On Tuesday, Apple unveiled the eagerly anticipated Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds, nearly six years after the first-generation Powerbeats made their debut. The latest model preserves the iconic ear hook design suitable for workouts while providing enhanced audio performance, extended battery life, and a wireless charging case.

Featuring built-in heart rate monitoring, these earbuds represent a significant advancement in Apple’s commitment to health and wellness. This innovative feature activates during exercise, delivering real-time data through advanced LED optical sensors.

The heart rate monitoring function integrates seamlessly with Apple’s health app and is compatible with several top fitness applications, such as Open, Peloton, Runna, Slopes, Ladder, Nike Run Club, and YaoYao. However, one notable absence from this list is the popular running app, Strava.

The introduction of Powerbeats Pro 2 expands Apple’s health offerings, which have primarily revolved around the Apple Watch. While step counting has been a feature for years, Apple has increasingly focused on comprehensive health tracking. The Apple Watch now offers functionalities such as ECG monitoring, fall detection, and sleep monitoring, creating a holistic approach to health management.

In 2024, Apple enhanced its health suite by introducing a hearing aid feature for the AirPods Pro 2. The inclusion of heart rate monitoring in the Beats series may signal similar advancements in future AirPods versions, although such a feature would necessitate significant hardware updates.

Unlike the more general lifestyle focus of Apple’s standard headphone offerings, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are specifically designed for fitness enthusiasts.

These new earbuds are powered by Apple’s H2 chip—first seen in the AirPods Pro 2—which upgrades them from the previous W2 chip, continuing its position as the leading chip for Apple headphones until the anticipated AirPods Pro 3 is released.

Apple credits its advanced silicon for the impressive improvements in battery life. The earbuds boast a claimed 10 hours of use, surpassing the 9 hours offered by the previous iteration. The charging case also sees a remarkable increase in total battery capacity from 24 to 45 hours, all while reducing the size of the once-bulky case.

Enhancements to sound quality are highlighted by the introduction of Spatial Audio along with head tracking, similar to the noise-canceling capabilities found in the AirPods Pro 2. Additionally, the Adaptive EQ technology fine-tunes the audio to suit the user’s ear shape.

The redesigned ear hooks feature a nickel alloy for greater durability, and the overall weight of the earbuds has decreased by 20%, making them more comfortable for extended wear.

Apple conducted trials with 1,000 athletes to ensure a more universal fit for the earbuds. They also feature an IPX4 rating for sweat resistance, similar to the AirPods. In addition to supporting wireless charging, the Powerbeats Pro 2 has replaced the Lightning port with USB-C for added convenience.

Available starting today for $250, the Powerbeats Pro 2 maintain the same price point as their 2019 predecessors. They will be on retail shelves by Thursday, February 13.

Although Apple’s launch announcement closely follows the Super Bowl, the company is not holding back on advertising, enlisting endorsements from sports icons like LeBron James, Lionel Messi, and Shohei Ohtani.