Powerbeats Pro review: The best-sounding Beats headphones yet

Despite being a hugely popular headphone brand, Beats has had one glaring hole in its wireless headphone lineup: true wireless earbuds. Thanks to a hint in iOS code, the Powerbeats Pro weren’t exactly a well-kept secret, and as expected, they carry the latest Apple tech that’s also found inside version 2.0 of the AirPods. At $249.95, the Powerbeats Pro is near the top end of the true wireless spectrum price-wise, and its over-the-ear hook design isn’t for everyone. However, the combination of features and sound quality makes quite the impression.

Since they’re meant to be used at the gym, the Powerbeats Pro earbuds have to withstand exposure to moisture. Indeed, the true wireless earbuds are sweat and water resistant, or more specifically IPX4 rated. That means they can handle a splash of water without being damaged. Splashing water isn’t typically a threat at most gyms, so no matter how sweaty you get during a workout, you shouldn’t have to worry about moisture-related problems. The same goes for getting caught in the rain during a run.

As was the case with the Powerbeats 3, a real selling point on the Powerbeats Pro is Apple’s headphone chip. The H1 chip debuted on Apple’s latest AirPods, so it was only a matter of time before Beats got its hands on the tech. The H1 chip enables super fast pairing, even the first time you do so with an iOS device. It’s noticeably faster than its predecessor, the W1. At its longest it took about two seconds from the time I opened the case until the pop-up appeared on my iPhone. It’s almost instant. Once connected, that notification window displays battery levels for both the buds themselves and the charging case.

Once connected, the Powerbeats Pro is stable and reliable. Not once did I experience any dropouts or lag when watching video. Both of those can still be issues for true wireless earbuds. The range is also impressive. With most true wireless models I test, I can move around my house fine, but in the extreme corners, I’ll experience some dropouts. That’s not the case here. In fact, I was even able to step out on my back porch with the Powerbeats Pro and the music only skipped a couple times.

The main attraction for the H1 chip is the always-on access to Siri. Like on the AirPods, this means you don’t have to press a button to summon the virtual assistant — it’s always listening. H1 also enables a faster setup on iOS devices, faster connection times for switching between iOS gear and an overall more reliable connection. The H1 chip also gives the Powerbeats Pro a feature Android users will appreciate. Some pairs of true wireless earbuds mandate that the right bud is the dominant one, so if you want to only have one in your ear, say, for a call, you have to use that one. Beats is giving you more freedom to choose. Instead of prioritizing one earbud, H1 optimizes the connection no matter which one you use. So in theory, you could use Powerbeats Pro continuously, because you could always be charging one of the earbuds.

That freedom extends to the onboard controls. Rather than putting some controls on one side and the rest on the other, Beats installed the full controls on both sides. It’s not only great for lefties but also means that you’re not missing out on key functions when you want to wear just one earbud. I found myself enjoying being able to use whichever hand was available rather than having to free a specific hand to adjust volume or change tracks. A volume rocker is situated on the top edge of each, and the iconic “b” logo doubles as the singular control for switching tracks and taking calls with a single, double or triple tap. There’s also the ability to manually summon a voice assistant with a long press. You know, if you’re not keen on Siri. Having all of this in one spot, and on one button, makes the controls super easy to use. And functions that require multiple clicks are reliable and didn’t frustrate me like they have on other true wireless devices.

When it comes to audio quality, I’m not going to mince words: These are the best-sounding Beats headphones yet. There is one caveat, but overall, the company has done well with the tuning on the Powerbeats Pro. The Studio 3 Wireless has noticeably less bass than most previous models, and the same is true here. There’s still plenty of low end to help keep your energy up at the gym, which is exactly what you should expect from earbuds designed for physical activity. However, it’s never overpowering to the point of drowning out the mids or highs. In fact, I’d argue there’s too much treble — which is something I never thought I’d say about a pair of Beats.

The heavy-handed, high-end tone is most noticeable when they are cranked near full blast. If you’re like me and have no regard for your hearing (I ruined it years ago anyway), this is how you like to listen to music. Especially when you’re at the gym, either trying to get in the zone or trying to drown out the Maroon 5 or Ariana Grande blasting over the speakers. Some genres suffer from this treble issue more than others, and I found it more noticeable when I listened to the likes of Maren Morris, Thrice and Anderson Paak. Hi-hats, snare drums and some guitar licks quickly become uncomfortable noise instead of contributing to the song. It’s an odd thing, because there’s still plenty of bass underneath — it’s just that the treble is turned up way high too. The clarity is nice here, but it’s not quite as crisp as what Sennheiser offers on the Momentum True Wireless.

Not all genres suffer from this though. The Powerbeats Pro (like every other pair of Beats) handles most hip-hop, pounding electronic tunes and chugging metal with ease. Gojira’s Magma sounds great on these, for example, but it’s booming and bass heavy — even the grinding guitars. Ditto for Every Time I Die’s Low Teens. It’s when you’re listening to styles that rely on treble to complete the sound that you run into issues. But again, it’s the worst at or near full volume. Turn the level down a couple clicks and it’s not nearly as bad.

Beats claims nine hours of battery life on a charge for the Powerbeats Pro, which is much longer than most of the competition. Other models typically offer around five hours of listening at a time. I never found myself getting close to a low battery in one go, and I’d imagine you won’t either. Even if you wear them all day at work, you’re likely going to put them in the case during a lunch break or meeting or some other interaction with humans. And with 24 total hours of playtime, according to Beats, that handy (albeit bulky AF) charging case almost entirely eliminates any battery anxiety. Especially when you factor in the Fast Fuel feature that gives you 1.5 hours of use with a five-minute charge or 4.5 hours of listening with a 15-minute charge. The earbuds will fully charge in 90 minutes while the whole shebang (charging case and all) is topped off after 2.5 hours. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t drain the Powerbeats Pro entirely during normal use, and that’s a good thing.

At $250, there are more-affordable true wireless options out there. Jabra’s Elite 65t is still my favorite overall, and the pricey Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless and Master & Dynamic MW07 offer better overall audio quality. However, the Powerbeats Pro’s reliability, features and great overall audio make it a solid choice for anyone looking for workout headphones that can double as your everyday set. They work well even on Android devices, despite some features being iOS-specific.

The Powerbeats Pro isn’t without its flaws, but overall, this is the best set of headphones or earbuds Beats has put out thus far, especially in terms of audio quality. The company took awhile to enter the true wireless space, and thanks to Apple’s tech, it got almost everything right. If you’re looking for headphones you can put through the ringer at the gym, you’ll have a tough time finding an alternative that checks as many boxes at the Powerbeats Pro, especially if you’re an iOS user.