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Powerbeats Pro 2 Debut With Heart Rate Monitoring, H2 Chip, Active Noise Cancellation, and More
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Disagree. Powerbeats Pro have always been superior. Better sound. Better fit in the ear for fitness and exercise.
This is likely all about battery life and nothing to do with accuracy of the readings.
Kinda disappointed to read that the Heart Rate monitoring will default to the watch suggesting it's the same. The watch seems glitchy in that the monitor is greyed out often or not consistent. Hearing that the rate monitoring on these buds is similar is not good.
Anyone able to report how they fit compared to Beats Fit Pro?
Apple's Beats brand is officially introducing the Powerbeats Pro 2 today, bringing significant updates to the wireless earphones aimed at active users. Among the upgrades for Powerbeats Pro 2 are Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) with Transparency mode, Personalized Spatial Audio, an H2 chip for improved power efficiency and Apple ecosystem integration, and for the first time in an Apple audio product, Heart Rate Monitoring.
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We got an early preview of the Powerbeats Pro 2 a couple of weeks ago and have been able to spend additional time with them since then, so be sure to check out our hands-on video above for full impressions, and read on below for details on the specs.
Apple has been teasing the Powerbeats Pro 2 with celebrity appearances since last year, so we've known for quite a while that they feature a redesigned body but retain their trademark earhook that helps secure them during vigorous physical activity.
With the Powerbeats Pro 2, the earhook is 50 percent smaller than on the original Powerbeats Pro and has been reinforced with a nickel–titanium alloy for greater flexibility and comfort, making it easy to slip on while ensuring it snaps back into shape for a secure fit. An IPX4 rating means Powerbeats Pro 2 are sweat and water resistant, while upgraded venting and a fifth ear tip size (XS, S, M, L, XL included) help ensure a comfortable fit.
The redesigned body reduces weight by 20 percent compared to the original Powerbeats Pro, but efficiency improvements delivered by the H2 chip boost battery life of the buds themselves to 10 hours with ANC off compared to 9 hours with the previous generation. The onboard battery in the case pushes total battery life to 45 hours, up significantly from the previous 24 hours even though the case is 33 percent smaller. The case is also the first ever from Beats to support wireless Qi charging in addition to USB-C.
On the audio performance side, the Powerbeats Pro 2 feature a redesigned acoustic architecture with a custom-designed dual-layer transducer plus a host of modern Apple earphone features that were missing from the previous generation: Active Noise Cancellation with Transparency mode to selectively allow outside sound in, Adaptive EQ to adjust frequencies in real-time for optimal sound, and Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking to make it feel like sound remains anchored to the device that's playing it.
Powerbeats Pro 2 are also the first Beats product to support Lossless Audio with ultra-low latency, optimized for Vision Pro with the H2 chips in both devices working together to deliver an immersive audio/video experience with Apple's headset.
A key new feature for active users is Heart Rate Monitoring, a feature MacRumors discovered some time ago based on code in Apple's software updates. When both earbuds are in the ears and Heart Rate Monitoring is active, LED optical sensors pulse at over 100 times per second to measure heart rate via blood flow, integrating with popular fitness apps to collect data during workouts and sync it to the Apple Health app. Supported apps at launch include Open (meditation), Peloton (various fitness workouts), Runna (running), Slopes (skiing), Ladder (strength training), Nike Run Club (running), and YaoYao (jump roping).
For iOS users, Heart Rate Monitoring automatically begins when a workout is started in a compatible app, and it automatically ends when the workout is stopped. Android users will need to manually turn on Heart Rate Monitoring via the earbuds themselves or in the Beats app, but monitoring will automatically end when the workout is completed.
Apple says that when a user is wearing both an Apple Watch and Powerbeats Pro 2, apps and Apple Health will default to using data from the Apple Watch, a choice Apple made to not disrupt the existing base of Apple Watch users who have already been tracking heart rate data. Apple notes, however, that both methods have been thoroughly validated and should yield similar results.
Powerbeats Pro 2 can also be paired to compatible gym equipment to enable at-a-glance viewing as you work out.
Thanks to the H2 chip, you can expect the full suite of Apple integration features with Powerbeats Pro 2, including one-touch pairing, automatic switching between devices via iCloud, Audio Sharing to allow multiple people to listen to the same audio source, hands-free Siri, and Find My support. Android users get many of the same features through the Beats app, including one-touch pairing, Heart Rate Monitoring control, customizable functionality, and a Find My-like Locate My Beats function.
Powerbeats Pro 2 include the iconic "b" logo button on each earbud, and you can customize the press-and-hold gesture to either cycle through Noise Control modes or activate Siri. Quicker single and double presses of the "b" button perform traditional functions like play/pause, track skip, and answer/mute/end calls. Each earbud also features a tactile volume rocker, making it easy to adjust volume right from your earbud without needing to mess with your connected device.
Each earbud includes three microphones and a voice accelerometer, leveraging advanced computational audio and machine-learning algorithms to optimize call performance with features like Voice Isolation to reduct background noise.
Powerbeats Pro 2 are available to order at apple.com starting today in four colors: Electric Orange, Hyper Purple, Jet Black, and Quick Sand. They're available at the same $249.99 price point as the previous generation, and they will be on store shelves starting this Thursday, Fe... Click here to read rest of article
Article Link: Powerbeats Pro 2 Debut With Heart Rate Monitoring, H2 Chip, Active Noise Cancellation, and More
I find that the “wings” really keep them in place but would like to see how the fit compares to these ones
Siri, Show me some ugly and uncomfortable looking wireless headphones from ten years ago.
I'll stick with my AirPods Pro 2, thank you very much.
I'll stick with my AirPods Pro 2, thank you very much.
Exactly. They are choosing to save battery on the device with the smaller battery when both are in use.
Have you ever tried them? I used to think so until I tried them. The hooks always popped loose and led to them being partially out of my ears. Fit Pro stay in place.
I have used the first gen and Fit Pro and would use Fit Pro over them any day. They may have made improvements to the hooks now, but I find the wings to be much better.
ESPECIALLY if you wear a hat and sunglasses. The ear hooks are impossible in those cases.
I was so looking forward to this, and it looks good, but contact charging for earbuds again? This was arguably the biggest problem with the original. Two years of sweat will damage those contacts, and charging will be a pain again. Unless there's new material for those pads (or some other significant improvement) this will stay a sour point.
Form follows function. I have both AirPod Pro 2s and PowerBeat Pros. The PowerBeat Pros have way better battery life, a much better in ear seal, stay properly sealed and seated while running and doing decline bench press, can output a louder volume, have considerably more bass, and are completely comfortable for all day wear. I ran a marathon wearing the PowerBeat Pros. No issues with comfort or battery life.
The pods are the go to for portability and casual wear. The PBP are better for active situations.
The drawbacks to the PBP 1s are the ungainly case, no ANC, and taking them out of your ears and putting them back in can result in only one bud picking up the audio and nothing from the other until you put both back in the case and take them out again. Hopefully the PBP 2s have the desync fixed. ANC is very welcomed and not sure if the smaller case is small enough for portability. If they kept the secure fit of the PBP 1s, they are definitely a win.
Agreed that fake pumpkin orange or puke rusted yellow is THE WORST cookie l colour Apple has ever made a product on, and im invluding the Scully era too.
Amen! I had two of the previous version and both had serious charging issues at some point. After the first one, I bought Apple Care and ended up, for the second one, getting Apple to replace all 3 parts. I wouldn't be quick to buy another one.
So how long did you have the review unit for?!?!?!?!?!? 🤨 just curious since you’ve been teasing it for so long for ever……
So does this mean Beats is giving up on their custom chip and starts putting H2 chip in their other high end products retroactively? Seems to make sense to have H2 chip on Beats Studio Pro and Beats Studio Buds+ to now get H2 chip instead of Beat’s custom chip to make pairing more seamless. (Although early adopters will likely be really get angry if Beats/Apple did that)
I wasn’t at all planning to but I ordered orange after seeing this video. I’m an avid hiker and currently much prefer the Beats Fit Pro as my overall exercise and at home listening headphones. I’ve used Airpods 1, 2, and Beats Studio Buds in the past. I currently use AirPods 3 and Beats Fit Pro on a daily basis for the most part. I also own AirPods Max and AirPods Pro 2.
I’ve been very worried that Beats will not update the Beats Fit Pro again. I got the AirPods Pro 2 when they were on sale for $153 but I really don’t like them and so far they just annoy me with that notification when I leave them at home and I get an error trying to disable it. I probably need to reset them but haven’t bothered. AirPods Max have very good sound but are too heavy overall and not fit for exercise.
I’m very intrigued to see if the Powerbeats 2 can replace my Beats Fit Pro for very long hikes, backpacking, and off trail exploration. Excited about the color, addition of wireless charging, and AirPods Pro level features. Curious if I could possibly use the heart rate monitor to replace using my Apple Watch Ultra for exercise tracking. One less thing to charge on backpacking trips would be awesome. I’m starting to get into making YouTube videos so may eventually make a hiking specific review. Adding it to my idea list anyway.
I’ve been very worried that Beats will not update the Beats Fit Pro again. I got the AirPods Pro 2 when they were on sale for $153 but I really don’t like them and so far they just annoy me with that notification when I leave them at home and I get an error trying to disable it. I probably need to reset them but haven’t bothered. AirPods Max have very good sound but are too heavy overall and not fit for exercise.
I’m very intrigued to see if the Powerbeats 2 can replace my Beats Fit Pro for very long hikes, backpacking, and off trail exploration. Excited about the color, addition of wireless charging, and AirPods Pro level features. Curious if I could possibly use the heart rate monitor to replace using my Apple Watch Ultra for exercise tracking. One less thing to charge on backpacking trips would be awesome. I’m starting to get into making YouTube videos so may eventually make a hiking specific review. Adding it to my idea list anyway.
Was hoping for a yellow version. Will wait for user reviews on its performance esp. the ANC.
A concern for some eyeglass wearers could be the ear loops, esp. when using the device in more active activities.
The Beats Fit Pro's ANC stinks as it doesn't work well as I still hear outside noises even with different Non-OEM ear tips.
A concern for some eyeglass wearers could be the ear loops, esp. when using the device in more active activities.
The Beats Fit Pro's ANC stinks as it doesn't work well as I still hear outside noises even with different Non-OEM ear tips.
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Yes, I really don't understand this. If they didn't want to fully support the faster charging on Qi2 they could have at least included the magnets to work with all magsafe compatible chargers and just kept the slower charging from Qi1/original magsafe chargers.
I also find it strange they still haven't included precision finding using the U1 chip or whatever.
If I actually get off my lazy ass and start running again, I may well reward myself with a set of these. AirPods Pro just inevitably start sliding out as I sweat. I bought a set of little silicone earpiece things to stabilize them, which works decently well but they are a PITA to put on and remove. Seems like it would make more sense to buy something specifically made for exercise. Plus they come in fun colors.
Ant+ is a dead standard. The owner (Garmin) is killing it; there will be few, if any, new devices supporting ANT+, unfortunately.
Fitness devices will support these features on BLE going forward.