tracks.

Kendrick Lamar’s GNX resonates with impressive, rich low-end vibrations through these earbuds, and this trend continues with most hip-hop releases. There’s an ample bass level to keep your energy up during workouts, without overpowering other elements. Vocals and instrumentation are clear, which is essential for genres that aren’t solely bass-driven, like rock and metal. In songs like No Cure’s I Hope I Die Here, every gritty detail from the distorted guitars comes through distinctly, preventing a muddled mix with the band’s drums, bass, and vocals. Even within the frenzy of tracks like “Hang Me From the Bible Belt,” there is clarity and detail in every segment.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 is compatible with Apple’s Personalized Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ. The former enhances the experience with Dolby Atmos content (including Apple Music) by creating an immersive 360-degree sound environment. For albums, films, and shows that utilize this technology, these earbuds replicate the feeling of being surrounded by multiple speakers. Spatial Audio is a common feature across newer Apple and Beats audio products, and it performs admirably well on the Powerbeats Pro 2. Plus, with Apple devices, users benefit from dynamic head tracking, offering both lossless audio and extremely low latency when paired with Apple’s Vision Pro headset. I haven’t tested that compatibility as I don’t own a Vision Pro.

ANC performance on the Powerbeats Pro 2

The Powerbeats Pro 2 marks the introduction of ANC to the Powerbeats line. Beats describes its performance as “an outstanding noise canceling feature that delivers an immersive listening experience — the finest yet in a Beats product.” Hybrid microphones automatically detect surrounding noise and adjust the ANC level accordingly to create a suitable environment.

While the noise-canceling capabilities significantly reduce background sounds like white noise machines and fans, they don’t completely eliminate them. The earbuds struggle with human speech, which is a common shortcoming in many competing products as well. If, like me, you typically listen at around 70% volume, this isn’t as noticeable. However, when listening at lower levels, especially during podcasts, the subpar ANC effectiveness can become apparent.

Call quality

Though the ANC might not excel, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are certainly useful for phone calls. Thanks to Apple’s natural-sounding transparency mode, you’re able to hear yourself clearly during voice or video calls without the need to raise your voice. However, the ambient sound clarity isn’t quite at the level of the AirPods Pro 2, particularly concerning how well your voice is captured.

Beats claimed it has incorporated microphones and an accelerometer to focus on your voice while minimizing surrounding noise. This computational audio setup mirrors what’s utilized in devices such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. The Powerbeats Pro 2 also features Voice Isolation when used with compatible Apple gadgets, which Beats states delivers clarity and noise suppression that is unparalleled among their products.

In usability, voice clarity isn’t perfect, but it’s functional enough for work-related calls where sound quality matters. The Powerbeats Pro 2 truly excels in eliminating background noise, effectively silencing loud fans and persistent noise sources to the extent that they become unnoticeable to the other person on the line.

Powerbeats Pro 2 battery life

According to Beats, the Powerbeats Pro 2 can last up to 10 hours on a single charge without ANC, and around eight hours with either active noise cancellation or transparency mode active. The previous generation had a battery life of nine hours without ANC. During my testing, when I kept ANC off, switching between sound modes at different intervals, I managed to achieve over 13 hours of use. When I did use ANC consistently, I easily surpassed the eight-hour mark.

Beats clarifies that the heart-rate tracking does not affect battery performance, should you be worried about that. Personally, I did not observe any significant battery drain during my review workouts that occurred once a day for up to an hour each. If I encounter any discrepancies, I will update this review accordingly.

The competition

Numerous brands manufacture earbuds akin to the hook design of the Powerbeats Pro 2. However, few can match the technology and features that Beats provides, particularly for iOS users. If you’re in search of an alternative with heart-rate monitoring, consider the Sennheiser Momentum Sport, which is a trustworthy alternative.

Sennheiser’s fitness earbuds may not offer the refinement of the company’s flagship Momentum models, especially regarding audio and ANC performance. However, the heart-rate monitoring feature is dependable and precise, and it even measures body temperature during workouts. I also prefer the design of the Momentum Sport over the standard Momentum model, with the added bass feature being beneficial for a performance boost. One downside is that this model is more costly than the Powerbeats Pro 2, priced at $330, which might influence your choice.

Wrap-up

The Powerbeats Pro 2 offers an intriguing option, at least for now. Currently, it’s the only set of Apple earbuds featuring heart-rate monitoring capabilities. Reports suggest that the forthcoming AirPods Pro 3 will incorporate similar sensors, although those are not expected until September alongside the new iPhone models. It may seem unusual for Apple to lean on a subsidiary for such a significant introduction, but it makes sense considering these earbuds target fitness and physical activities. Moreover, this provides a substantial test for the technology before it transitions into an AirPods model.

Overall, the Powerbeats Pro 2 represent a considerable enhancement over the original model. They are more comfortable and come packed with numerous new features that bring them up to speed with contemporary earbuds. Beats does need to broaden the support for heart-rate tracking on iOS, and their ANC performance effectiveness leaves room for improvement. However, for those who appreciate the hook design for a secure fit, finding another product with such a comprehensive feature list is a tall order.