Scored on 48 verified owner verdicts, from 790 comments read across 4 communities
TL;DR
Owners agree on one thing: these are excellent workout earbuds, with hooks that keep them locked in during running and lifting where AirPods slip out, plus a comfortable fit. The rest draws real complaints, with many finding the sound thin or harsh, the noise cancelling weak, and some dealing with ear fatigue or a heart-rate feature that gets in the way. If a secure gym fit is the priority they deliver, but anyone chasing AirPods Pro 2 sound or ANC is likely to be let down.
38% of 48 verified owners recommend the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, based on real owner verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube.
790 comments reviewed · scored on the 48 clearest verdicts
38%
Recommend
18 owners
10%
Neutral
5 owners
52%
Don't recommend
25 owners
Last 6 months:33% recommend(9 recent verdicts)→ holding steady vs older reviews
Source
Breakdown
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
42%
43
Other forums
0%
5
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
YouTubeiOrdinary owner comments (not the reviewer), but here they sit too far from the owner consensus on Reddit and forums — channel comment sections can skew heavily positive or negative by trend — so they're shown for perspective and kept out of the score.owner comments
63%
259
Affiliate blogsiThese blogs earn a commission when you buy. Across our data they rate products ~35 points more positively than actual owners — shown for transparency, never counted in the score.paid commission
50%
2
No clear verdictiGood-to-know notes — setup, tips, and things to watch for. We use them for the pros, cons, and who it's for, but they don't reflect a definitive opinion on the product, so they're never counted in the score. See the 'Good to know' section below the quotes.Setup, tips & quirks
—
1
Affiliate blogs here say 50% recommend, while the owner-based score is 38%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.
The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, blogs with no affiliate links, and YouTube owner-comments when they line up with owners. YouTube and Affiliate blogs are shown for perspective but kept out here — hover the i for why.
What owners like
Secure earhook fit that stays put during workouts and running · 9 · 19%
Good sound once you get a proper ear-tip seal · 5 · 10%
Comfortable for both exercise and all-day wear · 4 · 8%
Firmware updates noticeably improved the sound · 3 · 6%
All-day battery you rarely have to think about · 3 · 6%
What owners flag
Sound quality disappointing, tinny or harsh to many · 6 · 13%
Retailers' own star averages, for comparison — separate from our vetted owner-verdict score above.
Top quotes, sourced
790 reviewed · 277 shown
Sentiment
Community
Sort
YouTube— neutral
“Charging was a major issue in the first generation. I owned two pairs, both chronically had charging issues after 3-4 months of usage.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“By far the best headphones on the market for when you are being active and don’t want them to fall out.”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“The Beats went back to the store after a week”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“they just also happen to be most returned”
YouTube— neutral
“For the past few months, the battery in my left original power beats only lasts like 15 minutes. Been rocking the originals since 2020 so they have served me well.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“they still work, left one has less than an hour for battery life, but honestly, I can't complain”
YouTube— neutral
“These have been great for what i need them for the gym. They definitely are not my go to for everything else”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“Apple got to be the laziest devs to not even include an equalizer when the entire industry offers an equalizer app for their headphones.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I’ve had my Powerbeats for 4 years. I love them.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“Besides the charging issues in the case, they have been great and are a beast at the gym.”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“I'm sending them back the Beats FIt Pro sound better and the ANC is much better.”
YouTube— neutral
“that ANC didn't sound as good as I expected it would. But the voice isolation sounded surprisingly good.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I have never been so satisfied with any tech product for such a long duration.”
YouTube— neutral
“For comfort and advanced features, AirPods Pro 2 are the better choice, but if you need stability and battery life for workouts, Powerbeats Pro 2 are a great alternative.”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“suenan horribles los tuve que devolver”
YouTube▲ recommend
“I’ve never once traded in my Powerbeats for AirPods and I never will.”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“the sound quality and noise canceling was really disappointing”
YouTube— neutral
“On my iPhone the highs sound tinny and crunchy at times, and the bass is flat. Different story on my mac… so bizarre”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“Noise cancelling is mediocre at best, no message announcements, even after option is enabled, and the comfort in the inner ear canal is not that good”
YouTube▲ recommend
“Beats are the king of fitness earbuds”
YouTube— neutral
“I use power beats pros every single day for work and they are great but everything can be improved”
YouTube▼ don’t recommend
“Could not get the seal to show a good fit with any of the included buds. In the gym I could hear quite a bit more external sound compared to my Beats Fit Pro. Returned.”
YouTube▲ recommend
“Finally some headphones that won't fall out”
YouTube— neutral
“ANC didn't sound as good as I would have hoped, but I just bought my pair yesterday”
Practical notes owners raise — setup, quirks, and issues to watch for. They don't say whether the person likes the product, so they're not counted in the score, but they inform the pros, cons, and who it's for.
Redditⓘ good to know
“It only slips out a little, but not enough for you to have to push it back in a lot. It doesn't make much sound as well like rubbing etc.”
