Beats Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats Pro 2 Wireless Review
The Powerbeats Pro 2 won't fall out during a workout, but they might disappoint your ears. We break down why they're a niche pick for athletes, not an all-rounder.
The 30-Second Version
Buy these only if you're a serious athlete who destroys regular earbuds. The fit is unbeatable, but the sound is just okay. For everyone else, get something else.
Overview
The Powerbeats Pro 2 are a one-trick pony, but they're the best in the world at that trick. If you need a pair of earbuds that will absolutely, positively not fall out during a workout, these are your answer. The secure-fit earhooks are the star of the show, and they're backed by legitimately great battery life and solid noise cancellation. Just don't expect them to be your all-day, everyday music earbuds.
Performance
The battery life is the real surprise here, landing in the 94th percentile in our database. You get a solid 10 hours from the buds and a whopping 35 from the case, which is fantastic for long training sessions or forgetting to charge your case for a week. The noise cancellation is also better than you'd expect for a sport-focused bud, sitting in the 84th percentile. Where they stumble is sound quality, which only hits the 36th percentile. They're fine for podcasts and workout playlists, but audiophiles will be disappointed.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The earhooks are unbeatable for security during intense activity. 94th
- Battery life is absolutely top-tier and a huge selling point. 91th
- Noise cancellation is surprisingly effective for a sport bud. 88th
- The mic quality is excellent, ranking in the 91st percentile for clear calls. 86th
Cons
- Sound quality is mediocre, especially for music lovers.
- The bulky case is a pain to carry compared to competitors.
- They're expensive for what is essentially a specialized fitness tool.
- The heart rate monitor feels like a gimmick most people will ignore.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | In-Ear |
| Wearing Style | Dual Ear True Wireless with Ear Clip/Hook |
| Weight | 0.0 kg / 0.0 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 10 |
| Fast Charging | 5min=1.5hrs |
| Charging | USB-C |
Case Battery
| Case Battery | 35 |
| Case Charging | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | Yes |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| Mic Count | 3 |
| NC Mic | Yes |
Features
| Touch Controls | Yes |
| App | Android |
| Volume Limiting | No |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 |
Value & Pricing
At $200-$250, they're a tough sell unless you're a serious athlete. You're paying a premium for the Beats brand and the unshakeable fit. If you just jog occasionally, there are cheaper options. But if you're constantly in motion and need reliability above all else, the price starts to make sense.
Price History
vs Competition
This is a niche product, so the comparison is clear. For pure sound quality and ANC, the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Pro 3 blow these away for general use. For fitness, the Jabra Evolve2 Buds offer similar security with better sound and more features for the price. The Powerbeats Pro 2 only win if your primary concern is 'will these stay in my ears while I'm doing burpees?' For that, they're still the king.
| Spec | Beats Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats Pro 2 Wireless | Sony Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Technics Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless | Apple Airpods Pro 3 Apple AirPods Pro with Wireless MagSafe Charging | Jabra Jabra Evolve2 Buds USB-C MS Earbuds with USB-C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling True Wireless In-Ear Headphones (Black) | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | — | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Battery Life Hours | 10 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Case Battery Hours | 35 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 24 | 25 |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP57 | IP57 |
| Multipoint | — | true | true | true | true | true |
Common Questions
Q: Do I need an app to use these?
Nope. They work right out of the box with basic controls on the buds. You can use the Beats app for some fine-tuning, but it's not required.
Q: How good is the noise cancellation for the mic?
Really good. With three noise-suppressing mics, they rank in the 91st percentile in our tests. People will hear you clearly, even in a noisy gym.
Q: Can I use these as hearing aids like some AirPods?
Not really. They only support Apple's 'Live Listen' feature, which turns your phone into a microphone. They are not medical devices or full hearing aids.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for your main pair of earbuds for music, movies, and commuting, skip these. The sound isn't good enough. Go get the Sony WF-1000XM5 or AirPods Pro 3 instead. You'll be much happier.
Verdict
We can only recommend the Powerbeats Pro 2 to a very specific person: someone whose primary use case is high-intensity training where earbuds always fall out. For them, it's an easy buy. For everyone else—commuters, casual listeners, office workers, music lovers—there are better, more versatile, and often cheaper options that don't sacrifice sound quality for a hook you might not even need.