Overview: Are Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 earbuds price it?

Desk of Contents

The Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 first hit retailer cabinets six months in the past. As anticipated, the wi-fi earbuds grew to become a prime vendor that garnered excessive reward for his or her sporty efficiency throughout quite a few verticals (e.g., sturdiness, match, sound). The buds have been additionally criticized for a couple of evident flaws. 

I shared lots of the similar positives and negatives as my business friends upon the Powerbeats Professional 2’s debut. Half a yr later and I’m nonetheless testing them to find out any important adjustments, good or dangerous.

Learn my up to date tackle the Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 to see why they’re nonetheless on stability the finest earbuds for figuring out in 2025.

Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 wi-fi earbuds specs and setup

The Powerbeats Professional 2 include a strong spec sheet. 

One among their largest promoting factors is compatibility. The H2 processor makes pairing instantaneous with all Apple gadgets: iPhone, iPad, Macs/MacBook, and Apple TV. It additionally grants entry to iOS perks like computerized switching, audio sharing, introduced messages with Siri, Ear Tip Match Check, “Hey Siri” voice activation, and far more. This time round, Beats added Android optimization for seamless connectivity with Google-operated gadgets. Android customers have platform-restricted options (e.g., Quick Pair and Discover My Machine) at their disposal. One other addition is multipoint know-how to pair the buds with two gadgets concurrently. 

Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Just like the AirPods Professional 2, the Powerbeats Professional 2 have a devoted part within the iOS Settings menu to allow options, whereas Android customers can obtain the Beats app to personalize the buds. (And like the brand new AirPods Professional 3, the Powerbeats supply heart-rate monitoring and fitness-forward options.)

Beats retained its bodily management scheme. Every bud has a multifunctional button and quantity rockers. All buttons produce strong tactility that ensures customers their supposed instructions might be met. “Hey Siri” allows you to fireplace up voice instructions with out manually enabling the characteristic on Apple gadgets. The buds additionally help Google Assistant. So, whether or not you are on staff iOS or Android, voice help works flawlessly. 

What the Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 earbuds do proper

Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The Powerbeats Professional 2 good wi-fi audio athleticism. It begins with the signature ear hooks. These are perfect for all exercises, particularly operating. I all the time use them when jogging fast-paced on the streets and treadmill. They wrap gently across the ear and lock on for a safe and secure match that by no means slips out. The number of ear ideas accommodates listeners of all ear sizes. IPX4 certification protects the buds from extreme sweat and water splashing, and the plastic body is constructed to outlive exhausting falls on the concrete. 

Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

New well being options improve the Powerbeats Professional 2’s worth. There’s built-in coronary heart charge monitoring (HRM) that data coronary heart charge information and shares it throughout completely different health applications (e.g., Apple Well being, Nike Run Membership, Peloton). Are the outcomes as correct because the Apple Watch? No. Is the characteristic a viable method to gauge health objectives when your smartwatch isn’t out there? Sure. 

Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Sound is the driving drive behind each pair of exercise earbuds, and the Powerbeats Professional 2 nails it. Beats tweaked its soundstage to ship a extra well-rounded listening expertise. Bass stays on the sonic forefront. It’s impactful and vibrant with minimal distortion at excessive quantity. Regardless of the midrange being overemphasized, it’s clear sufficient to take pleasure in vocals. Highs are crisp and detailed as effectively. Most exercise tracks produce energetic mixes that may gasoline any marathon run. Personalised Spatial Audio will increase the acoustics and readability on Dolby Atmos content material. Exact headtracking makes Apple Music songs convincingly immersive. 

Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Battery life has been elevated by an hour, now totaling 10 hours per cost. ANC use brings it down to eight hours. That’s extra playtime than any true wi-fi AirPods mannequin. The identical goes for different luxurious options. Beats’ charging case now helps Qi-enabled wi-fi charging and holds as much as 45 hours. Quick-Gas charging can be stronger: a 5-minute cost equals 1.5 hours of listening time.

What the Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 earbuds do improper

Left:
The unique Beats Powerbeats Professional sports activities earbuds.
Credit score: Zlata Ivleva / Mashable

Proper:
The brand new Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 sports activities earbuds.
Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Let’s talk about the redesign. It’s extra ergonomic and gentler on the ear (the earlier mannequin was a painful put on after a number of hours). Nonetheless, the Powerbeats Professional 2 look much less interesting than the OG, which had a sporty and refined look. The charging case shrunk by about 33 %, however it’s nonetheless bigger than most charging circumstances.

I don’t know what occurred with the noise cancellation on these buds. The commercials make it appear as if the know-how is twice as highly effective as earlier than. It isn’t. Fashions just like the AirPods Professional 2 and the sibling Match Professional have superior ANC that neutralizes loud conversations and mid-frequencies at a excessive stage. The absence of Apple’s latest listening modes – Adaptive Audio, Dialog Consciousness, and Listening to Well being – doesn’t assist both.

Are the Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 earbuds price it?

Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Sure, with a number of the normal caveats. 

They’re an enchancment over their predecessor, and Mashable named them the very best earbuds for figuring out for his or her safe match, simple connectivity, and fitness-forward options. Audio high quality, connectivity, and particular options all obtain mandatory boosts. The uptick in battery life is appreciated. Nifty extras like HRM additionally show Beats’ dedication to creating the Powerbeats Professional 2 a premium launch that avid exercisers will recognize.

On the similar time, they lack the AirPods Professional 2’s prime listening modes and resilient ANC, and if you have already got a pair of Beats sports activities earbuds, I do not know in the event that they justify an on the spot improve. The up to date design doesn’t look pretty much as good as the unique Powerbeats Professional. Then there’s the MSRP ($249), which is similar because the first-gen mannequin and remains to be fairly steep for right now’s client market — a market that has loads of low cost wi-fi earbuds. 

The choice comes right down to affordability. If splurging isn’t a problem, then the Powerbeats Professional 2 are 100% definitely worth the funding. In any other case, you may spend almost $100 much less on the equally nice Match Professional and revel in lots of the similar perks.

The Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 will be bought for $249.99 immediately from the Apple web site, in addition to common on-line retailers like Amazon and Finest Purchase.

Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 earbuds overview: By the numbers

Lastly, let’s break down the specs:

• Sort: Hook-style sports activities earbuds

• Processor: Apple H2 chip

• Battery life: 10 hours (45 hours with case)

• Quick charging: 5 minutes supplies 1.5 hours

• Ear-tip sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL

• Colours: Jet Black, Quicksand, Electrical Orange, Hyper Purple

• Noise cancellation: ANC

• Spatial Audio: Sure

• Water resistance: IPX4-rated

• Weight: 8.7 grams (earbuds), 77.7 grams (earbuds + case)