Smaller, with ANC and HRM
The brand-new Powerbeats Professional 2 takes the enduring and acquainted design of the Powerbeats Professional and brings it to the following stage. For the primary time in a pair of Beats earbuds, the Powerbeats Professional 2 have a coronary heart price sensor for HRM. Plus, there’s an Apple H2 chip for quick pairing, ANC and transparency modes, and way more.
For
- Correct coronary heart price sensor for exercise monitoring
- Full help for iOS and Android quick pairing
- Smaller case with USB-C and Qi charging
- Extra compact design, nonetheless retaining ear hook and bodily buttons
Towards
- The primary Powerbeats Professional are only a tad bit extra snug to me
- Waterproofing continues to be solely IPX4
- HRM on iOS seems like an incomplete expertise
An oldie, however a goodie
There are some issues in regards to the Powerbeats Professional that make the earbuds really feel laughably dated, like Lightning charging and an enormous charging case. Nevertheless, they’re nonetheless able to stable sound high quality and a dependable reference to an H1 chip. At half the worth or lower than the Powerbeats Professional 2, the originals could also be value a re-assessment.
For
- Snug design with safe ear hooks
- Strong sound high quality and H1 chip
Towards
- Almost six-year-old audio expertise
- No USB-C or wi-fi charging
- Massive charging case that may’t match right into a pocket
After practically six lengthy years, Apple lastly gave the Powerbeats Professional the refresh it deserves. Beats revealed the Powerbeats Professional 2 on February 11, 2025, following months of teasers that includes high-profile athletes and celebrities.
The Powerbeats Professional 2 achieve lots of the AirPods Professional 2’s greatest options — together with the H2 chip, ANC and transparency modes, Spatial Audio, and the ear tip match take a look at — plus an optical coronary heart price sensor for exercises and a extra compact design. Additionally they retain the unique Powerbeats Professional’s iconic ear hook for stability and its $250 retail worth.
For folks nonetheless rocking the unique Powerbeats Professional years later, is it time to lastly improve to the Powerbeats Professional 2? Or, is there any purpose to get the Powerbeats Professional in 2025? After spending over 5 years operating with the Powerbeats Professional, and testing the brand new Powerbeats Professional 2 side-by-side with their predecessor for the previous week, I am able to reply each questions.
Powerbeats Professional 2 vs. Powerbeats Professional: Design and luxury
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Wanting on the new Powerbeats Professional 2 beside the unique Powerbeats Professional, it is clear they’re each related and rather a lot completely different. Beats stored the overall concept of Powerbeats intact, with a housing formed like a bar and an ear hook for stability. Nevertheless, it isn’t the identical hook because the Powerbeats Professional. As a substitute of the adjustable ear hook on the first-generation earbuds, which could possibly be molded and retained form, the Powerbeats Professional 2 have a versatile ear hook. It is half the scale and can nonetheless maintain your headphones from falling out.
Smaller is a theme for the Powerbeats Professional 2. The earbuds are smaller general regardless of housing extra expertise inside. Is that this an excellent factor? That relies upon. After plenty of testing, via walks, runs, and day by day use, I can definitively say that I discover the unique Powerbeats Professional safer and cozy. The larger dimension really fills up my ear higher, including to the secure really feel.
That is not to say that Powerbeats Professional 2 aren’t snug. They arrive with 5 ear tip sizes, from XS to XL, and help the ear tip match take a look at. It is a software program device that may let you understand in the event you’re utilizing the correct ear tip dimension within the Beats app for Android or the settings app for iOS. Paired with the ear hook, there was by no means a time I used to be nervous in regards to the Powerbeats Professional 2 falling out.
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Consolation is subjective, however I might estimate the Powerbeats Professional really feel about 10% extra snug than the Powerbeats Professional 2. It is not a dealbreaker, however one thing to think about.
To get the perfect expertise, you additionally should put on Powerbeats Professional 2 accurately. With the brand new design, the bar must be pointing sharply upward, with the ear hook following the pure form of your ear lobe. It is a departure from how the unique Powerbeats Professional match; they sat nearer to the horizontal airplane in your ear. Should you do not put on Powerbeats Professional 2 accurately, the guts price sensor will not be capable to get correct readings.
One other wonderful thing about the Powerbeats Professional 2 is that it is nonetheless geared up with tactile, bodily buttons. Every earbuds has a quantity rocker on the high and play/pause button on the Beats emblem. Once more, the play/pause button feels barely higher on the originals — it is larger and extra pronounced — however the distinction is not that large of a deal.
The Powerbeats Professional 2 charging case is an enormous improve. It now helps USB-C wired charging and Qi wi-fi charging. Past that, it is smaller, and it is lastly pocketable — although you’ll be left with a bulge and it is nonetheless not excellent. Within the picture above, you will see the distinction between the Powerbeats Professional, Powerbeats Professional 2, and AirPods Professional 2 charging case.
The brand new form of the earbuds makes placing them into the charging case proper a bit trickier. Nevertheless, in my expertise, they snap into place completely as soon as you discover the correct spot. It is a large deal, as a result of the unique Powerbeats Professional had finicky and delicate charging contacts, and have been infamous for not charging correctly.
Powerbeats Professional 2 vs. Powerbeats Professional: {Hardware} and sound high quality
The Powerbeats Professional 2 refresh is essential as a result of, not like the AirPods Professional/AirPods Professional 2 refresh, the Powerbeats have design and {hardware} enhancements. In reality, identical to the Powerbeats Professional and AirPods Professional earlier than it, the Powerbeats Professional 2 are similar to the AirPods Professional 2 when it comes to {hardware}. Each have an H2 chip for fast-pairing and low-latency connection for Apple merchandise — together with ultra-low-latency for Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. Powerbeats Professional 2 additionally help one-touch pairing on Android, which the AirPods Professional 2 do not help.
Powerbeats Professional 2 add help for the ear tip match take a look at, Spatial Audio, lively noise-canceling (ANC), transparency mode, and voice isolation — all of which the unique Powerbeats Professional doesn’t help. Voice isolation will assist clear up enter from the Powerbeats Professional 2’s six microphones (in comparison with the Powerbeats Professional’s two), however is barely out there on iOS. As such, Android customers will get a bit worse microphone high quality than Apple customers.
When it comes to audio {hardware}, the Powerbeats Professional 2 at the moment are geared up with a venting channel to keep away from strain, a high-output amplifier, and axial-aligned transducers. The latter merely signifies that the transducers are parallel to the acoustic nozzle, which suggests the sound will go straight into your ear with out altering route. In easy phrases, the Powerbeats Professional 2 ought to sound higher than the originals.
Class | Powerbeats Professional 2 | Powerbeats Professional |
|---|---|---|
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5 |
Codec Assist | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
Noise Management | ANC, Transparency, Adaptive EQ | None |
Battery life | As much as 10 hours (earbuds, ANC/Transparency off), complete 45 hours (with charging case); As much as 8 hours (earbuds, ANC/Transparency on), complete 36 hours (with charging case) | As much as 9 hours (earbuds), complete 24 hours (with charging case) |
Charging | USB-C, Qi wi-fi | Lightning |
Microphone | 6 microphones complete | 2 microphones complete |
Sturdiness | IPX4 | IPX4 |
Sensors | Optical sensors (in-ear detect), Optical sensors (coronary heart price monitoring), Accelerometer, Gyroscope | In-ear detect sensors |
Weight | 69g (case), 8.7g (every earbud) | 80g (case), 11g (every earbud) |
In the actual world, although, the distinction wasn’t practically as noticeable as it would sound. Each the Powerbeats Professional 2 and authentic Powerbeats Professional may deal with music of all genres, with a slight desire to low-frequency sounds. Sure, meaning Powerbeats Professional 2 sound wonderful whereas listening to hip-hop/rap/R&B tracks from artists just like the Wu-Tang Clan and SZA, however it additionally means they will excel at jazz items from teams like Booker T. & the M.G.’s.
You will not need to improve from the Powerbeats Professional to the Powerbeats Professional 2 for sound high quality alone. The large differential simply is not there. Nevertheless, you could need to improve for Spatial Audio, ANC, and transparency modes. ANC modes on the Powerbeats Professional really feel equal to AirPods Professional 2 when it comes to their capabilities, which is a big praise. I can block out nearly any sound I have to, and let it in when crucial.
Transparency mode will likely be a game-changer for runners and cyclists. As a long-distance runner who likes to work out outdoor, I not often put on each Powerbeats Professional earbuds. It simply is not secure. I would like to listen to vehicles, bikes, and usually pay attention to my environment. With Powerbeats Professional 2, I can try this whereas sporting each earbuds.
After all, we won’t overlook the optical coronary heart price sensor contained in the Powerbeats Professional 2, that are the earbuds’ headlining characteristic. It is primarily a miniature model of the optical sensor contained in the Apple Watch, and compiles readings from every earbud to create a measurement. It data a studying each 5 seconds, and is akin to high-end health watches just like the Garmin Enduro 3 in my testing.
Coronary heart price monitoring (HRM) is arguably higher on Android than iOS, as a result of it is simpler to manually management through the Beats app. It really works with virtually any machine that helps Bluetooth coronary heart price displays, together with smartwatches. Is it essential characteristic?
Perhaps, perhaps not. I will not change a devoted health look ahead to Powerbeats Professional 2 anytime quickly, however I may see why somebody may. For instance, sure actions — like weightlifting, core exercises, and yoga — might be tough with a wearable on the wrist.
Powerbeats Professional 2 vs. Powerbeats Professional: Battery life
Apple improved the battery lifetime of the Powerbeats Professional 2, which helps offset any hit that HRM or ANC would’ve had. The unique Powerbeats Professional may get 9 hours of playback on a single cost, plus a further 15 hours through the charging case. In the meantime, the Powerbeats Professional 2 can stand up to eight hours of playback on a single cost with an ANC mode lively, plus a further 28 hours through the charging case. With Adaptive EQ enabled, the Powerbeats Professional 2 can attain their most battery lifetime of 45 hours together with the case.
A fast five-minute cost offers you 1.5 hours of playback on each the Powerbeats Professional 2 and the originals. The Powerbeats Professional 2 cost from 0% to 100% in two hours.
Powerbeats Professional 2 vs. Powerbeats Professional: Must you improve?
Powerbeats have existed for 15 years now, and went via a number of iterations since they debuted in 2010. Powerbeats Professional 2 are excellent exercise headphones, however they’re a slight departure from the acquainted and constant Powerbeats design and match. Consequently, I am nonetheless keen on the Powerbeats Professional and would take into account nonetheless utilizing them for sure the place excellent match and stability is totally crucial.
Total, the Powerbeats Professional 2 present why change can be crucial. The Powerbeats Professional had evident flaws, from the charging case to the dearth of ANC and transparency mode, and the Powerbeats Professional 2 seemingly fastened all of them. It is exhausting to be dissatisfied when Powerbeats Professional followers received precisely what they wished. And even when the Powerbeats Professional 2 are barely much less snug than their predecessor, they’re nonetheless forward of the competitors by miles.
Should you’re searching for the greatest pair of exercise earbuds at present, it is most likely the Powerbeats Professional 2. They sound wonderful, are snug, help ANC and transparency mode, and work properly with iOS and Android. At $250, I am completely keen to suggest these headphones — particularly contemplating my first-generation pair continues to be in use after 5 years.
However let me inform you this: in the event you can reside with Lightning charging and a cumbersome case, the unique Powerbeats Professional are nonetheless a sneaky worth purchase at their new worth of simply over $100.
Higher in virtually each means
There wasn’t rather a lot in regards to the authentic Powerbeats that wanted fixing, however Apple exceeded expectations with the Powerbeats Professional 2. The smaller case, compact earbud design, and USB-C/Qi charging help are all severely handy. The active-noise canceling and HRM help are simply huge bonuses, too.
Nonetheless a groundbreaker
There is a purpose that the Powerbeats Professional remained as fashionable as they did for so long as they did. Powerbeats Professional are a wonderful pair of exercise earbuds, and the Powerbeats Professional 2’s launch would not instantly change that. The originals may be an excellent worth at round $100, however you will have to reside with Lightning charging — an enormous bummer.
