With the Powerbeats Pro 2, Apple Launches Heart Rate Tracker

The eagerly anticipated release of the Powerbeats Pro 2 earphones was revealed by Apple on Tuesday. Almost six years after the first Powerbeats headphones were released, the latest models are now available. Along with improved sound, longer battery life, and a wireless charging case, the new model keeps the well-known ear hook for exercise.

Beats today unveiled the Powerbeats Pro 2, which significantly improves its line of fitness-focused wireless earbuds. These include the latest Apple H2 chip for improved connectivity, transparency mode, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and heart rate monitoring features.

With integrated heart rate monitoring, the earbuds also represent a significant advancement in the company’s efforts to broaden its healthcare offerings. Using LED optical sensors, the function provides real-time data when activated during exercise.

Although body temperature monitoring using PPG sensors and heart rate tracking in earbuds are not new, Beats’ adoption of this technology at a cheaper price point may make it more accessible to regular athletes. Sennheiser’s MOMENTUM Sport ($329 at Amazon) already offers these features.

During exercise, the Powerbeats Pro 2’s heart rate monitoring measures blood flow using LED optical sensors that pulse more than 100 times per second. At launch, a few fitness applications, such as Peloton, Nike Run Club, and others, can incorporate this data. While Android users must manually initiate heart rate sessions using the Beats app, iPhone users benefit from automated workout detection.

Beats says that the new model maintains the same IPX4 grade for perspiration resistance while being 20% lighter due to a revised ear hook. In addition to being 33% smaller, the case now has wireless charging capabilities. The battery still lasts 10 hours between charges, or 8 hours if ANC is turned on.

The tracking is compatible with several popular workout applications, such as Open, Peloton, Runna, Slopes, Ladder, Nike Run Club, and YaoYao, in addition to Apple’s own health app. Strava, one of the most widely used apps, is noticeably missing from the list.

The Apple Watch presently serves as the focal point of the Apple health portfolio, which is expanded by the Powerbeats. Although features like step tracking have existed since the beginning, Apple has recently made a significant investment in health. In order to give a complete picture of the wearer’s health, the Watch now has ECG readings, fall detection, sleep monitoring, and other capabilities.

In 2024, Apple expanded its health suite by including a hearing aid function into the AirPods Pro 2. Although it would need a significant hardware update, the Beats line’s introduction of heart rate tracking may portend the feature’s inclusion in future AirPods updates.

In contrast to the Powerbeats’ emphasis on exercise, Apple-branded headphones are also more all-around lifestyle items.

The H2 chip, which made its debut on the AirPods Pro 2 in 2022, has replaced Apple’s W2 processor in the new headphones. Up until the firm releases the AirPods Pro 3 later, that remains the best Apple headphone chip.

Apple claims that increases in battery life are mostly due to their proprietary technology. The buds themselves have a claimed 10-hour battery life, as opposed to the nine hours of its predecessor. The casing, which extends the battery’s lifespan from 24 to 45 hours, is more remarkable. The business was able to accomplish this while minimizing the size of the original Powerbeats Pro’s very large case.

Apple also claims that its Adaptive EQ technology, which adapts music quality to the wearer’s ear, and Spatial music with head tracking, which is the same noise-cancelling feature featured in the AirPods Pro 2, have improved sound quality.

The well-known ear hooks are now made of nickel alloy for increased strength, and the total weight of the buds has dropped by 20%.

Apple claims that in an effort to make the Pros more universally fit, it tested them on 1,000 athletes. Additionally, the headphones have the same IPX4 sweat resistance certification as AirPods. Along with wireless charging, the headphones use USB-C instead of the Lightning connector seen on their predecessor.

Even though Apple’s announcement narrowly missed the Super Bowl, the firm is still spending a lot of money on advertisements including endorsements from well-known players like LeBron James, Lionel Messi, and Shohei Ohtani.

SoundGuys has not gotten a review unit for objective testing, despite the fact that a number of media sources have released their evaluations concurrently with today’s announcement. In order to offer our customary thorough evaluations of frequency response, noise cancellation capability, and actual battery life—metrics that are noticeably missing from the first coverage—we are eager to acquire a retail device.

For $249.99, you can pre-order the Powerbeats Pro 2 from February 13th, retail availability will start. The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 now includes wireless charging, transparency mode, ANC, and heart rate monitoring. The battery is expected to last for 45 hours total with the case, with a charging time of about 10 hours (8 hours with ANC). The fitness-focused earbuds will be offered in four different colors from Jet Black, Quick Sand, Hyper Purple, and Electric Orange