Powerbeats Pro 2 Review: More Power, More Performance

The Powerbeats Pro are among the most popular and best-selling headphones in the world. While I can’t fully verify those exact sales numbers, I would have expected something like the regular AirPods or maybe some budget-friendly earbuds from Amazon to top the list. But I could see how the Powerbeats Pro might be up there. Regardless of whether they’re the number one seller or not, the main point is that these headphones have been incredibly successful since they launched for $250, so they must be doing something right.

There’s been a lot of buzz around the sequel, the Powerbeats Pro 2, especially since the original version came out five years ago. After using them for a week, I can honestly say they’re likely going to keep their spot as one of the best-selling headphones around—they’re really that good.

Let’s pretend for a second that these really are the number one best-selling headphones in the world. That would mean Beats took their already popular headphones, added active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and heart rate tracking, made them smaller and lighter, improved the sound and battery life, and made them more comfortable—all while putting everything into a smaller case that also has more battery, USB Type-C, and wireless charging—all for the same price. That’s a major upgrade. Honestly, Apple could probably take some notes because, in many ways, these Powerbeats Pro 2 do more things better than the AirPods Pro.

For me, the best part about the Powerbeats Pro 2 is how they’re built and how well they stay in my ears. This was true for the first version, and it’s still true with the second. The rubber tips now come in an extra size, so you’ve got options ranging from extra small to extra large. The new ear hook is snug without being uncomfortable—it just holds everything in place naturally. Plus, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are 20% lighter than the previous model, making them even more comfortable for long listening sessions.

I think the reason these headphones are so popular is that they’ve really become the go-to for premium workout headphones. Depending on how intense your workout is, you’ll be moving your head a lot or not much at all, and it’s key for these to stay in place. And these do—once they’re in, they’re staying in. That’s generally true for anything with ear hooks, compared to those without. Some people swear by wingtips, but AirPods Pro fit my ears well, too. But these, with the hooks, lock in really well.

What’s different about the Beats headphones is that since Apple owns Beats, they’ve added the H2 chip. So, you get all the cool Apple features, like instant pairing with your iPhone and an easy connection with Android devices. Plus, they show up on every device in your iCloud account, which is super convenient. The big bonus, though, is the noise cancellation. Honestly, in 2025, you can’t charge $250 for wireless earbuds without noise cancellation, so they probably had to add it—but they did it really well. It’s constantly sampling the outside world, canceling out white noise and steady sounds. Some sounds, like keyboard typing or light conversation, still get through, but once the music kicks in, pretty much everything else fades away. That’s the point.

The transparency mode is also solid. Not quite as good as the AirPods Pro, which I think are the best out there, but it’s the closest I’ve found in other headphones. Overall, noise cancellation and transparency are both really good—just a little behind the AirPods Pro. Makes sense, since they all share the H2 chip.
The sound quality on these headphones is exactly what you’d want for a workout. If you took the Beats logo off and just listened to them, you’d find they sound pretty solid—probably an 8 out of 10. They’re kind of like AirPods but with more bass, volume, and energy. On the technical side, they’ve got upgraded amplifiers, a new acoustically transparent mesh, and the drivers are slightly repositioned to direct sound better into your ears. Plus, there’s a new venting system in the earbuds to help with pressure and boost bass. All of that makes for a lively, fun sound that works great for energetic music like hip-hop, pop, or electro. If I wanted a super flat sound, I’d go for something like Audio-Technica, but for workouts, these headphones hit the sweet spot.

Now, if you’re thinking about using these as your only headphones for a flight, I think they work well for that too. They handle steady, constant noise like the hum of an airplane pretty well. Turn on the ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), and it significantly cuts down on that background noise. Sure, there are other earbuds with better noise cancellation, but I love how secure these feel in my ears, especially on a plane. It’s annoying when earbuds fall out mid-flight, and these stay put, so they’re definitely a good option for travel.

Another cool thing is that the H2 chip adds personalized spatial audio, which is a nice bonus if you’re into that. But the feature I really think is a game-changer is heart rate tracking. It makes sense for workout headphones, but I’ve never seen this in earbuds before. The Powerbeats Pro 2 has a sensor that measures your heart rate every five seconds using tech from the Apple Watch, so it pulls data from both earbuds at once. You can even connect the earbuds to gym equipment with Bluetooth, like a treadmill, and your heart rate will show up on the display, just like with an Apple Watch. It’s a cool and convenient feature for fitness enthusiasts. I’m not sure how accurate the heart rate data is since it uses an optical sensor, but the cool part is that if you have an Apple Watch, your fitness apps will default to data from the watch. But if you don’t, the heart rate tracking here is a nice touch.

The improvement in the earbuds is definitely noticeable, but the case deserves just as much attention. When it comes to a case, you really want a few key things: solid battery life, easy charging, and a compact design. This case checks all of those boxes. It may not be as small as AirPods or other tiny earbuds without ear hooks, but it’s about 33% smaller than the previous generation and holds more battery — roughly three full charges. It’s also made the switch to USB Type-C (goodbye, Lightning port!) and now includes wireless charging. The case has a nice, satisfying magnetic closure, and if you happen to lose it, you can track it using Find My. It’s a great option for your gym bag, even if it’s not the smallest out there.

Speaking of battery life, the performance of both the buds and the case is really solid. I work out every day, and using these buds every time, I went a whole week without thinking about charging. There’s a slight difference in how the battery drains across the buds, but it’s not enough to be a big issue. Here’s some quick math: The buds last around 10 hours without ANC on (or 6-8 hours with ANC). After every use, the case charges the buds back to 100%, and it can fully charge them three times. So, if you use them for a two-hour workout every day, you could easily go a month without worrying about battery life. Pretty impressive, right?

My favorite part is the fast charging. If you forget to charge the buds and they run out of juice, just drop them in the case for five minutes, and you’ll get over an hour of listening time. It’s a total game-changer.

So here we are in 2025, and I’m recommending Beats — and not just any Beats, but the pricier ones. Honestly, they’re not overpriced at all when you look at what you’re getting compared to other options. It’s kind of crazy. You know those memes that say, “The downfall of X needs to be studied”? Whatever Beats is doing, it’s the complete opposite. These might just be the best earbuds for most people.

I checked the last-gen Powerbeats Pro, and the price has dropped to around $150, which is a great deal. But the thing is, those charge via Lightning, they don’t have wireless charging, and the case feels a bit outdated now. I can’t really recommend them anymore. Of course, there are cheaper alternatives, but the bottom line here is that these new Beats are really solid. They’re just really, really good.