Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 vs Apple AirPods Pro 3
Quick take: The Apple AirPods Pro 3 costs $10 less; the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 lasts longer per charge (10 hrs).
Which one to buy
Same company, same Apple integration, roughly the same price ($200 vs $190), and very different jobs. The Powerbeats Pro 2 is built around its nickel-titanium earhooks: owners say they stop thinking about the buds through sprints, burpees and box jumps. The AirPods Pro 3 stays in through tip grip and a deeper fit, which works for most gym use but isn't a mechanical lock.
Away from the gym the AirPods pull clearly ahead. Its ANC is the one owners compare to Bose; the Powerbeats' ANC and transparency are described as convincing, which is impressive for a hook design but a step down. The Pro 3 is also far lighter at 5.55g per bud against 8.7g, and its IP57 rating is oddly stronger than the sweat-focused Powerbeats' IPX4.
Battery reverses that. The Powerbeats claims 10 hours per bud (owners see nearer 8 with ANC on) and 45 total, almost double the AirPods' 24-hour total. The heart-rate story is muddled on both, in different ways. The Powerbeats broadcasts to gym equipment and fitness apps, but owners find routing it into an Apple Watch workout or third-party iOS apps inconsistent. The AirPods' sensor tracks close to an Apple Watch but only feeds Apple Health, so it won't pair with a Peloton. Neither has a real EQ.
Known flaws: the Pro 3's ANC static on some units and ear soreness for sensitive ears; the Powerbeats' finicky firmware updates, glasses-and-hook negotiation, and a sometimes tinny default sound. Plenty of iPhone owners keep the AirPods as the daily pair and the Powerbeats as the workout pair, which tells you which one is the specialist.
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
Worth it if you lift, sprint or do anything violent enough to eject a normal bud, want heart rate on gym equipment, and like the 45-hour case total.
Apple AirPods Pro 3
For when the gym is only part of your day. Stronger ANC, class-leading transparency and calls, a far lighter bud and IP57 make it the better all-rounder.
| Spec | Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 | Apple AirPods Pro 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$200 | ~$190 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Wireless Earbuds | Wireless Earbuds |
| Noise Cancelling | ANC | Adaptive ANC |
| Battery (single charge) | 10 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | 45 hrs | 24 hrs |
| Quick Charge | 5 min → 1.5 hrs (Fast Fuel) | 5 min = 1 hr |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | No | No |
| Driver Size | — | — |
| Weight | 8.7 g | 5.55 g |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IP57 |
| Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | No | No |
Pros & cons
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
- ✓Real ANC and Transparency in an earhook design
- ✓Optical heart-rate sensors broadcast to gym equipment
- ✓H2 chip brings Personalized Spatial Audio
- ✓Nickel-titanium hooks are lighter and lower-profile than gen one
- ✓45 total hours with a much smaller wireless-charging case
- ✓Fast Fuel: 5 minutes buys 1.5 hours
- ✗IPX4 is thin for a sweat-first product
- ✗No multipoint — Apple-ecosystem switching only
- ✗Android loses Spatial Audio and heart-rate app support
- ✗No EQ anywhere, not even presets
- ✗10-hour claim drops near 8 with ANC on
Apple AirPods Pro 3
- ✓ANC roughly doubled over Pro 2 — trades blows with Bose
- ✓8-hour ANC battery, up two hours over Pro 2
- ✓Foam-infused tips finally seal without third-party swaps
- ✓IP57 survives sweaty workouts and rain
- ✓Best-in-class transparency and call quality
- ✓Heart-rate sensing plus a genuinely useful hearing-aid mode
- ✗AAC only — Android loses hi-res and most features
- ✗No real EQ beyond Apple's presets
- ✗Slimmer case dropped total battery to 24 hours
- ✗Multipoint limited to Apple device auto-switching
- ✗Battery isn't user-replaceable — degradation gripes persist
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 vs Apple AirPods Pro 3: common questions
Is the AirPods Pro 3's IP57 better for heavy sweat than the Powerbeats Pro 2's IPX4?▾
On paper the AirPods Pro 3, with IP57 against the Powerbeats' IPX4, which owners call thin for a sweat-first product. In practice the Powerbeats' hooks matter more for intense training because the buds can't fall out, so serious lifters still tend to pick them.
Is the Powerbeats Pro 2's or the AirPods Pro 3's heart-rate sensor more useful?▾
It depends where the data needs to go. The Powerbeats can broadcast to gym equipment and some fitness apps, though getting it into Apple Watch workouts is unreliable. The AirPods Pro 3 only feeds Apple Health and Apple Fitness, so no Peloton, but it reads close to an Apple Watch.
Is the AirPods Pro 3's ANC worth giving up the hooks?▾
For commuting and flying, yes. Owners describe the Pro 3's cancellation as Bose-level and the Powerbeats' as solid for gym and street use. If the hooks are why you'd buy the Powerbeats, though, no amount of ANC replaces them during box jumps.