The new Powerbeats Pro wireless earphones made by Beats Electronics LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc., manage to stay side-by-side with Apple’s AirPods in terms of functionality, but they are better designed for heavy workouts, making them able to withstand more abuse. And don’t let their minimalist design fool you into thinking they don’t pack many features. They’re very easy to control while fitting comfortably on your ears.
Inside the box, you’ll find the charging case and under it an instruction book as well as the USB Lightning cable for charging the case. You’ll also have three extra sets of tips for the earbuds, and each pair has a different size, allowing you to find a comfortable fit for your ears. The Powerbeats Pros wrap perfectly around the back of your ear since the “ear-hooks” are flexible and bend in every direction, making them easily adjustable. This allows users to adjust their earbuds with a tighter or looser fit based on their comfort. The Powerbeats Pros are both sweat and water-resistant and are bulkier than Apple’s AirPods; but they have better sound.
In terms of connectivity, you can pair the Powerbeats Pros to any device, and they include Apple’s H1 chip for super-easy iPhone pairing. After unlocking your phone and opening the charging case, an animation will show up on your phone; then all you have to do is tap “Connect”. You can also sync them with all your Apple devices by using an iCloud account, including your Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and AppleWatch. Secondly, you can also use the Powerbeats Pro with any non-Apple device, like an Android phone. Just open the case next to your Android phone and go into the Bluetooth settings menu. This is where Apple’s H1 chip comes in handy, since it supports a newer version of Bluetooth, allowing for faster and easier connectivity. And unpairing is just as easy. In case you’ve paired the earbuds with another device, just place both earbuds in the case and then push and hold the button near the front of the case until the status light begins blinking continuously.
But that’s not all. There’s also the “Hey, Siri” functionality. Thanks to Apple’s H1 chip, the earbuds also support the “Hey, Siri” command. Whenever you’re using the earbuds, just say “Hey, Siri” followed by any voice-command to play music, check messages, or ask Siri questions.
The Powerbeats Pro also pack another built-in feature that you can take advantage of; the Automatic Ear Detection feature. The Powerbeats Pro can automatically detect when you put them in or take them out of your ears, which allows the audio to start, stop or pause on its own. But, in case you’re not a fan of the auto-play/stop or auto-pause, you can disable it by opening the Settings app on any iOS device and selecting Bluetooth. After that, tap on the “i” next to the Powerbeats Pro name and just toggle Automatic Ear Detection to the Off position.
In those same Bluuetooth settings, you have the option of customizing the named used in Bluetooth menus for your Powerbeats Pro. After tapping the “i” next to the Powerbeats Pro name, click “Name”. Then just type in your custom name and exit the settings app.
In terms of physical controls, each Powerbeats Pro earphone has a volume control on top and a single button with the Beats logo on the side that can trigger both Siri and control media playback. By pressing the button once, you can play or pause. Pressing it twice allows you to skip to the next track, while triple-pressing it allows you to go back to the previous track. By holding down the button, you can trigger Siri. These physical controls also work on non-Apple devices. The earphones also have extended range, meaning that they do not need to be right next to your phone.
Regarding the battery life, the Powerbeats Pro allow you to easily check their current battery life. Just place the earbuds in the charging case and open it next to your unlocked iPhone. A pop-up that resembles the initial pairing prompt will show up, showing the battery life status for all three pieces. You can also enable the “Battery Widget” in the “Today view” on your phone, in case you’re actively using the Powerbeats Pro. When it comes to charging them, just place the earbuds in the charging case for a fast recharge. The right earbud needs to go on the right side of the case, and the left earbud on the left side; magnets will help you place the earbud into the right spot. The charging case is charged via a Lightning port that’s located on the back. A 5-minute charge gives you 1.5 hours of use, while a 15-minute charge gives you 4.5 hours of use. They have a long battery life of up to nine hours.
If you’re interested in getting your pair of Powerbeats Pros, they are priced at $249.95 on Beats website. You can get them here.
