Unless you want an open-style clip bud, getting high-quality workout earbuds has become more difficult in the past few years. Companies aren’t focusing on them as much, or are completely leaving the market as Jabra did at the end of 2024. Thankfully, some of the best workout earbuds — the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 — are not only still around, but were revamped at the beginning of the year. And for the remainder of Cyber Monday, they’re on sale at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for $199.95 ($50 off), nearly matching their all-time low.
The original Powerbeats Pro were a go-to for me when I was training for a half-marathon before the pandemic. The main reason is their ear hook design, which curves around the back of the ear, keeping them firmly in place. It didn’t matter if I was running on the street, hitting the trails, or doing sprint interval training; I never once worried about them falling out. The Pro 2 improve on that design with more flexible, more robust ear hooks that provide an excellent fit and allow them to withstand any unwanted abuse. Those who wear glasses might find the hooks uncomfortable, but I found that, once I figured out how to properly position them, it wasn’t an issue.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 also feature heart rate monitoring — predating Apple’s newer AirPods Pro 3. For those who don’t have an Apple Watch or want to use a chest strap, it’s a nice alternative, especially since I found it to be relatively accurate in my testing. The heart rate sensors can integrate with Apple Fitness (added after launch) and a handful of third-party apps, too, and they work with both Apple and Android products. A benefit of the Beats brand over Apple.
Sound quality for music with the Powerbeats Pro 2 is good, with enough of the driving bass we all crave for workout sessions. The active noise cancellation also does a great job of dealing with loud environments, and they work well for calls, with noise suppression that tunes out wind noise.
While the included carrying case is significantly smaller than the previous version, it’s still larger than what you get with most modern earbuds, given the space required for the ear hooks. This time around, however, it also supports wireless charging, which was sorely missing from the original Powerbeats Pro.
If you’ve been looking for new workout earbuds, the Powerbeats Pro 2 are a terrific choice, and at their Cyber Monday pricing, they’re a great value.
Photography by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge