Beats Launches Powerbeats Pro 2 with Apple Watch Rivaling Health Features
Let’s cut to the chase: If you’ve ever cursed your AirPods for slipping mid-squat or wished your Apple Watch could just… disappear during a sweaty HIIT session, Beats’ new Powerbeats Pro 2 might finally solve your fitness-tech gripes. After six years, Apple’s sportier audio brand is dropping a sequel that’s less “incremental update” and more “Swiss Army knife for athletes.”
Announced today, the Powerbeats Pro 2 pack a first for Apple: built-in heart rate sensors tucked into each earbud. Yes, you read that right—no wrist strap required. Using LED optical tech (miniaturized to 1/16th the size of Apple Watch sensors), these buds pulse 100 times per second to track blood flow. But here’s the kicker: They’re only active when both earbuds are in. Translation? No cheating your Peloton metrics by ditching one side.
I got a pre-release demo, and while jogging through San Francisco’s Dolores Park, the real-time HR data synced seamlessly with Nike Run Club. The numbers matched my Apple Watch Series 9 within 2-3 BPM—impressive, though Apple quietly admits Watch data still takes priority if you’re dual-wielding. “We didn’t want to disrupt existing users,” a Beats engineer told me, shrugging. (Cue eye-rolls from runners who’d kill to ditch their Watch tan lines.)
Beyond the health hype, the Pro 2s flex Apple’s H2 chip—the same brain behind AirPods Pro 2’s slick noise cancellation. ANC here is good, muting gym clatter enough to hear your trainer’s “encouragement,” while Transparency mode avoids that underwater murkiness cheaper buds suffer from. Battery life? A beefy 10 hours per charge, with a case that’s 33% smaller yet packs 45 hours total. Oh, and it finally charges wirelessly. (RIP, Lightning cable.)
Design Tweaks You’ll Actually Notice
Remember the OG Powerbeats’ clunky case? The Pro 2’s is slimmer, but still bulkier than AirPods’. The earhooks, though—reinforced with nickel titanium—are 20% lighter and bend like Gumby. I shoved them into a backpack for a week, and zero cracks. For glasses wearers (guilty), the hooks snag less, but expect a 10-second fumble each time you adjust.
Colors pop now: “Electric Orange” screams CrossFit chic, while “Hyper Purple” feels like a nod to Prince’s gym playlist.
The Elephant in the Room: Why No Strava?
Beats partnered with Peloton, Nike Run Club, and even a jump-rope app (YaoYao), but Strava’s MIA. “Conversations are ongoing,” a rep said vaguely. For now, third-party app support feels half-baked—like Apple’s hedging bets until AirPods get HR sensors.
Powerbeats Pro 2 Specs & Price
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | $249.99 (same as 2019 model) |
| Battery | 10 hours (earbuds), 45 hours (case) |
| Chip | Apple H2 (enables ANC, Spatial Audio, device switching) |
| Durability | IPX4 sweat/water resistance |
| Case | USB-C + Qi wireless charging |
| Release Date | Available online now; in-store Feb. 13 |
FAQs:
How accurate is the Powerbeats Pro 2’s heart rate monitoring?
Beats claims Powerbeats Pro 2 matches Apple Watch metrics within 2-3 BPM, but Watch data prioritizes if both are worn.
Can I use Powerbeats Pro 2 without an iPhone?
Android users get HR tracking via the Beats app, but lack Apple’s seamless device-switching.
Do Powerbeats Pro 2 work with Apple Vision Pro?
Yes—lossless audio syncs via H2 chip for immersive workouts.
Are Powerbeats Pro 2 worth $250 over AirPods Pro 2?
If you need earhooks + HR tracking, yes. For pure sound? AirPods still edge them out.
