Unless you want an open-style clip bud, it’s become more difficult to get high-quality workout earbuds over the past few years. Companies are not focusing on them as much, or are leaving the market altogether as Jabra did in late 2024. Thankfully, some of the best workout earbuds – the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 – not only still exist, but they were revamped at the beginning of the year. And for the remainder of Cyber Monday, they’re on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for $199.95 ($50 off), which is nearly their lowest ever.
The original Powerbeats Pro was a go-to for me when I was training for a half-marathon before the pandemic. The main reason for this is their ear hook design, which wraps around the back of the ear, keeping them firmly in place. It didn’t matter whether I was running on the road, running on trails, or doing sprint interval training; I never worried about them being out. The Pro 2 improves on that design with more flexible, stronger ear hooks that provide an excellent fit and allow them to withstand any unwanted abuse. People who wear glasses may find the hooks uncomfortable, but I found that, once I figured out how to put them on correctly, it wasn’t a problem.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 also feature heart rate monitoring – which is a precursor to Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3. For those who don’t have an Apple Watch or want to use a chest strap, this is a good option, especially since I found it to be relatively accurate in my testing. The heart rate sensors can integrate with Apple Fitness (added after launch) and some third-party apps, and they work with both Apple and Android products. Advantages of the Beats brand compared to Apple.
The sound quality of music with the Powerbeats Pro 2 is good, with enough driving bass we all crave for during workout sessions. Active noise cancellation also works great when dealing with loud environments, and they also work well for calls with noise suppression that controls wind noise.
While the included carrying case is significantly smaller than the previous version, it’s still larger than what you get with most modern earbuds, given the space required for the ear hooks. However, this time it also supports wireless charging, which was sorely missing on the original Powerbeats Pro.
If you’re looking for new workout earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are a great option, and at the Cyber Monday price, they’re a great value.
Photography by Amelia Holovaty Cralls/The Verge
<a href