Beats Powerbeats Pro 2

Beats, which was originally launched by hip-hop star Dr Dre and record executive Jimmy Iovine, is a relatively new brand in the audio space having first emerged in 2008. Its on-ear headphones quickly became extremely popular – so much so that the brand was bought by Apple in 2014. 

Beats took the plunge into the true wireless earbuds market in May 2019 with the Powerbeats Pro, and made a considerable splash with many - including me, they were my go-to earbuds for quite a few years. Almost six years on, Beats have now released the highly anticipated successor - the Powerbeats Pro 2. And it’s clear those years have been well spent, as the earbuds have had a substantial overhaul inside and out. 

Not only have the ear-hooks been redesigned to be slimmer and more flexible, the earbuds are now lighter - and, according to Apple, offer better sound and improved battery life. There’s now active noise-cancelling, support for spatial audio, and a built-in heart rate monitor. 

On paper, it seems as if the wait has been more than worth it. Given how much I loved the original Powerbeats Pro, I can’t wait to find out just how this new model stacks up. 

Sound quality

When it comes to audio quality, the Powerbeats Pro 2 really are a step on from the original model. They provide a clear and balanced soundscape, with plenty of detail - when listening to Please, Please, Please by Sabrina Carpenter, her melodic vocal and the top end are given equal amounts of gravitas, while the subtle acoustic guitar and rhythmic bass is clearly audible. As the track reaches its crescendo, it’s controlled without getting bogged down. 

It’s a similar story with electronic tones. Dance the Night Away by Dua Lipa sounds fresh and energetic, and there’s more than enough room for the vocal in the midrange to shine. 

When listening to Next Episode by Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg (well, it would have been rude not to listen to Dr Dre through these earbuds), the bass is powerful and rich without becoming uncontrolled or distorted. Similarly, the earbuds ensure the weight and depth in the bass during SexyBack by Justin Timberlake is clearly audible.   

As expected, the Powerbeats Pro 2 support Apple Spatial Audio, which creates a surround sound experience with instruments, vocals and sounds appearing to be coming from in front of and behind you, as well as from either side. Listening to Bad Dreams by Teddy Swims in Apple Spatial Audio and comparing it to the standard version certainly gives the sensation of being ‘in’ the music, with the repetitive bass, the gravelly vocals and the subtle strings all clearly coming from distinctly different directions. 

The Powerbeats Pro 2 are good for listening to spoken word as well as music. An episode of the Proper Tasty podcast with Tom Kerridge and Chris Stark sounds open and warm, and almost feels as if I am present in the room during the conversation. Switching to using the earbuds to make calls provides just as good an experience, with both parties sounding clear - the earbuds pick up only a handful of external noises, such as a motorbike speeding off after stopping at a crossing.  

Speaking of external sounds, the active noise cancelling is extremely effective and ensures I am fully immersed in the music when walking along a busy London street on a Tuesday lunchtime. There’s also a ‘Transparency’ mode, which lets in some external sounds in order to keep me in touch with my surroundings. This works well when listening to music, but during a call the external sounds drown out the caller. 

Living with 

The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are relatively discreet. The black aesthetic is complemented by a white ‘b’ on the outer body of the earbuds, although if you prefer earbuds that make a statement then the Powerbeats Pro 2 also come in orange, lilac or pale grey. 

They don’t protrude from my ears too much and, as a spectacles-wearer, the thinner and more flexible ear-hooks mean I don’t need to compromise on the angle my glasses sit at. This, along with the lack of noise cancelling, was one of my few gripes about the original Powerbeats Pro. 

The volume rocker on each earbud cranks the sound up or down, while the ‘b’ button that appears on each earbud controls music playback – press it once, twice or three times to pause/play, skip forwards, and skip backwards through tracks. A longer press switches between active noise cancelling and ‘Transparency’ mode. There’s also the option to personalise this feature, as well as how the earbuds handle in-coming calls, in the ‘Settings’ menu of any Apple device they are connected to.  

iCloud pairing means the earbuds automatically connect to all the Apple devices that use my Apple ID, and also ensures I can switch between them quickly. Even better, the Powerbeats Pro 2 can also be set to automatically pause music playback if one or both of them is removed. 

The earbuds live up to the claim that they offer eight hours of listening time with ANC switched on, and Beats says the case extends the battery life to 36 hours in total. The 'Fast Fuel' feature really does provide around 90 minutes of playback from a five-minute charge.

Conclusion

There’s no denying the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are an upgrade on the original version. The audio is fuller, and with the addition of active noise cancelling and Apple Spatial Audio (although only for Apple device users) alongside the thinner and lighter design, the earbuds certainly address the few gripes I had about the original model. The heart rate monitor and extended battery life make the Powerbeats Pro 2 ideal for exercise, too. They don’t come cheap, however, with a price tag close to models from brands such as Bose and Bowers & Wilkins - and Android users will find they have fewer personalisation options than they might have expected. 

Listening notes

Shania Twain You’re still the one

This late 90’s pop-country track is a very pleasant listen on the Powerbeats Pro, with the piano and Twain’s melodic vocals perfectly balanced alongside the warm, rich low notes. 

Hozier Too sweet  

The steady bass and Hozier’s gravely vocals are the stars of the show in this track, but without overshadowing the lower frequencies and the bells making it sound fresh and vibrant. 

Justin Bieber Love yourself 

The gentle strum of the guitar and Justin Bieber’s melodic vocals take centre stage on this 2015 track, but the soulful harmonies are clearly audible, along with the brass instruments, making for a sublime listen. 

If you’re looking for a pair of true wireless earbuds for exercise that sound great, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are worth investing in. They don’t come cheap, but offer good battery life and effective active noise cancelling on top of their compelling sound quality.

They work best with Apple devices, thanks to a wealth of personalisation options that can be accessed directly from the settings menu. Android users don’t get the same level of options in the Beats app, and if you’re buying these headphones for the built-in heart rate monitor, the number of apps it’s compatible with is relatively small right now - so check yours is on the list before you buy.