The world of true wireless earbuds is vast and highly competitive, with numerous brands vying for the top spot. Among these, the Beats Powerbeats Pro is a premium offering with superior sound quality, exceptional battery life, and a design tailored for active users. Since its launch, the Powerbeats Pro has gained popularity among fitness enthusiasts, athletes, and audiophiles. In this detailed review, we’ll explore every aspect of the Beats Powerbeats Pro, from their design and build quality to their performance, features, and overall value.
In this Beats Powerbeats Pro Review, we’ll take a look at:
Design and Build Quality
The Beats Powerbeats Pro is designed with one primary goal in mind: to provide a secure and comfortable fit for users who lead active lifestyles. Unlike many other true wireless earbuds on the market, the Powerbeats Pro features an ear hook design that wraps around the ear, ensuring that the earbuds stay firmly in place during even the most intense workouts. This design choice sets the Powerbeats Pro apart from competitors and makes it ideal for runners, cyclists, and gym-goers who need reliable earbuds that won’t budge, no matter how much they move.
The earbuds are crafted from high-quality materials that feel durable and robust. The matte finish gives them a sleek and modern look while also being resistant to fingerprints and smudges. The ear hooks are flexible and adjustable, allowing users to find the perfect fit for their ears. This customization ensures that the Powerbeats Pro remains comfortable during long periods of use while also providing a secure seal that enhances sound quality and passive noise isolation.
The Powerbeats Pro has several color options, including Black, Ivory, Navy, and Moss, catering to different style preferences. The earbuds are also designed to be sweat and water-resistant, with an IPX4 rating. This means they can withstand sweat and light rain, making them suitable for outdoor workouts and challenging training sessions. While the Powerbeats Pro is not fully waterproof, the IPX4 rating is sufficient for most users who need earbuds that can handle the rigors of exercise.
The charging case for the Beats Powerbeats Pro is considerably larger than most other true wireless earbud cases, which may be a drawback for users prioritizing portability. However, the case is well-built and features a sturdy hinge that snaps shut securely, protecting the earbuds when unused. The case also provides multiple additional charges, extending the overall battery life of the earbuds.
Comfort and Fit
Comfort is critical for any pair of wireless earbuds, especially those designed for physical activity. The Beats Powerbeats Pro excels in this area, offering a secure and comfortable fit that ensures the earbuds stay in place during even the most vigorous workouts. The ear hook design is the standout feature, providing added stability and preventing the earbuds from falling out, no matter how much you move.
The Powerbeats Pro comes with four silicone ear tips of different sizes, allowing users to choose the one that best fits their ears. This customization is essential for achieving a proper seal, which enhances comfort and improves sound quality and passive noise isolation. The earbuds are lightweight, and despite their larger size compared to some other true wireless options, they do not feel cumbersome when worn for extended periods.
The ear hooks are soft and flexible, allowing them to conform to the shape of your ears without causing discomfort. This makes the Powerbeats Pro suitable for long workout sessions, outdoor activities, or all-day listening. The secure fit also means that the earbuds remain stable during high-impact exercises like running, jumping, or weightlifting.
The only downside to the Powerbeats Pro’s design is the size of the charging case. While the earbuds are comfortable and easy to wear, the large charging case may be less convenient to carry around in a pocket. However, this trade-off comes with the benefit of extended battery life, which many users will appreciate.
Sound Quality
Regarding sound quality, the Beats Powerbeats Pro delivers a powerful and dynamic audio experience that lives up to the brand’s reputation. Beats has long been known for emphasizing bass, and the Powerbeats Pro is no exception. The earbuds offer a deep, punchy bass response perfect for bass-heavy genres like hip-hop, EDM, and pop. However, unlike some earlier Beats products, the Powerbeats Pro also delivers well-balanced mids and highs, ensuring that vocals, instruments, and other elements of the music are clear and detailed.
The overall sound signature of the Powerbeats Pro is energetic and vibrant, making them ideal for workouts and other activities where you need a motivating audio boost. The bass is prominent but not overwhelming, allowing the mids and highs to shine without being drowned out. This balance makes the Powerbeats Pro versatile enough to handle various music genres, from rock and classical to podcasts and audiobooks.
One of the standout features of the Powerbeats Pro is the sound isolation. Thanks to the secure fit and customizable ear tips, the earbuds provide excellent passive noise isolation, effectively blocking out external noise so you can focus on your music or calls. While the Powerbeats Pro does not have active noise cancellation (ANC) like some competitors, the passive isolation is sufficient for most environments, including gyms, busy streets, and public transport.
The sound quality of the Powerbeats Pro is further enhanced by Apple’s H1 chip, which provides a seamless and stable wireless connection and improved audio performance. The H1 chip also enables features like hands-free “Hey Siri” voice control, automatic device switching, and low-latency audio for video playback and gaming. Whether listening to music, taking calls, or watching videos, the Powerbeats Pro delivers a consistently high-quality audio experience.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is crucial for true wireless earbuds, especially for users who rely on them for long workouts or extended daily use. The Beats Powerbeats Pro excels in this area, offering one of the best battery performances in the wireless category. On a single charge, the earbuds provide up to 9 hours of continuous playback, significantly more than most other true wireless earbuds on the market. This extended battery life means you can quickly get through a full day of use without recharging the earbuds.
The charging case for the Powerbeats Pro provides an additional 24 hours of battery life, bringing the total to an impressive 33 hours. This makes the Powerbeats Pro an excellent choice for users who need reliable earbuds for travel, long commutes, or multiple workout sessions throughout the week. The case charges via a Lightning port, which may be convenient for users who already own Apple devices, as they can use the same cable for charging.
The Powerbeats Pro also supports fast charging, with Apple’s “Fast Fuel” feature providing 1.5 hours of playback with just a 5-minute charge. This is particularly useful for those who forget to charge their earbuds overnight or need a quick top-up before heading out for a run or gym session. The combination of long battery life and fast charging ensures that the Powerbeats Pro is always ready to go when you are.
The only drawback in the charging department is the lack of wireless charging for the case, which is a feature that many other premium true wireless earbuds now offer. However, given the long battery life of the earbuds and the fast charging capabilities, this omission is likely to be a challenge for most users.
Connectivity and Controls
The Beats Powerbeats Pro offers seamless connectivity thanks to the Apple H1 chip that powers the earbuds. Pairing the Powerbeats Pro with Apple devices is incredibly easy—open the case near your iPhone or iPad, and a pop-up will appear on the screen, allowing you to connect with a single tap. Once paired, the earbuds automatically connect to all devices linked to your Apple ID, including your Apple Watch, MacBook, and Apple TV. This seamless integration is one of the significant benefits of the H1 chip, making the Powerbeats Pro an excellent choice for users already invested in the Apple ecosystem.
The Powerbeats Pro can be paired like any other Bluetooth device for Android users. While pairing is not as seamless as with Apple devices, the connection remains stable and reliable. The earbuds support Bluetooth 5.0, which provides a solid and consistent wireless connection with minimal dropouts and low latency. This ensures that your music, calls, and videos are uninterrupted, no matter your device.
The controls on the Powerbeats Pro are intuitive and easy to use. Each earbud features physical buttons for adjusting volume, changing tracks, and taking calls. The buttons are responsive and provide satisfying tactile feedback, making them easy to use even during intense workouts. The physical controls are a welcome feature, especially for users who may find touch-sensitive controls on other earbuds less reliable during exercise.
In addition to the physical controls, the Powerbeats Pro supports hands-free voice commands with Siri. By saying “Hey Siri,” you can control music playback, adjust volume, make calls, and more without needing to touch your earbuds or device. This hands-free functionality is handy when you’re on the move and need to stay focused on your workout or activity.
Call Quality and Microphone Performance
Call quality is another area where the Beats Powerbeats Pro excels. Each earbud has dual beamforming microphones and an accelerometer to detect and filter out background noise, ensuring that your voice comes through clearly on the other end of the call. Whether you’re taking calls in a noisy gym, on a busy street, or in a quiet office, the Powerbeats Pro
delivers clear and crisp voice transmission.
The microphones on the Powerbeats Pro do an excellent job of isolating your voice from ambient noise, making it easy for the person on the other end of the call to hear you. The voice detection technology is particularly effective at reducing wind noise, a common issue with outdoor calls. This makes the Powerbeats Pro a reliable choice for users who need to take calls while on the go, whether for work or personal use.
The call quality is further enhanced by the stable Bluetooth connection provided by the Apple H1 chip. The low-latency connection ensures no noticeable delay between when you speak and when the person on the other end hears your voice. This is particularly important for business calls or video conferences, where clear and timely communication is essential.
Durability and Water Resistance
The Beats Powerbeats Pro is designed with durability in mind, making it a top choice for users who need earbuds that can withstand the challenges of an active lifestyle. The earbuds feature an IPX4 rating, which means they are resistant to sweat and water splashes. While this rating is insufficient for full water submersion, it provides enough protection for most workout scenarios, including intense gym sessions and outdoor runs in light rain.
The build quality of the Powerbeats Pro is solid, with a sturdy construction that feels durable and capable of withstanding daily wear and tear. The ear hooks are flexible yet strong, ensuring they can be adjusted without losing shape or stability. The matte finish on the earbuds is resistant to scratches and fingerprints, helping them maintain their sleek appearance even after extended use.
While the charging case is more significant than many other true wireless earbuds, it is still well-built and durable. The case features a secure hinge that snaps shut tightly, protecting the earbuds from damage when not in use. Due to its size, the case is designed to be carried in a bag or gym duffel rather than a pocket. However, the more significant case allows for more battery capacity, a worthwhile trade-off for users prioritizing battery life over portability.
Value for Money
The Beats Powerbeats Pro is a premium product whose pricing reflects that. While the earbuds are more expensive than many other accurate wireless options, they offer a range of features and performance enhancements that justify the higher price point. The excellent sound quality, secure and comfortable fit, long battery life, and seamless connectivity make the Powerbeats Pro a worthwhile investment for users who need reliable earbuds that can keep up with their active lifestyle.
Compared to other high-end true wireless earbuds, such as the Apple AirPods Pro, Sony WF-1000XM4, and Bose Sport Earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro has its performance and features. The ear hook design, in particular, sets the Powerbeats Pro apart, making them a better choice for users who need earbuds that will stay securely in place during physical activity. Additionally, the extended battery life of the Powerbeats Pro is a significant advantage over many competitors, making them ideal for users who need long-lasting performance.
While the lack of active noise cancellation may be a drawback for some users, the Powerbeats Pro’s excellent passive noise isolation and sound quality make up for this omission. For those who prioritize durability, comfort, and sound performance in a workout-focused pair of earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro offers excellent value for money.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Secure and comfortable fit with ear hook design, ideal for workouts and active use
- Powerful and dynamic sound with deep bass and balanced mids and highs
- Long battery life with up to 9 hours of playback on a single charge
- Fast charging with 1.5 hours of playback from a 5-minute charge
- Seamless connectivity with Apple devices thanks to the H1 chip
- Excellent call quality with dual beamforming microphones
- Sweat and water-resistant with IPX4 rating
- Physical buttons for easy control during workouts
Cons:
- A more significant charging case may be less portable than other wireless earbuds
- No active noise cancellation (ANC)
- Lack of wireless charging for the case
Conclusion
The Beats Powerbeats Pro True Wireless Earbuds are a standout choice for users who need a pair of earbuds that can deliver exceptional sound quality, long-lasting battery life, and a secure fit during physical activities. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, an athlete, or someone who enjoys high-quality audio on the go, the Powerbeats Pro offers a well-rounded package that caters to your needs.
The ear hook design is the defining feature of the Powerbeats Pro, providing a level of stability and comfort that few other true wireless earbuds can match. With powerful sound, seamless connectivity, and excellent call quality, the Powerbeats Pro stands out as one of the best options for active users.
While the earbuds come with a premium price tag, their features and performance make them a worthwhile investment. The extended battery life, fast charging capabilities, and durable build ensure that the Powerbeats Pro is ready to perform whenever you are. If you’re looking for a reliable, high-performance pair of earbuds that can keep up with your active lifestyle, the Beats Powerbeats Pro is an excellent choice.
Table: Summary
Feature | Details |
Design | Ear hook design with a secure and comfortable fit |
Sound Quality | Powerful bass with balanced mids and highs |
Battery Life | Up to 9 hours on a single charge, 24 additional hours with case |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 with Apple H1 chip for seamless pairing |
Durability | Sweat and water-resistant with IPX4 rating |
Call Quality | Dual beamforming microphones for clear voice transmission |
Controls | Physical buttons for volume, track, and call control |
Price | Premium pricing, but offers excellent value for active users |
In summary, the Beats Powerbeats Pro True Wireless Earbuds offer a compelling mix of features and performance, making them a top choice for anyone looking for durable, high-quality earbuds that can handle the demands of an active lifestyle.
Beats Powerbeats Pro FAQ
What are the key features of Beats Powerbeats Pro True Wireless Earbuds?
Beats Powerbeats Pro Earbuds offer a secure fit, sweat resistance, superior sound quality with a bass-forward profile, compatibility with Apple devices, and effective noise isolation.
How long is the battery life of the Powerbeats Pro Earbuds?
The Powerbeats Pro Earbuds boast a long battery life, nearly doubling that of similar products. This makes them ideal for extended use without frequent recharging.
Are the Powerbeats Pro Earbuds suitable for sports and fitness activities?
Yes, the Powerbeats Pro is specifically designed for sports and fitness, offering a secure, sweat-resistant fit that stays in place during vigorous physical activities.
