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Beats Powerbeats Pro vs Powerbeats Pro 2: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Powerbeats Pro 2 comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 79. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Powerbeats Pro 2 - Great overall at around $250.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Powerbeats Pro 2 leads on 6 of 7 measures.

  • Beats Powerbeats Pro
  • Powerbeats Pro 2
HearWiki score
64
79
Sound
7.4
7.9
Noise cancelling
-
8.2
Battery
7.5
8.8
Calls
6.8
8.3
Value
-
7.0
Price (USD)
$250
$250

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

New platform

Both shipped in 2019. The Powerbeats Pro 2 is the newer platform here: Bluetooth 5.3 against 5.0 and ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds Wireless charging and USB-C.

  • Powerbeats Pro2019
  • Powerbeats Pro 22019
What differsPowerbeats ProPowerbeats Pro 2

Platform

Bluetooth
5.0
5.3
ANC type
None
Adaptive

Everyday features

Wireless charging
No
Yes
USB-C
No
Yes

Level on: Top codec, Wear detection, Water resistance.

Specifications

Powerbeats ProPowerbeats Pro 2
Type
True Wireless
True Wireless
Price (USD)
$250
$250
HearWiki score
64
79
Released
2019
2019
Availability
Still sold new
Still sold new
Driver
12 mm dynamic
9.5 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
12 mm
9.5 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 20 kHz
20 Hz - 20 kHz
Bluetooth
5.0
5.3
Codecs
SBC, AAC
AAC
Multipoint pairing
No
No
Battery life
9 h
10 h
Battery life (ANC on)
-
8 h
Battery incl. case
24 h
45 h
Full charge time
-
120 min
Quick charge
5 min → 1.5 h
-
Wireless charging
No
Yes
Active noise cancelling
No
Yes
ANC type
-
adaptive
Transparency mode
-
Yes
Companion app
-
Yes
Wear detection
Yes
Yes
Controls
buttons
both
Voice assistant
Siri
Yes
Weight
21 g
8.7 g
Case weight
80 g
69 g
Water resistance
IPX4
IPX4
USB-C
No
Yes
Microphones
-
3
Microphone type
-
MEMS
Call noise reduction
-
Yes

What reviewers said

Beats Powerbeats Pro

The Powerbeats Pro are secure-fitting true wireless earbuds designed for active use, delivering a punchy and balanced sound with a strong Bluetooth connection and long battery life. They offer a comfortable, stable fit and simple physical controls, though they lack active noise cancellation and advanced features like wireless charging or multipoint connectivity. Overall, they are a solid choice for workouts and daily listening, especially for Apple users.

  • Pro:Secure and comfortable fit for workouts
  • Pro:Long battery life of 9 hours per charge
  • Pro:Reliable Bluetooth 5.0 connection with Class 1 range
  • Con:No active noise cancellation or strong isolation
  • Con:No wireless charging or USB-C port
  • Con:Treble can sound dull, and mids may be under-emphasized

Powerbeats Pro 2

The Powerbeats Pro 2 are a refined, workout-first true wireless pair that finally add adaptive active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and wireless charging to the iconic secure-fit design. They deliver a punchy, accurate sound signature, a long 10-hour battery (8 with ANC) plus a 45-hour total with the case, and remain light and comfortable for intense sessions. While the heart-rate tracking is a novel addition, it still feels limited in practice, and the premium price tag may give some buyers pause.

  • Pro:Secure, lightweight fit ideal for workouts
  • Pro:Very good audio accuracy and punchy bass
  • Pro:Effective adaptive ANC and transparency mode
  • Con:No multipoint Bluetooth connection
  • Con:Heart-rate tracking has limited real-world usability
  • Con:Premium price point

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

Compare something else

Swap either side out, or start again from the picker.

New comparisonBeats Powerbeats ProPowerbeats Pro 2