Powerbeats Pro 2 Review: The Ultimate Workout Earbud Gets a Long-Overdue Upgrade
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Six years is a long time in the world of wireless earbuds. When the original Powerbeats Pro launched in 2019, it set the standard for secure-fit workout audio. Since then, the competition caught up and then some — but Beats finally answered the call in 2025. The Powerbeats Pro 2 doesn’t just update the original; it genuinely reinvents it with a slimmer design, active noise cancellation, and a feature no Apple product has ever had before: built-in heart rate monitoring.
Design & Fit
The Powerbeats Pro 2 retain the original’s signature, super-secure design while slimming things down significantly — they’re 20% lighter than the original model, and the case is a whopping 33% smaller than its predecessor. CNN That last point matters more than it sounds: the original case was famously enormous, and the new one can actually slip into most pockets without feeling like you’re carrying a brick.
Powerbeats Pro 2 are by far the most snug-fitting and secure earbuds many reviewers have ever used. The earhooks and in-ear tips do an incredible job at anchoring the buds to the ears — and after finding the right fit, there are no complaints. 9to5Mac Five ear tip sizes (XS through XL) are included to help dial in a proper seal. The physical volume rocker on each earbud is a thoughtful touch too — nothing works as consistently as physical buttons, whether you’re wearing gloves skiing or your phone is in your kit bag, and it means you’re not fiddling with multiple presses of a multi-function button. TechRadar
The ear hook design does come with one trade-off: the hook puts some pressure on the back of the ears after a few hours of wear. SoundGuys It’s a fair compromise for the level of security you get — but if you’re planning extended daily wear beyond the gym, it’s something to factor in.
The Headline Feature: Heart Rate Monitoring
This is the Powerbeats Pro 2’s biggest talking point, and a genuine first for Apple. Built-in heart rate sensing makes this not only the first time Apple has created a non-watch heart rate sensor, but also the first time the company has enabled heart rate broadcasting over existing Bluetooth heart rate standards. DC Rainmaker That means the data can feed directly into third-party fitness apps, not just Apple’s own ecosystem.
In real-world testing during intense workouts, the heart rate data proved reliable. During a 20-minute stationary bike ride, the data recorded was similar to that from a Google Pixel Watch 2 CGMagazine — impressive accuracy for an in-ear sensor. One important caveat: if you’re already wearing an Apple Watch, the watch takes priority for heart rate data during workouts. The Powerbeats Pro 2’s heart rate feature is most valuable for athletes who prefer not to wear a smartwatch.
Sound Quality
The Powerbeats Pro 2 improve the sound quality over the original, and the buds are powered by the Apple H2 chip — the same chip found in the AirPods Pro 2 — bringing Personalized Spatial Audio, head-tracked audio, and adaptive transparency along for the ride. CNN
The bass isn’t too overpowering and the treble is well-balanced — overall audio levels feel balanced, leading to a comfortable and clear listening experience. CGMagazine Spatial Audio in Apple Music is genuinely impressive, adding width and dimensionality to music that standard earbuds can’t match. That said, they aren’t winning any awards sonically — but audio performance is a step up on most cheaper, sub-$100 wireless buds, especially when you deploy noise cancellation and head-tracked spatial audio. TechRadar Pure audiophiles may want more detail and resolution, but for athletes and everyday listeners, it’s more than satisfying.
Active Noise Cancellation
ANC was the most glaring omission from the original Powerbeats Pro, and the sequel delivers. Noise cancellation scored well in testing — a standout feature of the Powerbeats Pro 2 TechGearLab, particularly effective at blocking low-frequency noise like gym equipment, traffic, and air conditioning hum. On public transit, the noise cancelling performed almost on par with some popular over-ear headphones CGMagazine — high praise for in-ear workout buds. Transparency mode is equally capable, described by multiple reviewers as impressively natural.
Battery Life
Battery life runs to 10 hours per earbud, with a total of 45 hours available from the charging case DC Rainmaker — among the best stamina figures in the workout earbud category. A 5-minute fast charge delivers 1.5 hours of playback for when you’re rushing out the door. The case now supports both USB-C and wireless Qi charging — the first Beats charging case to support wireless charging CGMagazine — making it far more convenient than its predecessor.
A Few Caveats
At $249, the Powerbeats Pro 2 sit at a premium price point. Call quality is a notable weak point, with some calls resulting in garbled voices TechGearLab — not ideal if you need to take frequent work calls during your day. The case, while dramatically improved, is still larger than most competing earbuds’ cases. And Android users get a noticeably stripped-down experience compared to iPhone owners, who unlock the full suite of spatial audio and health features.
The Bottom Line
The Powerbeats Pro 2 add up to some of the best workout headphones available in 2025 — especially for someone who wouldn’t mind getting extra insight into their health without strapping on a smartwatch. CNN The secure fit is unmatched, the battery life is extraordinary, ANC is a welcome and effective addition, and the heart rate sensor is a genuine differentiator. If fitness is your primary use case and you’re in the Apple ecosystem, these are hard to beat. Just go in knowing they’re optimized for the gym, not the conference room.
