Beats Powerbeats Pro Review

Since Apple launched AirPods back in 2017, almost every headphone manufacturer has tried its hand at making AirPod killers. There have been plenty of great wire-free earbuds since, but few have been as seamless or as reliable.

Until now.

The Powerbeats Pro have the best claim to the "AirPod killer" title out of any wire-free headphones around. And funnily enough, they're also made by Apple. The Powerbeats Pro take everything great about AirPods and add better sound, improved noise isolation, and better battery.

Solid foundations

The Powerbeats Pro are built on an already great foundation. They take Apple's in-house "H1" chip developed specifically for headphones, and put it in a better package.

This chip is the secret sauce behind the AirPods, and in turn, behind the Powerbeats Pro. It means you can pair your Powerbeats Pro with any iOS device instantly. It lets you seamlessly reconnect the Powerbeats Pro to any device tied to your Apple ID. It gives you hand-free access to Siri. But most importantly, it gives you rock solid stability. I've not had a single dropout when listening to the Powerbeats Pro.

Very few pairs of wire-free headphones can match the Powerbeats Pro on this. And if stable connectivity is missing, why even buy a pair of headphones? There's nothing worse than a bud dropping out when you're trying to listen to your tunes.

The Powerbeats Pro pretty much just become regular Bluetooth headphones if you're using them with an Android device - you lose out on the instant pairing and Siri access - but they're still excellent when it comes to stable connectivity.

Of course, you get all of the above with the second generation AirPods. So why spend more on the Powerbeats Pro?

Firstly, the Powerbeats Pro just sound better. While AirPods are fine, the Powerbeats Pro are genuinely good. They're clearer and bassier, the latter of which isn't surprising given the Beats branding. Despite the low-end punch, the Powerbeats are well balanced headphones for the most part. The bass adds a natural oomph rather than dominating the mix. It's a fun, energetic tuning.

Sound quality is further helped by a degree of noise isolation. The Powerbeats Pro aren't technically noise-isolating or noise-cancelling buds, but the in-ear fit means they filter out a lot more ambient noise than AirPods. It's more than enough to block out the awful music at the gym, but at the same time, you can still hear enough of the real world that it wouldn't feel dangerous to go for a run with them on.

Aggressively active

The Powerbeats Pro use a hooked design typically associated with sportier headphones. This gives them a secure fit, and since they're resting on the back of your ear, they're not putting pressure on your ear canal to keep them in place. I've never once felt like there's been any risk of the Powerbeats Pro falling out, no matter what I've been doing. The hooks are also thin enough that they don't feel awkward if you're wearing glasses at the same time. I haven't had any discomfort wearing my Powerbeat Pros with my thicc frames.

Putting the Powerbeats Pro on can take a little bit of practice, however. The combination of in-ear buds and the hooked design means you kind of almost need to swivel them on and off your ears; you can’t just pop them in. It's the same with the charging case. Even after a couple of weeks, I still can't remember which way you're meant to store the Powerbeats.

Of course, the hooked design means the Powerbeats Pro aren’t exactly subtle: they’re very noticeable earbuds. They're aggressively active. They're the earbud equivalent of lycra. We get it, you work out. That's not to say there's anything wrong with a sporty aesthetic, but the Powerbeats Pro beg to be noticed. The reassuring fit and feel more than make up for this, but it might be a touch too much for those who prefer a simpler design.

The larger size does however mean a larger battery. You can get up to nine hours of music per charge, which makes it pretty easy to get a full work day of use without needing to top them up. Especially cause they'll only lose about 2.5% of charge per hour if you've got them on standby throughout the day.

This also helps mitigate the Powerbeat Pro's main downside: the sizeable charging case. It's just too large to keep in a pocket. But the excellent battery life means it's not actually necessary to keep the case on you at all times, unlike with most other wire-free headphones. I've been happy enough just keeping the case in my bag or at home, and then throwing the Powerbeats Pro back in for a top-up at the end of the day. The case itself provides another 15 hours of juice, which gives you about 24 hours of music playback before you need to recharge the case too.

You'll juice the case via a Lightning cable (which is of course in the box), which could be a tad inconvenient if you're not already in the Apple world. It's kind of a shame the Powerbeats Pro don't use USB-C instead.

The Powerbeats Pro also have a few other nifty features for fitness junkies. They're sweat-resistant, so you don't need to worry about damaging them if you're having a wet one. The pair are rated IPX4, which means they're protected against splashing water such as sweat and rain. You shouldn't submerge the Powerbeats Pro, however. In addition, both buds have identical physical buttons - including a volume rocker - so you don't have to reach for your phone or think about gestures during a workout.

Who are Powerbeats Pro for?

The Powerbeats Pro are some of the best wire-free earbuds on the market right now, but they’re definitely suited toward a specific type of user. While they make great day-to-day headphones, the Powerbeats Pro are clearly geared to exercise thanks to the secure fit, excellent battery life, and sweat resistance. And even though the Powerbeats Pro are best if you're in the Apple ecosystem, they're still an excellent choice for Android users.

The second generation AirPods might be a more accessible pair of wire-free buds thanks to a $100 cheaper price-tag and smaller carrying case, but the Powerbeats Pro more than justify their premium - especially if you regularly work out.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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