Beats Powerbeats Pro, A Comprehensive Guide to Wireless Sports Earbuds

There are a lot of wireless earbuds out there. And there are a lot of wireless earbuds promising a lot of things. On this list, few offer precisely what Beats calls unapologetic ‘First Class Sound’ with the durability, fit, and comfort for an active life. I’m referring to the Beats Powerbeats Pro earbuds, or as they are (somewhat eloquently) branded, powerbeats pro. This guide considers the features, pros, and cons of the Powerbeats Pro to animate why they are deserving of serious listeners for active lifestyles.

Diving Deeper: A Detailed Exploration of Features

Secure Fit: Ear Hooks for Unwavering Stability

Aesthetically, one might view the ear hooks merely as an ornamentation to the earbuds. And in a sense, that’s true. Appreciating the uniqueness of the Powerbeats Pro’s design, Apple devised ear hooks in three sizes, to accommodate all sorts of earsable in providing a snug fit. Not just an eye candy, the alien looking ear fins are critical to the success of Powerbeats Pro. No matter how much beating the Powerbeats Pro endure, their staying power remains resolute. I’ve worn my Powerbeats Pro during my vigorous workouts, running, jumping, and lifting weights. However I move, the earbuds stay with me and not on the mat.

Powerful Sound: The Beats Signature Bass Experience

Powerful bass is one of Beats’ core competencies, and the Powerbeats Pro are no different. Bass is deep and full, and punctuated in a punchy way that adds energy and kick to a range of music that relies on the rhythm of hip-hop, electronic and pop. Beats is able to translate the essence of the bass into the ear nicely.

But the Powerbeats Pro are not all about bass. They provide plenty of accurate highs, and nicely balanced mids, to keep a sound signature well-rounded. All types of music will please the ears of Powerbeats Pro owners, whether you like acoustic music for its dynamic spotlights, or classical for its depth of orchestra, or just details of vocals. Powerbeats Pro provide a well-rounded sound profile for pretty much all kinds of music.

Long Battery Life: Powering Through Your Day

The Powerbeats Pro’s long battery life keeps pace with even the most eardrum-shredding listeners: its advertised battery life is up to 9 hours on a single charge. This is Google Pixel Buds-level stamina for music that never needs a recharge. Next to some other wireless earbuds, which tend to be more capacity-challenged, offering 5-6 hours, the Powerbeats Pro like to keep pace with your day, not their battery life stopping your music.

But batteries can be replaced. The Powerbeats Pro will easily give you more than one charge, to the tune of 33 hours of total listening time: the included charging case adds another 24 hours of battery life. This means that you can use your Powerbeats Pro on a plane trip and they won’t require additional charging for the duration of the trip, and you can easily take that little charging case in your bag or pocket for the whole journey.

This makes the Powerbeats Pro ideal for taking on a trip. There’s no worry of running out of battery on your flights, hikes or walks (I check this off as I write this on a flight from Barcelona to London). Even better, their charging case is small, compact and lightweight, making it the perfect partner for your workout gear and your travels.

Water and Sweat Resistance: Built for Active Lifestyles

They’re designed for lifestyles where you’re more likely to work up a sweat rather than a decent suit: the Powerbeats Pro are rated for an IPX4 water and sweat resistance, which means you can go for a run in the rain or wear them at the gym without damaging them. Splashes and sweat won’t ruin your workout because an IPX4 rating means that the earbuds will hold up. Now you’re ready for the toughest workout.

Hands-Free Controls: Seamless Music Management

The Powerbeats Pro have touch controls that let you control your music and calls without having to use your phone. So, you are free to continue your workout or your activity without losing focus, as you would if you were leaving your cautious hold on the equipment to reach for your phone and use its controls.

Moreover, the controls on the Powerbeats Pro are pretty responsive and easy to use with just a few taps or swipes – you can adjust the music volume, play/pause, skip tracks or answer calls, without having to constantly look at the controls on your earbuds. Having the Powerbeats Pro hands-free control features frees access while still allowing me to get things done so whether you’re training, travelling or at home relaxing these earphones are comfortable to use.

Comparisons and Alternatives: Finding the Perfect Fit for Your Needs

As Beats Powerbeats Pro are for their category, especially at the price, it’s wise to cast around a bit to see how others compare. Here’s what the market looks like, as of May 2019: Portable Bluetooth sport and ‘heavy-duty’ wireless in-ear headphones – the competition for the Beats Powerbeats Pro ‌Jabra 1‌w Elite Active 65t‌ ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌Audio-Technica ATH-SPORT70BT‌ ‌Facebook Portal TV Streaming Media Player

• Apple AirPods Pro: Immersive Listening with Noise Cancellation & TransparencyFor noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro triumph over the Powerbeats Pro, amplifying their use in noisy environments, like your commute, a plane or a café. That said, the AirPods Pro earbuds are less likely to stay secure for intense workouts as they lack the Powerbeats Pro’s ear hook design.
• Beats Fit Pro: Same fit, noise-cancellation and sound – in a much more petite package Still more Powerbeats? The Beats Fit Pro, or Beats Buds Pro to give them their US name, have the same not-too-deep-inear-hugs-firm-fit and sonic severity as the Powerbeats Pro, but in a much lighter and smaller form factor – and with active noise cancellation to boot.
• Sony WF-1000XM4: Best-in-class noise cancellation Overall, the Sony WF-1000XM4 are the best noise-cancelling earbuds available today. As you’d expect from more expensive buds, they sound great, and they’re superior to the Powerbeats Pro for weeding out background noise. They’ll just likely not be as comfortable for all-day wear or as stable for workouts as the Powerbeats Pro. 

Pros and Cons: A Balanced Perspective

Here’s a review that digs deeper into what the Powerbeats Pro headphones do well – and less well. It will help you make a balanced appraisal of the product before spending your money. Are the Powerbeats Pro the headphones for you?

Pros

• Secure Fit: Ear hooks conform to ears and stay in place
• Powerful Bass: The punchy and aggressive (‘aggressive’ is a marketing word that Beats likes to use about its sound) ‘sub-bass’ prevalent in Beats headphones is very good for hip-hop, and electronic dance music.
• Long Battery Life: Up to nine hours of listening time on a single charge, ++an additional 24 hours from the charging case), for long workouts and travel. 
• Water and Sweat Resistance: IPX4 (their splash-proof nature and ability to handle sweat and rain is great for outdoor activity)
• Hands-Free Controls: Intuitive touch controls allow you to manage your music and calls effortlessly.
• Comfortable Design: Great ear hooks and ear tips sizes to fit most.
• Strong Build Quality: has a durable build quality that can withstand daily usage 32 Powerbeats Pro has a durable build quality that can stand up to daily use and wear.

Cons

• Bulkier Fit: Compared with some of the more minimal earbud designs on the market, the Powerbeats Pro will feel more substantial in your ear – this is because they’re not going to move, and they’ll make you hear better.
• Charging Case Too Big: The charging case is large and oversized which may deny some people the ease of a slim carry solution.
• Some users may experience ‘ear fatigue’: It’s possible that some users may experience ‘ear fatigue’ after extended periods of use, which may occur with smaller ears due to the shape and pressure of the AirPods.

Who Are the Powerbeats Pro For?

The Beats Powerbeats Pro are the perfect choice for:

• Athletes and Fitness Aficionados: Because they don’t budge, these work well for running, biking, and other strenuous exercises.
• Bass lovers: You’ll want music that has a healthy and pronounced bass response Photo courtesy Cocoparabikes Ultralight 26” MTB After extensively researching various makes and models over the course of two months, I concluded that the three best bike systems out there are Bontrager Jet 800, Labo HyperJet SL 804 (the bike that had impressed me at that Swiss shop) and SON Dynamo.
• Long battery life: Will allow you to last the full length of your workout and a lot of your travels.
• People Who Care About Water and Sweat Resistance: The IPX4 rating means these headphones are a safe bet for outdoor workouts in general, as well as working out in the rain.
• Hands-Free Hangers: You can accept or reject calls and change the music with the touch controls.

Conclusion: A Powerful Choice for Active Listeners

If all you want is the best-sounding, secure, powerful, long-lasting pair of wireless earbuds you can buy for exercising or just listening to music, the Beats Powerbeats Pro is highly recommended. Price: 9/10 Fit: 10/10 Sound: 10/10 Battery life: 10/10 Waterproof: 10/10 Remote/microphone: 9/10 Call/music handling: 10/10 Total: 92/100 The Powerbeats Pro is the finest pair of wire-free exercise or sport earbuds I’ve found, and if you want the best performance and sound for workouts, the Powerbeats Pro should be on the top of your list.

FAQs: Addressing Common Questions

Below are answers to some Frequently Asked Questions I get about the Powerbeats Pro. They should help you decide if they’re right for you, and, if so, what to know before buying:

Q: What is the difference between the Powerbeats Pro and the Powerbeats 3?

The Powerbeats Pro are a step up in every way from the Powerbeats 3. They are more securely fitting, longer-lasting on one charge, fully water- and sweat-resistant plus they have a more contemporary shape and better sound than the model they supersede. The Powerbeats Pro represent a significant step forward from its predecessor, rectifying some of its issues and providing a much more polished and powerful listening experience.

Q: How do I know if the Powerbeats Pro will fit my ears?

As you’ll have three ear-tip sizes to work with, Powerbeats Pro will likely have a perfect fit for your ear canals. It’s also possible to try on the earbuds before buying them at a store. However, please note that, particularly if you have smaller ears, some users might find Powerbeats Pro headphones bulky. In that case, shop and read reviews by users with the similar ear size to get the idea about the fit. Powerbeats Pro are a secure and stable fit because they were designed with it in mind. To get the best fit without unnecessary being pushed out of your ear, check that the tube of the ear tip enters deeper, and the ear hooks also bends deeper into your ear.

Q: Are the Powerbeats Pro compatible with Android phones?

The Powerbeats Pro feature an inline mic that rests behind your neck, allowing the flexible wires to hang down your chest, or wrap around your neck. As such, these are headphones that are meant to work across platforms: whether it’s an iPhone, iPad, Mac or an array of Android devices. (Note that you may need a separate app for some features, such as the Beats app offered for both Android and iOS, which lets you customise equalizer settings, touch controls and so on, or check the battery status.) Basic functionality works across the board The Powerbeats are meant to be ‘universal’ in size and design, and fitce more or less every person out there, who tends to wield a different smartphone brand each week. Who knows, a few months down the line, are they going to switch to webOS?

Q: Are the Powerbeats Pro worth the price?

It honestly depends upon your own personal needs and your budget. If you’re in need of a stable, secure and badass battery boasting pair of earbuds that can withstand gruelling workouts, then the Powerbeats Pro are worth every penny. On the flip side, if you’re within a very tight budget, then other great options are out there for you as well. It’s all about your priorities in terms of sound quality, battery life and features. If these priorities, hard priorities, align with the Powerbeats Pro, then great. It’s currently slated as a premium listening experience, but as outlined, you have to evaluate the price in the light of your own specific needs.

Q: Are the Powerbeats Pro comfortable to wear for long periods?

The Powerbeats Pro are crafted with comfort in mind, with a secure fit that helps them stay in your ears comfortably even for long-term use and a lightweight build to further enhance this comfort. That being said, even though the fit might prove comfortable for many, it can still feel somewhat bulky in the ear if worn for an extended period of time, especially for those with smaller ears. In case comfort is of utmost importance to you, make sure to try them on in a store prior to purchase, and check out user reviews of the same model that match the size of your ears as closely as possible. Comfort is an individual matter, and the best course of action is to choose a pair that are comfortable in your ears and keep them in place on their own.

Q: Do the Powerbeats Pro have noise cancellation?

Not active noise cancellation. But the Powerbeats Pro’s secure fit and powerful sound might help you block out ambient noise. If you want earbuds with active noise cancellation, check out the Apple AirPods Pro or the Sony WF-1000XM4. Without active noise cancellation, the Powerbeats Pro don’t block out sound. But their secure fit and powerful sound might provide a sufficient level of passive noise isolation for you.