Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 (2025) Earbuds Review CGMagazine

It’s been five long years since Apple released its iconic earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro. During this period, we saw two iterations, with the second featuring a vibrant facelift and an array of distinct colours. Now, in 2025, the highly anticipated Powerbeats Pro 2 has arrived, and right out of the box, it stands out with its unique design. With a sleek look, exceptional audio quality, and sturdy construction, this upgraded version has firmly established itself as a top competitor in the wireless earbud market.

The unboxing experience of the Powerbeats Pro 2 was a very pleasant one; the packaging was very minimal, easy to open and made from 100% plant-based recycled material. After removing the slipcover and opening the box, you’re greeted with the new and improved charging case. This new iteration has been reduced by 33% compared to its predecessor and is USB-C powered.

It’s also the first Beats charging case to have wireless charging capability. I reviewed the “Hyper Purple” colourway, and I must say the pictures that were shown did not do these earbuds any justice, as they are absolutely stunning. The other available colours are Jet Black, Quick Sand and Electric Orange.

I use the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 as my daily driver, and it was a bit of an adjustment to get used to the size of the case as well as how the earbuds rest on my ear. I was quite shocked to feel how durable these buds were, as well as how comfortable they sat on my ears. In the box, there are varying sizes of replaceable rubber tips ranging from XS to XL. The default ones worked fine for me, so I didn’t need to replace them. 

“With a sleek look, exceptional audio quality, and sturdy construction, this upgraded version has firmly established itself as a top competitor in the wireless earbud market.”

I conducted multiple stress tests to see how durable these earbuds really are. What I would ultimately find out is that once they are on, they do not come off. Additionally, a great feature of the Powerbeats Pro 2 is the heart rate monitor that is able to sync to multiple fitness apps. I tested this with an intense 20-minute ride on my stationary bike using the Peloton app.

Despite significant movement and perspiration, the earbuds did not dislodge, and the data recorded was similar to that from my Google Pixel Watch 2. A few days later, I wore the earbuds at a basketball game during warm-ups. After some shooting drills, layup exercises, and some light jogging with a cooldown of dynamic stretching, I was pleased to see that these earbuds remained securely in place.

I have a couple of go-to genres when it comes to testing earbuds—those being Soca and Hip Hop. I love listening to soca during these tests as a lot of the music instrumentation, particularly with various horns and percussion. From the moment I started listening to Savanna Grass by KES, which is considered groovy Soca, I knew I was in for a treat. The audio was clean and clear. No overbearing treble or bass, and the in-ear experience was quite nice.

“The best way to describe this experience would simply be: a concert in my ears.”

I decided to up the energy and went right into the Power Soca genre, which features a much faster tempo and higher BPM. The track of choice was Famalay by Machel Montano, Skinny Fabulous and Bunji Garlin. For science, I had to play this at max volume (for a short period of time), and man, was I impressed. The best way to describe this experience would simply be: a concert in my ears. I felt the bass move throughout my whole body, but not in a way where I would pass out, but manageable without the worry of blowing out my eardrums.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 audio quality is truly phenomenal. The bass wasn’t too overpowering, and the treble was just right. All audio levels felt balanced, which led to a very comfortable and clear listening experience. I was on public transit and tested the noise cancelling feature, and it’s almost on par with some popular over-ear headphones.

With that, the transparency feature, which allows you to hear your surroundings better when the earbuds are in, was very clear as well. Something really important to note is that usually, with these types of earbuds, you’ll begin to feel ear fatigue after a period of continuous use. I was able to go almost my entire workday, including my commute to and from wearing the earbuds, without any irritation or fatigue. 

Whether it’s an intense workout session or a long commute, you won’t have to worry about these earbuds dying on you. The charging case of the Powerbeats Pro 2 will give you up to 45 hours of battery life with roughly 10 hours of continuous playback per earbud.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 have been the most enjoyable earbuds I’ve used in some time. They offer a comfortable fit, great durability, and exceptional audio quality. While the price point is somewhat high at $ 249.99 USD, it is important to note that these earbuds represent an investment, as I believe they will have a significantly longer lifespan compared to other options available on the market. Therefore, if you are seeking a product that provides outstanding audio, robust durability, and is capable of accommodating an active lifestyle, the Powerbeats Pro 2 may be the ideal choice for you.