Weeks after Apple released its second-generation AirPods, the company's Beats is finally making its own launch into the wireless earbuds market. The new Powerbeats Pro that costs $249.95 will be shipped in May and are Beat's most highlighted and significant product in years. Beat's offer longer battery life and they fit well in your ears without letting in any outside noise, they also include the same Apple H1 chip as the AirPods, so you can do hands-free "Siri" voice commands and Powerbeats Pro sounds better according to tech experts.
Beats says that their Powerbeats wireless earbuds are the most popular headphones in the world, and the new model sheds the cable that can link the left and the right buds together. They can retain the look and the identity of Powerbeats, but Beat's did not just cut the wire, they redesigned the entire headphone in the move to a wireless design. The Pros are around 23 percent smaller and they are 17 percent lighter than the regular Powerbeats neck buds, and it offers color options. They come in white, black, navy and dark green.
WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT THE POWERBEATS PRO?
- Battery life: Beats says the Powerbeats Pro can reach nine hours of continuous listening.
- Apple H1 chip: Just like the second-gen AirPods, the Powerbeats Pro include Apple's H1 chip for hands-free "Hey Siri" voice commands and quicker switching between your Apple devices.
- Fit: Beats aimed for a comfortable and secure fit
- Physical controls: You don't need to worry about gestures or awkward touch-sensitive tapping zones here.
- Automatic pause and resume: Like AirPods and many other true wireless earbuds at this point, the Powerbeats Pro will pause your music when you remove one or both earbuds and then start playing again once they're back in.
- They can be used independently: Like the AirPods, both Powerbeats Pro earbuds connect to your device independently.
WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD ABOUT THE POWERBEATS PRO?
- Large charging case: It's very clear that Beats expects people to keep the charging case for the Powerbeats Pro in a bag of some sort; whether it's your gym bag or daily carry doesn't matter. But the case is significantly larger than the competition.
- No wireless charging: If there's one obvious thing that separates the new AirPods from the Powerbeats Pro, it's this. The case doesn't support Qi wireless charging.
- No LED light to show earbud charge status: Apple's AirPods also lack this. But some true wireless earbuds have separate LEDs to reflect how much charge the case and earbuds each have.
- Water-resistant, but no rating: Beats isn't disclosing an IPX water resistance rating for the Powerbeats Pro, but the company insists they've been engineered to handle all of your sweat without fail.
