Beats Unveils 'Powerbeats Pro 2' Earphones Featuring Integrated Heart Rate Monitors in Each Earpiece

Boasting 45 hours of overall battery life, a case that is 33% thinner, and powered by Apple’s H2 chip, same to that in AirPods Pro 2.

Beats

After six years since the launch of the Powerbeats Pro, its most popular sports-oriented earphones, Beats has revealed a long-awaited improvement and presented the Powerbeats Pro 2 today.

The newly designed earbuds have been completely overhauled, including over five years of data and research, alongside technology advancements spearheaded by Beats' parent company, Apple, to produce what the brand describes as “the most remarkable product in Beats’ history.”

Beats

Beats aims to elevate its latest offering beyond conventional sports earbuds by including a variety of innovative elements in both design and performance. A notable enhancement in the Powerbeats Pro 2 is the incorporation of in-ear heart rate monitoring, which the firm asserts provides athletes with real-time performance data. Beats has accomplished this by integrating technology akin to that utilized in the Apple Watch—LED optical sensors that assess blood flow by pulsating over 100 times per second. In an interview with Hypebeast, the brand stated that the newly built heart rate monitors in the Powerbeats Pro 2 are approximately 1/16th the size of those on the Apple Watch, yet confirmed that their performance is equivalent. Each earbud is equipped with an integrated heart rate monitor; however, to guarantee optimal accuracy, users must wear both earbuds simultaneously for the feature to function.

Beats

Beats has collaborated with multiple premier fitness applications to guarantee that the new Powerbeats Pro 2 can transmit user activity data effortlessly. The applications accessible at launch comprise Peloton, Runna, Nike Run Club, Open, Slopes, Ladder, and YaoYao, with the possibility of additional apps being incorporated in the future (serious inquiry: where is Strava?).

The Powerbeats Pro 2 introduces active noise cancellation (ANC), a commonplace function absent in the original 2019 model. The brand asserts that the ANC featured in the Powerbeats Pro 2 is the finest it has ever produced, stating to Hypebeast that this encompasses the company’s premier over-ear headphones as well. The new earbuds incorporate a highly responsive transparency mode, enabling users to remain aware of their surroundings while utilizing the device, along with an adaptive EQ that instantly adjusts the music to better align with the environment. The Powerbeats Pro 2 has featured wireless charging, marking the inaugural Beats case to incorporate this feature, while the case claims "up to 45 hours of battery life," while being 33% smaller than its predecessor.

Beats

The new headphones are equipped with Apple's H2 chip, identical to that in the AirPods Pro 2, aligning the Powerbeats Pro 2 with Apple's premier earbuds.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 possess an IPX4 classification, indicating that they are, as stated by the manufacturer, “sufficiently durable for training in rain, snow, and heat.” In simpler terms, they are resistant to sweat and water, but not waterproof.

Beats has reduced the earhook's weight by 20% compared to its predecessor, enhancing it with a nickel titanium alloy that purportedly provides exceptional flexibility, grip, and comfort. The business asserts that it has tested Powerbeats Pro 2 with "nearly 1,000 athletes," resulting in the most optimal fitting product it has ever introduced. Beats is providing five distinct sizes of eartips in the package, offering users the most extensive selection to date.

The firm has unveiled a selection of vibrant new colors, with "Electric Orange" prominently distinguishing itself. Additional colors offered include “Jet Black,” “Quick Sand,” and “Hyper Purple.”

The new Powerbeats Pro 2 from Beats is currently available on the brand's website and at Apple stores globally, priced at £249.95 GBP / $249.99 USD.