Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Review

The concept has potential, but the execution doesn't come together where it counts for the Powerbeats Pro 2. It's a creative swing that didn't quite connect, though the battery life is impressive.

Sound Quality

While these earbuds sound okay, we expect more at this price. The quality isn't offensive, but it's not impressive either, and discerning listeners will be disappointed.

The mix is pretty good, with consistent, natural-sounding bass frequencies that feel rich and vibrant without drowning out the other registers. The mids offer a wonderful array of textures that showcase lead instruments beautifully. But when you get to the higher registers where soaring vocals can make or break a song, these earbuds fall short. Singers often sound underwater in the mix, like they're standing too far from the mic. The lack of sparkle and glimmer in the high frequencies leaves the mix feeling darker overall. Instead of shimmering cymbals and metallic synths, you get muted and muffled highs.

When the odd high note does break through with power, sometimes it rises to a point, with a sharpness that is not ear-friendly. The opening horns in “Mr. Pitiful” by Otis Redding made me flinch. While we love the warm low tones in Redding's vocals, the inconsistent translation in the high notes is a drawback. The well-balanced lower registers might be enough for less critical ears.

On the bright side, these earbuds have no trouble getting loud and deliver all the volume you want without losing control. At higher volumes, the bass can get so punchy that it almost booms, but it never blows out. The result is great for high-energy activities like paced runs. We never noticed a loss of detail, even at lower levels, making them versatile in a range of environments.

For comparison, we tested using SoundCheck software and and our Brüel & Kjaer Type 5128 head-and-ear simulator, to chart the frequency response of the Beats Pro 2. The comparison to our GearLab House Curve shows significant departures in the bass, mid, and treble ranges, with the lower and higher frequencies dialed down too far for our preferences.

Soundstage

The soundstage isn't as boxed in as other Beats, but the PowerBeats don't give you the wide-open feel of options like the better performers. There is enough room between instruments to hear each one clearly in the sonic space the earbuds create, but the overall experience feels somewhat compressed.

Comfort and Fit

We did not find these earbuds comfortable. Some even experienced painful pressure points. The unforgiving plastic body and stiff, over-the-ear hook made them feel awkward at best, and sometimes painful. You have to twist the buds to have them sit correctly to avoid immediate discomfort, and many experienced a soreness in the inner ear after a short time.

The bulky arms look awkward, especially with a hat. And don't even think about wearing them with glasses, the arms get in the way. No one thought they were comfortable enough to wear for a full day.

Stability

The upside of the rigid hook is that it keeps the PowerBeats in place, which is useful for working out. Still, the discomfort is hard to override. One tester tried adjusting the earbuds mid-run, and the eartip popped off.

Noise Cancellation

The Powerbeats Pro 2 offers decent noise cancellation, but its effectiveness hinges on achieving a proper ear seal. Its inconsistent seal means it inconsistently blocks background sounds, a process known as passive noise isolation.

When their active noise cancellation (ANC) is turned on and the seal is secure, they reach the upper-middle tier of performance, effectively softening the hum of the office or running on a treadmill. Sharper, higher-pitched disruptions like snapping fingers or clapping hands bleed through. Without that solid seal, the ANC performance suffers as well.

When they are seated properly, even the passive noise isolation dulls sounds like the creaking of a stationary bike or the low whir of machinery. The video below demonstrates the difference between passive isolation and active cancellation.

We used our head simulator and SoundCheck software to listen to determine how well they dull cafe sounds. They reduce noise by 20 to 30 decibels in the bass range, 15 to 32 decibels in the midrange, and more than 30 decibels in the treble frequencies.

We appreciate the transparency mode that pipes ambient sounds into your ear past the seal. This transparency mode is very natural and lifelike, letting you hear planes overhead, passing cars, and panting dogs while playing music.

Ease of Use

While they include some useful features like a fit test, “Find My” buds tool, and a (spotty) heart rate monitor, the lack of adjustable EQ and inconsistent performance limits their appeal.

App Features

The basic but functional PowerBeats app works with both Apple and Android devices. The iOS version feels relatively straightforward, with no hidden features or frills. There are no true adjustable EQ settings or audio presets, which feels like a ripoff at this price point. Instead, an adaptive EQ technology monitors the fit and seal of the buds and adjusts the frequency as needed.

The finicky fit also impacts the function of the heart rate monitor, which only works when the buds are seated properly. Since it uses both optical and capacitive sensors, piercings and body movements also seem to affect it, resulting in inconsistent readings.

While the Pro 2 improve on the Beats Powerbeats Pro with minor upgrades like single-bud functionality, they fall short in comfort and functional features.

Battery Life

Battery life is the one area where these earbuds stand out. They last 12 hours and 44 minutes on a single charge, well beyond the company's 10-hour claim.

The case holds enough power for 4.5 extra charges, and a quick 5 minutes in the case gives you 1.5 hours of playback. The case charges wirelessly, too, making it easy to plop onto my wireless charging pads.

Call Quality

Earbuds often work to isolate your voice from background sounds, making things easier to hear. We evaluated using our head-and-mouth simulator to play recordings of male and female voices in a room while varying the level of background sounds. While the buds managed to dampen some of the clutter, their overall call clarity was unimpressive.

The call quality, even in a quiet room, is shockingly poor. The voices come through with a grainy, staticky texture, making them sound like a broken radio. We ran the test three times using two sets of PowerBeat Pro2 and got the same unusable results.

In a moderately noisy office setting, the clarity didn't improve. The male voice was especially difficult to understand, with words so muffled they're nearly unintelligible. The female voice is slightly clearer, but still far from acceptable. Predictably, the screeching subway test made everything worse. The voices were completely drowned out, resulting in a garbled mess.

Should You Buy the Beats Powerbeats Pro2?

We don't recommend these earbuds. There are simply too many better options. That said, if you have larger ears, find a crazy good deal, and want something strictly for workouts, their strong volume levels might work well. Their excellent transparency mode could be worth it if you aren't picky about how your music sounds and you need to talk to people while you listen.

What Other Earbuds Should You Consider?