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The Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 first hit retailer cabinets six months in the past. As anticipated, the wi-fi earbuds turned 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 had been additionally criticized for just a few obvious flaws.
I shared most 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 modifications, good or dangerous.
Learn my up to date tackle the Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 to see why they’re nonetheless on steadiness the greatest earbuds for understanding in 2025.
Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 wi-fi earbuds specs and setup
Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable
The Powerbeats Professional 2 include a strong spec sheet.
Considered one of their largest promoting factors is compatibility. The H2 processor makes pairing instantaneous with all Apple units: iPhone, iPad, Macs/MacBook, and Apple TV. It additionally grants entry to iOS perks like automated switching, audio sharing, introduced messages with Siri, Ear Tip Match Check, “Hey Siri” voice activation, and rather more. This time round, Beats added Android optimization for seamless connectivity with Google-operated units. Android customers have platform-restricted options (e.g., Quick Pair and Discover My Gadget) at their disposal. One other addition is multipoint expertise to pair the buds with two units 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 just like the new AirPods Professional 3, the Powerbeats provide 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 stable tactility that ensures customers their meant instructions might be met. “Hey Siri” permits you to hearth up voice instructions with out manually enabling the function on Apple units. 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 excellent wi-fi audio athleticism. It begins with the signature ear hooks. These are perfect for all exercises, particularly working. 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 steady 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 laborious 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 price monitoring (HRM) that data coronary heart price information and shares it throughout totally different health applications (e.g., Apple Well being, Nike Run Membership, Peloton). Are the outcomes as correct because the Apple Watch? No. Is the function a viable strategy to gauge health targets when your smartwatch isn’t obtainable? Sure.
Credit score: Alex Bracetti / Mashable
Sound is the driving power 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 gas 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 alternate options. Beats’ charging case now helps Qi-enabled wi-fi charging and holds as much as 45 hours. Quick-Gasoline charging can also be stronger: a 5-minute cost equals 1.5 hours of listening time.
What the Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 earbuds do fallacious
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). Nevertheless, 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 p.c, however it’s nonetheless bigger than most charging instances.
I don’t know what occurred with the noise cancellation on these buds. The commercials make it appear as if the expertise 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 degree. 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 among the traditional caveats.
They’re an enchancment over their predecessor, and Mashable named them the greatest earbuds for understanding for his or her safe match, simple connectivity, and fitness-forward options. Audio high quality, connectivity, and particular options all obtain vital boosts. The uptick in battery life is appreciated. Nifty extras like HRM additionally reveal Beats’ dedication to creating the Powerbeats Professional 2 a premium launch that avid exercisers will admire.
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 instantaneous 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 identical because the first-gen mannequin and continues to be fairly steep for at the moment’s client market — a market that has loads of low cost wi-fi earbuds.
The choice comes all the way down to affordability. If splurging isn’t a difficulty, then the Powerbeats Professional 2 are one hundred pc well worth the funding. In any other case, you possibly can spend almost $100 much less on the equally nice Match Professional and luxuriate in most of the similar perks.
The Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 could be bought for $249.99 immediately from the Apple web site, in addition to well-liked on-line retailers like Amazon and Greatest Purchase.
Beats Powerbeats Professional 2 earbuds evaluation: By the numbers
Lastly, let’s break down the specs:
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Kind: Hook-style sports activities earbuds
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Processor: Apple H2 chip
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Battery life: 10 hours (45 hours with case)
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Quick charging: 5 minutes gives 1.5 hours
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Ear-tip sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
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Colours: Jet Black, Quicksand, Electrical Orange, Hyper Purple
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Noise cancellation: ANC
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Spatial Audio: Sure
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Water resistance: IPX4-rated
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Weight: 8.7 grams (earbuds), 77.7 grams (earbuds + case)
