Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Review

Our Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Experience

The Powerbeats are designed with physical activity in mind, so they trade off some long listening comfort features for the sake of buds that stay in place. Overall, we see the appeal of moving swiftly in the Beats, but we wouldn't recommend them if you can only buy one double-duty pair for extended listening and exercise. If you can afford daily use buds and a dedicated pair for physical fitness, the PowerBeats could be the running or workout partner you seek.

The PowerBeats case is big. Sure, it isn't as big as the PowerBeats Pro by Dre case, but it is both wide and fat, making it ill-suited for anything less than the biggest pockets. It will even take up a significant amount of space in a purse or cross-body bag. The buds lay somewhat flat inside the case and are not labeled, though they can't be put in incorrectly. The lid feels flimsy, and the strange palm-sized case is awkward and hard to hold onto. The pairing button is inside the case, and they pair easily with Android and Apple (which owns Beats).

The PowerBeats have five silicone tip sizes, and somehow, they are all too big. We suspect the goal is sealing the ear canal from outside sound to help with noise cancellation, but the result is significant inner ear pressure for those with smaller ears or ear canals. On the upside, once the buds are in place, you forget about the in-ear tip pressure because the hook becomes your bigger problem.

The upside of the rigid hook is that it helps keep buds in place when physically active, like running, box jumps, and anything on a decline bench. However, the severe angle of the hook creates a pressure point that is hard to ignore and only gets worse the longer you wear them. More than once, we experienced the tip popping off in our ears when we adjusted the hooks mid-activity. This, coupled with the slick feeling of sweaty eartips, made them even less appealing for the one thing they are designed to complement, movement.

Using the PowerBeats for phone calls is a hit or miss situation, we didn't really love. It has all the expectations of Christmas morning without the thrill of getting the gifts you requested. Sometimes the calls would be clear, easy to understand, and dare we say almost a pleasure to take. Unfortunately, other times, the calls would be garbled and muddied so significantly that we couldn't tell you what was being said, or even if the voices were human. The inconsistentcy is the real bummer becuase there is some comfort in knowing what you are going to get (even if it is bad) because at least it isn't a surprise, here, you are left uncertain and every call launches like a mystery novel.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Sound Quality

While these earbuds sound okay, they score below average and we expected better for the price. The sound isn't offensive so much as it isn't impressive, and discerning listeners will be disappointed. If they cost half the price, they could be more compelling for workouts where bass heavy tracks push you to do more.

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, like they're too far away from the mic.

The lack of sparkle and glimmer in the high frequencies leaves the mix feeling dark. Instead of shimmering cymbals and metallic synths, there are muted and muffled highs. When the odd high note breaks through with power, sometimes it rises to a sharpness that bites. The opening horns in “Mr. Pitiful” by Otis Redding made us flinch. While we love the warm low tones in Redding's vocals, the inconsistent translation in the high notes is disappointing. However, the well-balanced lower registers might be enough for casual listeners with 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 thump could be just what some seek for high-energy activities. We never noticed a loss of detail, even at lower levels, making them versatile in a range of environments.

We charted the frequency response of the Beats Pro 2 to compare to our GearLab House Curve. The Pro 2 shows significant departures in the bass, mid, and treble ranges, with the lower and higher frequencies falling below our preferred range.

Soundstage

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

Comfort and Fit

We don't think the PowerBeats Pro 2 are comfortable. The unforgiving body and stiff, over-the-ear hooks feel awkward and sometimes painful. The hook is narrower than its predecessor, which can cause pressure on the base of the ear. You have to twist the buds to seat them and wrap the hook, which can cause inner ear pressure points and soreness.

The arms shoot upwards to create the hooks, which look bulky and awkward. They conflict with some hats and glasses, potentially making the buds more trouble than they are worth as you attempt to balance two or more accessories layered on one another.

Noise Cancellation

The Powerbeats Pro 2 offers better noise cancellation than the average competitor, but its effectiveness hinges on achieving a proper ear seal. Its inconsistent seal means it inconsistently blocks background sounds.

When their active noise cancellation (ANC) is turned on and the seal is secure, they reach the upper 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 the 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.

In a busy cafe, the PowerBEats 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 transmits ambient sounds into your ear past the seal. The sound is natural and lifelike, letting you hear planes overhead, passing cars, and panting dogs while playing music.

App Features

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.

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, which isn't surprising since Apple owns Beats. There are no true adjustable EQ settings or audio presets, which is disappointing for the price. 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 seem to affect it, resulting in inconsistent readings. We wouldn't rely on the heart rate tracking as our only monitor (as it is hit or miss), and think other technology does this better, like fitness watches.

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. It is one of the longest battery lives in the group and is ample enough for most folks to last the day.

For longer days, 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. This means you could get almost two full days worth of listening with minimal down time or need for a charger.

Call Quality

While the PowerBeats managed to dampen some of the clutter, their overall call clarity was unimpressive; even in a quiet room, it is shockingly poor.

The voices have a grainy, staticky texture, making them sound like a broken radio. We ran multiple internal tests using two sets of PowerBeat Pro2 and got the same unusable results.