The Powerbeats Pro are a surprise this year seeing that they have the Beats logo on them. Beats by Dre has long been famous for their range of bass-heavy, overpriced headphones. The Powerbeats Pro might be a game-changer this year as they are among the most recommendable earbuds on the market.
In Apple fashion, the Powerbeats Pro are still on the expensive side, but given how well these perform, they might be worth an investment. The release of the new earbuds may give the competition a jump start on the market where Apple and Samsung now dominate. In the section below, we will find out if the new Powerbeats Pro is good for you.
First, release date and pricing
The Powerbeats Pro headphones are now on sale on the market for $249. That’s nearly $100 more expensive than the AirPods with the charging case. That’s a lot of money for a pair of wireless earbuds, but keep in mind that these things are now in the Apple family. However, to be honest, they can do a lot more than Apple AirPods.
Design
The first thing you will notice is that the charging case is bigger than the AirPods’. That seems fair seeing that it accommodates two big Powerbeats earbuds. To be honest, I don’t have any problem with that. However, if you have been using the AirPods for months, you might feel a little bit awkward. Believe me, you would not want it in your pocket all day. Instead, you are going to see a lot of these things at the gym, rather than in a pocket.
On the back of the charging case, there is a lightning port for charging, just like the AirPods, which does not surprise me. Personally, I’d love to see a wireless charging case, but it seems that Apple wants to take it away as a selling point of the AirPods. However, if you now have a lot of USB Type-C components, you are out of luck.
The charging case also has a single battery indicator on the front and a pairing button on the inside. The coolest part is that there’s now a clickable Beats multifunction button and a sensor accelerometer combo to determine when you are actually wearing the earbuds. Plus, you should find a physical volume rocker on both earbuds, which is pretty amazing.
The Powerbeats Pro earbuds include four interchangeable rubber ear options. That’s one more than the Galaxy Buds and four more than Apple AirPods (2019). The earbuds also feature IPX4 for water and sweat resistance, which comes in handy for gym fanatics.
Features
Pairing process
The pairing process is super fast and easy. All you need to do is to crack them open and you should see a Connect button on the screen along with the battery percentage for both the case and earbuds themselves. The pairing is the same on Android, but one major drawback is that you won’t be able to check battery life. I think Apple is aware of this and they won’t fix it unless you buy a new iPhone.
In-ear experience
The ear hooks are adjustable, allowing for a more comfortable in-ear experience. To be honest, the earbuds fit a little bit deeper in your ear canal, something AirPods cannot do. Once you put these things on, it’s not easy to take them off, which should come in handy if you are an athlete.
The Beats logo button allows you to play or pause your music. That button is physical, rather than capacitive. Personally, I like the idea of a physical button as it is more accurate. Plus, the Powerbeats Pro now have “Hey Siri” support, meaning that you can control your music playback using your voice. More importantly, it’s hands-free.
Audio quality
The Powerbeats Pro headphones stay true to the Beats branding as they pack a lot of bass. This may annoy some users out there who are looking for a pair of earbuds with balanced sound quality. In reality, the audio quality is still great, especially when you feed them some hip-hop songs.
However, the earbuds sound a little bit tinny when compared to their rivals out there like the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless. So, don’t try to push the ear tips deeper in your ear canal and expect they are louder.
Sound isolation and battery life
The Powerbeats Pro feature better sound isolation when compared to the AirPods. However, it’s not good enough to beat some tough wireless rivals out there. Indeed, you still hear a lot of outside noises, which is pretty annoying. This means that you need to crank them up a little bit louder to drown out ambient noises, which could end up being worse for your hearing.
This is something that the Powerbeats Pro lags behind the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless and the Samsung Galaxy Buds, which have an ambient sound mode. Plus, there is no dedicated app for customization options. The only customization you have is automatic ear detection.
As for the battery life, the Powerbeats Pro earbuds last up to 9 hours of music time and 15 hours in the charging case. That’s nearly double the AirPods’ battery life. To be honest, I’d love to see a wireless charging case here instead of a lightning connector.
Wrapping Up
|
Pros |
Cons |
| Secure fit | Poor sound isolation |
| Good sound quality | Audio quality remains tiny |
| Sweat and water resistance | Expensive |
| Great battery life | Only IPX4 rated |
| Hey Siri support | Lack of customization |
The Powerbeats Pro are a leap when compared to their predecessors. The wireless earbuds are a smart choice for those who are looking for an AirPods alternative, something that fits perfectly in their ear canals and has more durability.
Also, if you are an athlete who is in the market for something you can jog with and be active with, the Powerbeats Pro is a solid option.
Share with us your thoughts on the Powerbeats Pro in the section below.
