Apple Expected to Announce Powerbeats Pro 2 on February 11 With These New Features

[userblah]

I use my AirPods Pro for all workout-related stuff. I bought some inexpensive plastic hooks that the AirPods sit in and have never had any issues with them falling out. Apart from being a very sweaty person and worrying that this will eventually cause issues with my AirPods, are there any significant reasons to consider buying these?

I also run with an Apple Watch Ultra so the HR feature would be no better than on the watch right?

For most people, it's probably "good enough," but accuracy matters for athletes or anyone with serious heart conditions, and there's always room to improve.

ECG is the gold standard for heart rate tracking, with chest straps being the next best. But since wearing an ECG all day isn't practical and most people hate chest straps, the goal is to find a better alternative.

Wrist-based heart rate tracking is notoriously unreliable. Things like skin tone, tattoos, placement, fit, movement, and body fat all affect accuracy. Ear-based tracking isn't perfect, but it avoids many wrist-related issues—assuming you can get the earbuds to fit right.

 

[rezwits]

I know this might be a dumb question, but these will not-so-obviously do Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio right? I mean it's got the H2...

 

[svish]

Good to know about it. Like the colours but don't think I am going to get one. Like my AirPods very much.

 

[iSayuSay]

Beats are great until it worn down around the earhooks made of soft silicone that either peels off or cracked. And because it's a part of the chassis it could render a perfectly working buds useless.

 

[con2apple]

I think you're forgetting that this is coming from Mark Gurman.

It's nice to see that I'm not the only one who now just rolls eyes when his claims are spread.

 

[iDaniel88]

Can't wait for these! The AirPods Pro 2 are great, but I would rather not use them outside when hiking etc as they can fall out if you do strenuous activities.

 

[wbrat]

A year of leaks and even very very early official announcement for a 2nd gen of an existing product (or a product that existed in the past). It must be at least as complex as Vission Pro. Ridiculous…

 

[pauloregan]

So will these have all the same features as the AirPod Pro 2s?

 

[Falkon71]

These are the second product (AWU is the first) in the last 10 years that actually have me excited to possibly buy on Day 1. I use my Powerbeats Pro multiple times a week for runs or on the treadmill, and I too am tired of the charging issues (happened again this week). I've been using a pair of Bose ANR in ear headphones during travel, plus carrying my Powerbeats, so being able to travel with ONE pair of headphones will be a big plus. But $250 is a steep price for headphones . . . . let's see if it holds.

 

[Leigh-zed]

Does anybody know if they are expected to have wireless case charging with these? I'd hope if they are $250 price point they would.

It’s like nobody is mentioning wireless charging the case. You’re hope it would also be MagSafe with the size of the last case but I’m going to take a punt on them having neither.

 

[-griffy-]

It’s like nobody is mentioning wireless charging the case. You’re hope it would also be MagSafe with the size of the last case but I’m going to take a punt on them having neither.

There are other leaks that state it has Qi wireless charging on the case. You can see the whole description and feature list here, for example.

 

[mashdots]

After 4 years I realized you have to remove the sticker inside the case or else oftentimes one ear will not charge. Took it off recently and issues have gone away. Got some new ear tips (silicone ones and memory foam ones) and they’ve been killer! Don’t fall asleep on these if you want a good pair of gym headphones

Hmm mine doesn't have a sticker though. 🤔 i just have to be super intentional about pressing in the ends right by the beats logo and the pogo pins click into place. i can't just put them in and expect them to charge.

But i agree - other than the charging these are excellent workout headphones! I like airpods for the gym but i use these for literally any other physical activity.

 

[addictive]

I'm not familiar with these, are they (software-wise) similar to the Airpods Pro? I can only use the AirPods when running during winter (with a cap on), otherwise I lose them within 100m. So in winter I'm running with Airpods, and the rest with Shokz, which are very good for awareness (e.g. when biking, I would only ever use the Shokz), but sometimes I don't need that good awareness and instead miss the noise cancelling and integrations that the AirPods have.

If the Powerbeats had similar noice cancelling and features (like Siri integration) as the AirPods, I would switch to these in a heartbeat.

They'll have the H2 chip that AirPods Pro 2 have. Noise Cancelling is certain not certain about Siri given its a Beats product. The first iteration were very good but had a long list of where they could improve. It's taken them five years to release version 2.0 so I expect they have fixed a lot of the issues. The PBP never fell out of my ears when working out or running.

 

[Tuckrat]

They'll have the H2 chip that AirPods Pro 2 have. Noise Cancelling is certain not certain about Siri given its a Beats product. The first iteration were very good but had a long list of where they could improve. It's taken them five years to release version 2.0 so I expect they have fixed a lot of the issues. The PBP never fell out of my ears when working out or running.

The Beats Studio Pro can activate Siri, can't think of a reason that these new Powerbeats wouldn't be able to.

 

[Aka757]

There are other leaks that state it has Qi wireless charging on the case. You can see the whole description and feature list here, for example.

Thanks for sharing this, that’s awesome! It’s interesting, the first paragraph of the description says 9 hours of playback, while in one of the bullets below that says 10 hours. Maybe it’s 9 hours with ANC and 10 off? Best look at the buds themselves though.

 

[rjbenson83]

Very curious to see how the HRM works through the ears , also curious to see if they will have ANT+ for easier connectivity to gym equipment

 

[CyclingHermit]

Very curious to see how the HRM works through the ears , also curious to see if they will have ANT+ for easier connectivity to gym equipment

This is Apple, they won't have ANT+.

Also, EU killed ANT+ recently (thanks not, EU, for your regulations), due to the privacy laws.

 

[Techwatcher]

Basically AirPods Pro 2, with a hook design and better battery life?

Indeed.

 

[hardik7]

I have Powerbeats, the non-pro version with a cable which provides much better battery life compared to AirPods Pro. These will be instant buy for me as they are great during workouts in a gym or while jogging. Will they come with conversation awareness feature like APP2? If yes, then they would be perfect to speak with gym coach while simultaneously listening to music. But I am afraid that Apple might keep some features exclusive for AirPods Pro 2.

 

[ahoydecoy]

Really hoping the wireless charging is true. With the heart rate monitor - what (if anything) would be the benefit of this when coupled with an Apple Watch?

 

[canyonblue737]

For most people, it's probably "good enough," but accuracy matters for athletes or anyone with serious heart conditions, and there's always room to improve.

ECG is the gold standard for heart rate tracking, with chest straps being the next best. But since wearing an ECG all day isn't practical and most people hate chest straps, the goal is to find a better alternative.

Wrist-based heart rate tracking is notoriously unreliable. Things like skin tone, tattoos, placement, fit, movement, and body fat all affect accuracy. Ear-based tracking isn't perfect, but it avoids many wrist-related issues—assuming you can get the earbuds to fit right.

I would have thought the same but some recent tests of in-ear HR tracking from some competing headphones by reliable reviewers like DCRainmaker has found horrible accuracy compared to optical wrist based smartwatches. I think it will be fascinating if Apple has been able to solve this and make it highly accurate, and also if there is some way it uses the data together with an Apple Watch to provide more accurate HR overall (some kind of blending of the data?) vs. just using one or the other.

 

[Hessian]

Would’ve been a day 1 purchase for me, but as a Canadian I’m avoiding buying any American products for now. As much as possible at least.

🥹 Poor little fella

🤣 Best to save your money for the new AirPods Pro 3 anyway