Apple Powerbeats Pro 2 Launches with Heart Rate Monitoring and Major Upgrades

Heart Rate Monitoring and Major Upgrades

Apple has officially released the Powerbeats Pro 2, nearly six years after the original Powerbeats hit the market. These new earbuds maintain the recognizable ear hook design for workouts while introducing a range of new features, including improved sound, extended battery life, and a wireless charging case.

Check Out Latest Article of Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 Now Doubles as a Hearing Aid Published on October 22, 2024 SquaredTech

Heart Rate Monitoring Makes Its Debut

The standout feature of the Powerbeats Pro 2 is the built-in heart rate monitoring, marking Apple’s next step in expanding its health-related technology. The heart rate sensor activates during workouts, providing real-time data through LED optical sensors. This feature is compatible with Apple’s Health app and integrates with popular fitness apps such as Open, Peloton, Runna, Slopes, Ladder, Nike Run Club, and YaoYao. Notably, Strava, one of the most widely used running apps, is missing from the compatibility list.

The inclusion of heart rate monitoring extends Apple’s health ecosystem, which has been centered on the Apple Watch. While step tracking has been a staple for years, the Apple Watch now offers advanced features like ECG readings, fall detection, and sleep tracking. In 2024, Apple expanded its health features further by adding hearing aid functionality to the AirPods Pro 2. The introduction of heart rate monitoring on the Powerbeats Pro 2 hints that similar features might appear in future AirPods models, though this would require significant hardware changes.

Upgraded Battery Life and Sound Quality

The Powerbeats Pro 2 feature Apple’s H2 chip, which first appeared in the AirPods Pro 2 in 2022. This chip is credited with driving improvements in battery life and sound quality. The earbuds themselves now offer 10 hours of battery life, up from nine in the previous version. The charging case provides an impressive 45 hours of total battery life, nearly doubling the 24 hours offered by the original model. Apple achieved this while reducing the size of the case, addressing complaints about its bulkiness.

Sound quality has also been enhanced. The Powerbeats Pro 2 now include Spatial Audio with head tracking and Adaptive EQ technology, which adjusts the audio to fit the user’s ear. This technology, previously found in the AirPods Pro 2, offers an immersive listening experience.

Design Improvements for Better Comfort and Durability

The familiar ear hooks on the Powerbeats Pro 2 are now made from a nickel alloy, offering improved strength and durability. Additionally, the earbuds are 20% lighter than their predecessors, making them more comfortable for extended use. Apple tested the new design on 1,000 athletes to ensure a universal fit.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 have an IPX4 sweat resistance rating, the same as the AirPods, making them suitable for intense workouts. They also feature wireless charging and have switched from the traditional Lightning port to a USB-C connection.

Availability and Marketing Push

The Powerbeats Pro 2 are available online starting today, priced at $250—the same price as the original model when it launched in 2019. They will be available in stores starting Thursday, February 13.

Although Apple missed the Super Bowl for this announcement, the company is investing heavily in marketing. Star athletes like LeBron James, Lionel Messi, and Shohei Ohtani are endorsing the new earbuds, highlighting their fitness-focused features.

With heart rate monitoring, improved battery life, and enhanced sound quality, the Powerbeats Pro 2 position themselves as the ultimate earbuds for fitness enthusiasts. Whether you’re hitting the gym, running trails, or just looking for high-quality sound, these new earbuds deliver on all fronts.

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