While it’s been under Apple’s lead for quite some time now, the Beats brand has continued to pump out some impressive-sounding gear, at least as far as consumer-grade audio hardware is concerned. With that in mind, Beats recently unveiled the Powerbeats Pro 2, which packs some nifty new upgrades to overall sound quality and design, as well as a feature that you don’t often see on wireless audio products.
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In terms of looks, beats says that it’s redesigned the ear hook on the Powerbeats Pro 2 for better fit and comfort, a welcome change especially for people who are looking to use the earphones for long periods of time, especially during active workout sessions. Built with integrated nickel titanium alloy, Beats says that it’s tested the design with nearly a thousand different athletes, and has integrated IPX4 rating to keep it safe from rain, snow and even a bit of heat. It also features a range of different ear tip sizes, and is available in four different colour variants, which include Jet Black, Quick Sand, Hyper Purple, and Electric Orange.
As we mentioned earlier, the Powerbeats Pro 2 comes with a unique feature in the form of heart rate monitoring, which uses LED optical sensors that pulse over 100 times per second in order to measure blood flow and subsequently relaying data to compatible fitness apps in real time. Users in the US can use this with apps like Open, Peloton, Runna, Slopes, Ladder, and Nike Run Club.
Built with Apple’s H2 chip, the Powerbeats Pro 2 comes with a redesigned acoustic architecture and Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking for a more immersive listening experience, and richer sound quality across mids, highs, all the way down to bass sounds. Other staples are likewise present, including Apple’s active noise cancelling (ANC) tech and transparency mode, and even adaptive EQ that can tweak sound quality based on how the Powerbeats Pro 2 fit within a user’s ear.
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Of course, the Powerbeats Pro 2’s functionality extends beyond music – the earbuds also come support for voice-only calls, FaceTime video calls with Spatial Audio, and Siri Activation. For Android, users can go through the Beats app to access features including one-touch pairing, heart rate monitoring control, customizable controls, battery status widgets, Locate My Beats, and over-the-air updates. Battery life is impressive as well, with up to 10 hours of playback per earbuds on a single charge, and up to 45 minutes if users top-up their charge using the case.
As for pricing and availability, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are priced at £249.99 for folks in the United Kingdom, and are available via Apple, Beats, and other participating retailers. Buyers can also get up to three months of free Apple Music with their purchase.
