Weve got a whole new look, improved ANC, new colors… and a heart rate monitor?
This is a pair of buds thats aimed directly at the fitness crowd.
Unfortunately, the same compact design language has not made its way to the case they come packed with.
Once theyre in though, they arent going anywhere.
Theres a fit test in the app as well to confirm they fit properly, and it works well.
Thats a massive boon for Apple users, as always, and makes them super simple to use.
Once theyre all connected, youre away with no hiccups in switching between devices.
Thats no great loss, but it is a shame.
Apple users can listen to the higher quality streams from Apple Music though, so thats a bonus.
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review: Controls and app
Physical controls.On earbuds no less!
There are four different buttons on the Powerbeats, two on each bud.
On the outer edge of the bud theres the second button, and both sides do the same thing.
Press once to play/pause, twice to skip, and thrice to go backward a track.
Theyre also a whole lot better if youve got sweaty fingers, or if youve got gloves on.
App control on iPhone is managed through the tweaks menu, just like the AirPods.
you might also turn on the personalized spatial audio here, and keep them updated.
They also work with Siri out of the box with Apple devices.
Android users have a slightly more restricted time.
The Beats app lets you change the ANC mode and update the headphones.
This is also where you start the heart rate monitoring on Android.
The accuracy of the HR readings was also hit and miss.
Even then, if you want the most accurate heart rate monitoring Id still get a chest strap.
The buds really shine the most in the low end.
This follows into the low-midrange, giving guitars decent body and width.
That lends a certain weight to the sound, and makes things fairly warm on first listen.
They can get fatiguing for longer listens, however.
Theres some pronounced sibilance at the very top, leaving cymbals and other high-range sounds feeling overly sharp.
The extra bass goes a long way in making things tolerable, but its immediately noticeable.
Thankfully, for other music youre going to have less of an issue.
Kendrick LamarsDNAshows some of that healthy low-end bounce, and some solid vocal clarity.
S-sounds and plosives are a little harsh, but thats nit-picking.
The bass reproduction is thick and heavy, but fairly precise.
Spatial Audio with Apple Music is about as you might expect.
Android fans might not have as much fun though.
In real life, the noise canceling performs alright.
Keyboards are quieted, AC units are silenced, and the noises of a commute are muffled.
On my end, everything was fine with my colleague’s voice coming through clearly.
Strangely, however, the battery life is worse here than in the exemplary Beats Solo buds.
