The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are the long-awaited sequel to 2019's Beats Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless, but this time they're back with active noise cancellation (ANC). Like the previous generation, some things remain the same, like an IPX4 rating and a broadly similar over-ear hooked design geared towards athletes or anyone who prefers extra fit security. Many updates are internal or software-based, like onboard heart monitors, Apple's H2 chip, and Apple Spatial Audio compatibility.
Our Verdict
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are impressive for sports and fitness use. Their fit is very secure, thanks to a choice of five ear tips and a well-built, flexible, nickel-titanium alloy over-ear hook that's covered in comfortable silicone. Their powerful ANC ensures you can focus at the gym, or toggle on transparency mode for running outdoors. Their large physical controls make it easier to change settings like volume or playback without second-guessing whether you found the button or not, which is handy for maintaining your rhythm. The tuning delivers ample bass and clarity, though you can't EQ it. The IPX4 rating is positive, but it's a little outpaced by other fitness earbuds with greater dust and water resistance. Their heart rate monitors are handy, but not a substitute for a dedicated device.
Fantastic ANC and passive isolation.
App works for iOS and Android.
Stable fit.
No equalizer.
Bluetooth device switching is limited to Apple products.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are excellent for traveling. Their battery lasts long enough to get through most flights without a recharge. Onboard ANC is remarkably adept when it comes to filtering out rumbling engines and ambient din. Plus, the controls are comprehensive. The downsides are that over-ear hooks aren't to everyone's taste when sitting for long stretches, and there's no EQ, so you don't have control over how they sound.
Fantastic ANC and passive isolation.
Long continuous battery life.
App works for iOS and Android.
No equalizer.
Bluetooth device switching is limited to Apple products.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are good for office work. Their ANC does a fantastic job of isolating you from the noise around the office. The continuous battery can last through a workday without a recharge (depending on the volume setting), and they have plenty of controls, including a mic mute, which is handy during group calls. While their sporty design is secure, not everyone likes to wear over-ear hooks when they're seated, but the hooks don't get in the way of glasses. On the downside, their mic has sub-par performance, though it filters out ambient din well.
Fantastic ANC and passive isolation.
Long continuous battery life.
App works for iOS and Android.
Disappointing microphone performance.
Bluetooth device switching is limited to Apple products.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 aren't suitable for wireless gaming because they're Bluetooth-only with fairly high latency, meaning they can't connect to most gaming consoles, and their A/V mismatch is distractingly high for fast-paced mobile games.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 don't use a wired connection and can't be used for wired gaming.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 have very good audio accuracy reproduction. They follow our target curve very well. Bass is somewhat emphasized, but evenly so throughout the range, providing a full and weighty low-end. The mid-range is slightly scooped but not excessively, so keys and melodies come through. Lastly, the treble is a little harsh and sharp, depending on your tastes, but otherwise mostly bright and detailed. These buds exhibit very little harmonic distortion, so your audio remains clean and pure.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are superb for noise isolation. Their active noise cancellation is very powerful when it comes to filtering out deep rumbles, traffic, and ambient din. The passive isolation blocks high-pitched squeaks well. Together, these elements effectively isolate you from your environment.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 have a middling microphone performance. Speech sounds intelligible but occasionally lispy and not true-to-life. While the mic system rejects constant background noise relatively well, it struggles to prioritize your voice above sudden loud sounds.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 have amazing frequency response consistency. With the correct ear tip size and careful placement, these earbuds sound very similar between listening sessions. This means you won't experience variations in the low-end, for example, between wears.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Mar 24, 2026:
This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
- Updated Mar 24, 2026: This review has been updated to Test Bench 2.1, which removes the Group Delay test, and rebalances scoring for the Harmonic Distortion test and Audio Reproduction Accuracy performance usage. For more details, consult our full changelog.
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Updated Jan 05, 2026:
We retested the wireless charging after a user reached out about coil whine, and we added the results to the Battery box.
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Updated Jul 15, 2025:
After a retest and user reports, we've updated information on the heart rate monitor's functionality in the App and Bluetooth Connection sections.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
Our Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are the 'Electric Orange' colorway. They also come in 'Hyper Purple,' 'Jet Black,' and 'Quick Sand.' We expect these variants to perform similarly to our unit. If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
Much has changed in the wireless market since the original Beats Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless were released in 2019. Although not without controversy, the first generation was initially lauded for its long battery life and secure fit. However, the intervening years have seen a steep rise in the popularity of ANC-equipped earbuds, and the market is now full of competitors with higher IP ratings. The Beats Fit Pro True Wireless with ANC were released between the original Powerbeats Pro and the Pro 2, but the one-size-fits-all stabilizers are polarizing when it comes to comfort, and the battery life falls short of the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. The Pro 2 are a clear step-up from the originals and the Fit Pro if you care about blocking out environmental noise, but in other ways, it's business as usual. Like most Apple-owned brands, these lack a graphic EQ, which is unfortunate, and the IPX4 rating is sufficient but outclassed by the likes of the Sennheiser MOMENTUM Sport's IP55 rating. While both the Sennheiser and Powerbeats Pro 2 support heart rate monitors, their functionality seems to vary with different devices.
In other words, the competition is tighter than it was in 2019 with the original Powerbeats Pro, but it also seems as if there's room for the Powerbeats Pro 2 in the mid and premium tiers given Jabra's exit from the true wireless market, and the fact that Jaybird has been quiet since launching the Jaybird Vista 2 (and since Logitech acquired the brand). If anything, cheaper entries such as the Skullcandy Push Active True Wireless (and the noise cancelling model, the Push ANC Active) are likely catching the eyes of athletes as alternatives to the Beats Powerbeats Pro line-up. Still, if you liked the Powerbeats Pro, the sequel delivers a very similar experience with truly superb noise cancelling.
Check out the best noise cancelling earbuds, the best headphones for running, and the best earbuds for iPhones.
For most people, the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are better than the Beats Fit Pro True Wireless. The Powerbeats Pro 2 have a considerably longer battery life and stronger ANC. They fit more comfortably because the over-ear hooks flex around your ear, while the fin on the Fit Pro can cause focused pressure on some people's ears. That said, in other respects, they share similarities such as the same app and Apple Spatial Audio compatibility. Both are quite stable in the ear, too. However, if you're taking calls, this is one area in which the Fit Pro performs better: the mic system sounds a bit more natural.
The Apple AirPods Pro 3 are better than the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 for most people, unless you have an Android device or have hard-to-fit ears. The Apple buds deliver some of the best ANC around and are packed with more advanced heart monitors than the Beats. Their IP rating is higher, too. Plus, their mic is better-sounding. Still, the Beats include an app that offers support for Android, which the Apple don't, and their heart monitors aren't as advanced, but you can use them with Android devices without compromising on the absence of any app for them. Their ANC is no slouch either, even if it's not as strong. The over-ear fit is bulkier, but if you need extra security or find the Apple shape doesn't fit you, the Beats might work better for your needs.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are an upgrade from the Beats Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless. Basically, the Powerbeats Pro 2 adds ANC, a smaller and lighter form factor, updated H2 chip, and an app interface with small quality of life improvements alongside Apple Spatial Audio. That said, if you don't care about ANC and want a basic pair of Bluetooth buds with over-ear hooks, some other features are rather similar, like the IPX4 rating, controls, and stability. For most people, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are better, but the Powerbeats Pro Truly Wireless are essentially a stripped-back version if you don't need all the bells and whistles.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are better than the Beats Studio Buds True Wireless. The Powerbeats Pro 2 outperform the Studio Buds across almost all metrics: the ANC is far better, and the battery life is much longer. Other features are the same, like an IPX4 rating on both and a simple app. The Studio Buds are usually cheaper and marketed as a lower-tier option. Unless you can't stand over-ear hooks or your budget is tight, there aren't obvious benefits to choosing the Studio Buds.
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Test Results
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