For my training runs, my go to sports headphones were the Powerbeats3, the sound and battery life were the positives. Even though they were wireless, the connecting cord between the ear buds was my only minor annoyance, from an otherwise great product.
I recently upgraded to the Beats PowerBeats Pro, the cord is gone from the previous Powerbeats3 model, and the Pro model works as either dual or independent ear buds.
I’ve been testing out the Beats PowerBeats Pro for the last few months, in my training runs and on my commute to work and these are my thoughts.
Comfort
The Pro has a similar hooking device around the ear to the Powerbeats3, which are comfortable, and help keep the buds in place.
Once you take them out of the case, and they go in your ears, they have an automatic detection feature, which turns them on automatically without having to manually turn them on. And the opposite is true once you take them take off your ears, they automatically go to sleep.
On each of the two earbuds the PowerBeats Pro have a center playback control button where the Beats logo is, plus a volume rocker. This allows you to wear dual earbuds or one earbud, which I find useful if I’m in the situation where I want to listen to music/podcast but I need to be aware of my surroundings.
Additionally if you have Hey Siri enabled, you can simply say the wake word with a voice command for the same effect.
With other wireless buds you may feel a subtle inner ear pressure whilst listening to music. Apple have designed the Pro with a micro-laser barometric venting hole in the front to reduce pressure in the ear and adds to the bass performance, which is fundamental to the Beats DNA.
The Pro comes with four different ear tip options, to help find the perfect fit, however I’ve not had to change from the original slim buds.
The case
Whilst the PowerBeats’ case is nice to look at, and is functional with the recharging feature, it’s slightly bulky when carried in your pockets, so for this reason it will usually stay in my backpack. However that’s the trade off for having the extra battery life.
Battery life
The Powerbeats3 model had a good battery life already, and this has extended to the Pro model, which can last up to nine hours in between charges and store about two charges in the case. Apple state the Pro model has a 24 hour battery life and will last several days between charges.
Combined with listening to them on my runs, commutes etc. these numbers do stack up from testing it for a few months now.
However battery charging isn’t wireless like the AirPods, so make sure you carry a lightning cable for charging.
To check battery life, I like the fact that I can open the case, and it displays the battery life left on my Apple device.
Furthermore if you don’t have an Apple device, the PowerBeats Pro will work with Android and Windows 10 devices.
Sound
The PowerBeats Pro don’t offer a noise-cancellation option, however I don’t really see this as a problem as the Pro are designed for active use also. As a runner I think it’s vital to be aware of what’s happening around you, to stay safe.
I think it makes sense to leave it out of the Pro model and have the noise-cancellation in the overhead earphones, which I think work best in the Solo Pro version.
However if you really want noise-cancellation in your Apple earbuds go for the AirPods Pro. However the battery life is approximately 4.5 hours using the noise-cancellation and 5 without, both are less than the PowerBeats Pro.
Beats’ headphones are known for having a bass focus. However I didn’t find this an issue with the Powerbeats Pro, which produce a well balanced audio sound for listening to on the move.
Water resistance
The Powerbeats Pro earbuds have a water resistance rating of IPX4. They are sweat and water resistant but are not sweatproof or waterproof, so you have to be mindful of this and wipe them down after use, after a workout or if it’s raining.
Final thoughts
The PowerBeats Pro is a marked upgrade to the Powerbeats 3, in terms of longer battery life and better sound quality.
The new H1 chip provides a more stable wireless connection than the previous model, reducing sound dropouts.
The removal of the cord, makes it more comfortable. Plus being able to use the buds in combination or independently is a step up.
The Pro model excels as a pair of sweat-resistant earbuds that you can wear to the gym, on the trail, on the train or at work.
They come in four colors – Black, Ivory, Moss, and Navy – all of which come with a matching charging case, to purchase or find out more click on this link.
Marcus Runs 