Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Long-Term Review: Still a Top Pick for Runners

Introduction

It has been close to a year since the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 arrived, updating a design that originally launched back in 2019. That is a long gap between versions, and it also means there has been plenty of time to move beyond first impressions. Extended testing means more battery cycles, more miles in varied conditions, and more chances for software bugs, connection issues, or durability problems to surface.

After many months of running with these earbuds, pairing them across phones, laptops, and sports watches, the Powerbeats Pro 2 have kept earning their place in the rotation. They are the pair I keep coming back to among the many running and sports earbuds tested over the past 12 months. Here is a closer look at what has held up, what has not, and whether they are still one of the best options for runners.

Who This Product Is For

These earbuds are aimed squarely at runners and anyone training with sports earbuds. If you want a secure ear-hook design, reliable fit, and good sound during hard efforts, this is the category they compete in. The long-term picture matters most here: some sports earbuds develop connection dropouts or software quirks once you push them through more battery cycles and more sweat and rain. That has not been the experience with the Powerbeats Pro 2, which makes them particularly relevant for runners who want a pair they can rely on season after season.

Main Strengths

The headline strength is the fit. It is very good and very reliable, particularly for running. Harder, faster efforts, rainy conditions, wearing hats, wearing glasses: the fit has stayed solid throughout. That is not always true of ear-hook style earbuds, which do not always play nicely with extra gear around your ears. The fact that the Powerbeats Pro 2 are smaller and lighter than the original Powerbeats Pro only helps.

Physical buttons are another genuine highlight, and for running they are the right call. Nobody wants to be fiddling with touch controls mid-run. The buttons have worked as well on recent runs as they did on the very first one, and they count among the best physical buttons you will find on a set of earbuds.

Connectivity and software have also been trouble-free over the long term. These earbuds have been used with an Android phone, an iPhone, a laptop for work, and sports watches that support headphone pairing, with no bad connection dropouts and no software issues to report. With many sports earbuds, that is where problems start to appear over time.

Finally, the sound. If these did not sound good, they would not stay in regular use. They are powerful and bold, and the active noise cancellation and transparency performance is very good. It may not be best in class, but it is absolutely good enough for running indoors and outdoors. They also feel versatile enough to use beyond workouts, which is why they keep getting picked first.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Two things stand out as weaknesses. The first is the heart rate tracking. The built-in heart rate sensors, similar to the technology introduced in the Apple AirPods Pro 3, had a clunky, somewhat messy implementation. Accuracy during high-intensity workouts and runs was a particular struggle. While support and performance improved over time, it never reached the point of being a feature worth reaching for regularly. A chest strap still feels like the more reliable option for heart rate tracking, and confidence in the earbud sensor is lower than in the AirPods Pro 3 equivalent.

The second is the case. As with the original Powerbeats Pro, the charging case is not very small or compact. Compared to other earbuds, it is noticeably bigger. The upside is good battery life, and the case supports that, but a slimmer design would make them easier to carry. Neither issue drastically ruins the experience, but both are worth knowing about before buying.

Buying Advice

These are fantastic earbuds for runners if you can afford them. Fit reliability, comfort, sound performance, the additional listening modes, and battery life all deliver on what you would want from running earbuds. The main catch is price: they remain very expensive, and the heart rate tracking is part of what pushes the cost up. A cheaper version without the heart rate sensor would be an absolute steal.

They do show up for less than their launch price from time to time, so they are worth watching in sales. If you can get them discounted, they are well worth a serious look. If you want an ear-hook style earbud with good sound, good comfort, and dependable fit, these fit the bill and remain the first pair to reach for when not using open-ear designs.

Conclusion

A year of testing has not weakened the case for the Powerbeats Pro 2. Reliable fit, excellent physical buttons, stable software, and bold, powerful sound make them one of the strongest options for runners. The heart rate tracking and the bulky case leave room for improvement, but neither is a dealbreaker. If they are within budget, or better yet on sale, they remain an easy recommendation for anyone training with earbuds.