AirPods Pro 3 vs Powerbeats Pro 2: Which Truly Wins?

Exploring the showdown between AirPods Pro 3 and Powerbeats Pro 2 to help you decide which wireless earbuds fit your lifestyle best.

When Apple and Beats dropped their 2025 flagship earbuds, both boasting the standout feature of in-ear heart rate monitoring, it quickly became clear that the battle for wireless earbud supremacy was heating up. As a longtime fan and avid tester of both, I dove into the Powerbeats Pro 2 headphones and AirPods Pro 3 headphones to see how they really stack up beyond the spec sheets.

Let’s break down the essentials, share the perks, and highlight who should reach for which pair.

Tech Specs Face-Off

Why Choose Powerbeats Pro 2?

You Love the Secure Over-Ear Fit

The defining trait of Powerbeats Pro 2 headphones is their sturdy, yet flexible ear hooks. This design is a blessing if you’re the type who breaks a sweat and doesn’t want to worry about earbuds falling out mid-burpee or sprint. Those explosive moves—box jumps, deadlifts, kettlebell swings—you name it—can jostle traditional earbuds out of place. But with these hooks, your earbuds stay put.

If you’re a runner, cyclist, or just someone who’s tired of fishing earbuds out of your pocket mid-commute, Powerbeats Pro 2’s fit is a game-changer. Plus, they still come packed with active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode so you’re not sacrificing sound quality or situational awareness.

An added bonus: recent software updates brought hands-free Siri interaction, so iPhone users can take calls and manage notifications without lifting a finger.

You Have a Mixed Device Ecosystem

Unlike the AirPods, Powerbeats Pro 2 headphones play nicer outside the Apple garden. Android users get limited but meaningful compatibility, including heart rate monitoring—a feature exclusive to AirPods Pro 3 on iOS. The Beats app for Android helps with one-tap pairing, battery status alerts, and “Find My Beats” functionality, making these earbuds a strong choice if you juggle both Android and iOS devices.

You Already Own Everyday Earbuds

If you already have earbuds for daily use but need something more rugged and workout-ready with heart rate monitoring, Powerbeats Pro 2 fits the bill. Their over-ear hooks might not be ideal lounging around the house, but for exercise they’re second to none.

The heart rate monitor syncs with Apple’s Fitness app to give you real-time stats and activity tracking on your iPhone paired with Apple Watch—right alongside step counts and calories burned. It’s like having a personal trainer in your ears.

Why Opt for AirPods Pro 3?

Time to Upgrade Your AirPods?

If your current AirPods are gasping their last breath, the AirPods Pro 3 are a worthy upgrade. Apple refined their design for enhanced comfort and tweaked the acoustic system to deliver richer sound. You also get longer battery life, beefed-up dust and water resistance (IP57 rating!), a new ultra-wideband chip for improved location tracking, and that nifty in-ear heart rate monitor.

Compared to the first-gen AirPods Pro or the Lightning-charged AirPods Pro 2, these are leaps and bounds ahead across the board. They pack almost every feature Beats offers—minus the ear hooks and vivid color options.

You Want Versatile, Sleek Earbuds

Powerbeats Pro 2 lack some of the advanced audio smarts that AirPods Pro 3 bring to the table—no conversation awareness or adaptive noise cancellation, for starters. The AirPods Pro 3 not only have these but also include live translation, a hearing aid mode, and the same in-ear heart rate monitoring tech.

Design-wise, the Powerbeats’ ear hooks make them less subtle to wear in casual or professional settings. The AirPods Pro 3 and their compact charging case fit comfortably in your pocket, perfect for on-the-go lifestyles when you want to slip in earbuds quickly and discreetly.

You Need Better Protection Against the Elements

The AirPods Pro 3’s IP57 rating means they’re both dust-tight and water-resistant enough to survive being submerged up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. In contrast, Powerbeats Pro 2’s IPX4 rating means they’ll handle sweat and splashes but aren’t designed for dusty environments or full submersion. So, if your daily grind involves dusty commutes or you’re prone to dropping earbuds in a pool, the AirPods Pro 3 have your back.

An Alternative to Consider

If heart rate monitoring isn’t a priority, Apple’s AirPods Pro 2 remain a fantastic option. They bring many of the Pro 3’s software features without the latest sensors.

“The choice between AirPods Pro 3 and Powerbeats Pro 2 boils down to your lifestyle: sport-ready durability versus sleek versatility.”

Final Thoughts: No Clear Winner, Just the Right Fit

Choosing between the AirPods Pro 3 and Powerbeats Pro 2 is like picking between running shoes and loafers—both great, but designed for different purposes. If you’re a fitness enthusiast who needs rock-solid earbuds that don’t budge during a workout, Powerbeats Pro 2 are your best bet. But if you want a sleek, everyday pair packed with the latest Apple features and superior water and dust resistance, AirPods Pro 3 take the lead.

So, what matters most to you—durability and fit or versatility and cutting-edge tech? Share your thoughts below!

FAQ

• What is the main difference between Powerbeats Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3?
  Powerbeats Pro 2 feature over-ear hooks for a secure fit, ideal for workouts, and have broader Android compatibility. AirPods Pro 3 offer more advanced audio features, better dust and water resistance, and a sleeker design.
• Do both earbuds support heart rate monitoring?
  Yes, both include in-ear heart rate monitoring, but Powerbeats Pro 2’s heart rate feature is only fully supported on iOS devices.
• Which earbuds last longer on a single charge?
  Powerbeats Pro 2 deliver up to 10 hours on earbuds alone and 45 hours with the charging case, outlasting AirPods Pro 3’s 8 and 24 hours respectively.
• Are both earbuds waterproof?
  AirPods Pro 3 have a higher IP57 rating (dust and water resistant), whereas Powerbeats Pro 2 have an IPX4 rating (sweat and splash resistant only).
• Can Android users fully use Powerbeats Pro 2?
  Android users get limited compatibility, including heart rate monitoring and battery status via the Beats app, but some exclusive iOS features remain unavailable.

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