Beats PowerBeats Pro test: excellent wireless headphones for enduring athletes

PowerBeats Pro are the first real beats wireless headphones.Dedicated to athletes, they promise excellent autonomy, exemplary support and high -level sound.We tested them, and here is what they are really capable of.

With its new PowerBeats Pro, Beats completes its range of athletes for sportsmen and even creates a new one, that of really wireless headphones.Above all intended for athletes, these headphones benefit from the same hook system as the PowerBeats 3, enough to ensure excellent support during sports sessions.

In addition to promising a "high -level sound", the brand announces 9 hours of autonomy and up to 24 hours with the charging box.Let's see if all these beautiful promises are held, and if the pro PowerBeats are really worth the 250 euros requested.

Technical sheet of Beats PowerBeats Pro

This test was carried out with a product offered to us by the brand.

Comfort and Android are not left aside

PowerBeats Pro are the brand's first wireless headphones: if the PowerBeats and the Beats X were Bluetooth headphones, they did not free themselves from a cable to link the two tips.Beats therefore had to get out of True Wireless, especially since his competitors (Bose and Jabra for example) did not really wait for her.

PowerBeats Pro have the same H1 chip as the new AirPods, nothing surprising when you know that Beats has been held by Apple for more than five years.What does this new chip bring concretely?Quite simply a faster connection and activation with Siri's voice.The pairing of PowerBeats Pro on iOS is therefore identical to that of the AirPods: just open the case next to your iPhone and wait for the newly open animation fluids.Simple, fast and satisfactory.

A pairing on Android is less sexy, but it is nonetheless very fast.Here too must be opened the case to wake up the POWERS PRO, then connect them manually from the Bluetooth settings of the phone.Once this first connection has been made, it will be enough later to take out the pro PowerBeats from their case and wait for the phone to find them - less than three seconds in my case.We actually take so long to get the earphones out of the box and put them in place that they do not start to connect to our phone.

The Bluetooth connection between the PowerBeats Pro and my Pixel 3 XL was very fast and know that I had no cut in three weeks of use.I have been falling asleep several times with the Pro PowerBeats with the ears and always finding them connected to my phone six hours later.Some will wonder if there are differences in the use of pro powerbeats between an iOS and Android device.For having tested both: nothing decisive.The pairing is fast and the stability of the connection is excellent in both cases.

Note that PowerBeats Pro cannot bear the multipoint connection: it is for example impossible to connect them simultaneously to a computer to watch a film and a phone to be able to answer a call.It is obviously possible to manually connect the headphones to several devices: just stay pressed for a few seconds on the small button located in the charging box to start a new pairing.

Siri can be activated thanks to the famous "Dis Siri" on iPhone, but I found this functionality very limited by the performance of microphones in the presence of ambient noise: you should not count on them in public transport or even in aa little frequented street.Needless to say, why screaming "Say Siri" by being connected to an Android phone will not do much, but know that it is possible to launch Google Assistant with PowerBeats Pro.However, it will be necessary to press the multifunction button of one of the two headphones for two seconds, then wait a second before being able to make its request.We knew more pleasant to use, but it works.

If it is possible to easily know the battery level of the headphones and the box on your iPhone, you will have to go through the official application on Android.I would have had to finish this article so that Beats update it and propose this functionality.This application, soberly renowned Beats, therefore allows you to display the battery of headphones and housing, to rename its POWERBAATS PRO, but also an instantaneous connection to the iOS in the form of a window.This latest feature was not effective on my side, so I recommend classic pairing via the Bluetooth menu.

The Beats application does not allow any sound adjustment, but it will remain installed on my 3 XL pixel to have access to the battery level.An announcement by the headphones themselves would have been appreciated, even if it means activating it by a combination of clumsy keys.

Good news, the feature allowing the music automatically when you remove a earpiece works on Android, and I have to admit conquered.Just press the multifunction button on the remaining earpiece so that the music or the video resumes - or simply put the earphone back in place.This is made possible by a small presence/accelerometer sensor very well thought out: in addition to not relaunching the music by being fooled by our finger, it fits perfectly into the design of the pro Powerbeats.

Precisely, let's talk about the latter.In general, intra-ear headphones are supposed to remain firmly in place in the ears.Supposed.Beats did not really have the right to make mistakes on this aspect.These are indeed headphones for athletes, who will therefore have little motivation to systematically replace the headphones in place during training sessions.It is therefore to ensure perfect support that Beats has resumed his arch of the arches: they come to prolong the headphones to marry the back of the pavilion of the ear.

It also took me a few tests to insert the pro PowerBeats well: it is quite complicated at the beginning to handle the hoop while pushing the headphones, all with one hand.Here is the technique to use: lift the end of the hoop with the index, start stalling it behind the ear, put the earphones in the conch of the ear then turn the hoop, allBy pushing the headphones this time in the ears.Too complicated ?Follow the GIF.

The two headphones carry the same two control buttons: one to manage the volume and the other to carry out classic actions (break, reading, next or previous music).It is therefore possible to use a single earpiece at a time, which I found very appreciable during my test.Note that the sound then passes automatically and without hooking from stereo mode to mono mode.

The buttons are easily reaching and pleasant to use, but I noticed that the one used to lower the volume on the left earpiece is less clickable - surely a defect of my model.As for the multifunction button, you must be careful to click on its center to be sure to correctly launch the different actions.It is often necessary to grop the surface of the headphones to find it, a question of habit.

Using: sports earphones?

Like PowerBeats 3, PowerBeats Pro are headphones above all for athletes, and Beats even affirms on its site that its new headphones are "designed to revolutionize our training sessions".Revolutioning I do not know, but I must admit well conquered by their comfort of use.

It would have been enough for three freeletics sessions and an hour of running to make sure of the maintenance of the pro PowerBeats: it is simply excellent and therefore makes the headphones very pleasant to wear.We even come to wonder if these headphones should not have taken local storage, just to free ourselves from the phone during running outings.

The headphones keep in place thanks to the hoop, but do not hesitate to drive them a little more into the ears: the sound and passive insulation will obviously be better.Note that it is possible to adjust the hoop to the outline of our ear by pulling it - the headphones do not retract, but it is possible to distort the arch a little to adjust it to the outline of our ear.

The few kilometers that I traveled with the headphones were rainy and therefore gave me the opportunity to check the resistance to water (and sweat): no problems at this level.Note that even if Beats indicates that its new headphones are resistant to water and perspiration, it is not mentioned anywhere in an IP protection index.I therefore advise you not to stay in torrential rain with your pro PowerBeats - and it seems useless to advise you on a swim with it.

PowerBeats Pro did not cause me any pain during my few sports sessions, nor during my (more) Netflix breaks.Be aware that a total of four pairs of tips are present in the box, enough to satisfy as many ears as possible.The hoop was surprisingly not annoying, even after two consecutive hours of use.Remember that PowerBeats Pro remain intra-ear and that they are therefore very uncomfortable when our head is laid against a pillow.

Yes, if PowerBeats Pro are headphones dedicated to sports sessions, they still have very good intra-ear to use as classic Bluetooth flowers.They were able to accompany me perfectly in public transport or on the street.The only brakes on such uses that come in mind are their size and design: some people will surely have more difficulty with such headphones in the street.Pro PowerBeats are indeed more massive and less discreet than others, especially because of the maintenance arches.A question of taste therefore.

A surprising sound quality

In case the images of illustrations are not clear enough, pro powerbeats are so-called intra-ear headphones.Nothing to do with the AirPods so since the pro PowerBeats are made to be sunk into our ear canal, instead of staying wisely placed in the conch of our ears.If a good number of people feel a certain discomfort with the intra-ear headphones, you should know that by blocking our ear canal, they avoid the sound to go in all directions.

The intra-ear also prevents the passage of certain ambient noises (passive insulation), allowing at the same time a better sound quality-enough to avoid pushing the sound volume to hear its music in the metro.The PowerBeats Pro do not, however, have a strong passive insulation, thanks or because of the arches: they hold the whole so well that it is not necessary to insert the headphones as far as possible in the ear canal.This is good news for runners who can hear the cars, less for cast iron shooters who will hear the cries of their machine neighbor.

As for a more classic use, know that it is not possible either to hold a conversation with the earphones in the ears, but that you will unfortunately be able to hear (and not understand) your bus neighbors.

Finally, let's talk about the sound quality proposed by the pro PowerBeats.I have to admit surprised by the latter, who proved to be strangely good for a Beats product.The brand has indeed accustomed to more known products for their marketing than for their sound quality.The bass is as usual very generous, but Apple seems to have calmed the game on this aspect: they do not take over the other frequencies of the sound spectrum.

The voices are well transcribed and really pleasant to listen to, but I found the treble sometimes too hardy.Even if you get used to it fairly quickly, this type of sound signature can disturb some people during long listening sessions.But can we really criticize earphones sold for athletes?Not really.On the contrary, PowerBeats Pro offer a good mixture for training sessions: a motivating and more aggressive sound than others thanks to high energy and accentuated bass.

In addition to adapting to the different types of music that I listen to, the pro powerbeats have given me this impression of immersion several times, whether by listening to music or by watching series - no problem of latency d'somewhere else.Finally, the headphones behaved well by pushing the sound volume to the maximum and did not show distortion.

Microphones with limited performance

As with the detection of "Dis Siri", the capabilities of the microphones are quite limited on these PowerBeats Pro.In calm environments like an office or a room, the quality of the calls is more than correct: the voice is very clear and the exchange pleasant.The case is complicated in somewhat noisy circles: it was complicated to be heard by my interlocutor when I made a call in the street or on the bus.This is not really surprising, because unlike the airpods, the microphones are not pointed out: so we could not expect miracles.

Just click on the multifunction button to answer an incoming call, and follow the same approach to complete a conversation.Also be aware that each earpiece takes its own microphone, and that it is therefore possible to remove one of the headphones during a call.

Very enduring headphones

Beats promises up to a full day of autonomy for its PowerBeats Pro: 9 hours thanks to the integrated batteries in the headphones and 15 overtime thanks to the load box.Such autonomy would easily place PowerBeats Pro at the top of the classification of wireless headphones.Spoiler Alert: successful bet.Beats is one of the rare brands to communicate a theoretical autonomy lower than real autonomy.I was able to let PowerBeats Pro play music from Youtube Music at around 75 % volume for very exactly 10 hours and 50 minutes.An excellent and above all rare performance for wireless headphones.

We don't stop there: know that our model will have only taken 45 minutes to recharge completely.The brand also announces that a 5 -minute fast fuel fuel charging allows us to get 1 h 30 additional listening.Apple obtained this result in the laboratory after playing a continuous pink noise at 80 dB until the headset stops.

For my part, I followed a test protocol could not be more common to verify this figure: launch a playlist on YouTube Music with a more than reasonable sound volume (always 75 %) and wait for a headset.The latter died after 1 h 48 listening.

PowerBeats Pro therefore offer excellent autonomy and recharge fast enough to never be in the fear of breaking down.Note, however, some disappointments regarding the charging box.

The latter allows you to accommodate the headphones to recharge them or simply to protect them.Do not hesitate to apply a little strength on the headphones once stored: this will check if the connectors used for recharge are good ... connected.What was not my surprise when I discovered one morning that my left earpiece had not been recharged because badly placed in the case the day before.It is in this kind of situation that fast recharging in five minutes is appreciable.

However, the case remains easy to use and recharges thanks to the pretty black lightning cable delivered in the box.If the absence of a USB-C port does not surprise me from Apple, that of wireless recharge leaves in me a little frustration.Finally that is not really the problem, since the latter lies in the size of the case - we have indeed known much more compact in competition.Some will therefore make fun of its size (you could almost bring an AirPods case into that of PowerBeats Pro), but it is complicated to ask for the same effort to miniaturization of the AirPods on PowerBeats Pro.It must be admitted that the case is ridiculous, but remember that these are athletes for sportsmen with maintenance arches and big autonomy, and not headphones designed for everyday life.In this case, you might as well buy airpods.

If the size of the PowerBeats Pro housing will not bother athletes who go to their training with a sports bag, it will inconvenient those who wish to leave light - runners for example.Why not just put the headphones in your pocket without the case? It is doable, but know that it is impossible to manually turn the pro PowerBeats: it is imperative to store them in their box and close it.This means that even not connected to a phone, PowerBeats Pro lose battery if they are not warm in their box.Note all the same that this operating mode is common to many wireless headphones delivered with a charging box and as information, our PowerBeats Pro only lost 20 % of autonomy in five hours thanks to theH1 chip.

Quality has a price, and it hurts

PowerBeats Pro are available at a price of 249.95 euros on the Beats, Apple and Amazon website.The various brands such as Fnac, Darty or Boulanger also offer pro PowerBeats.

Note that only the black version is currently available, and that the colors “cream”, “navy” and “bottle green”, more commonly known as “white”, “blue” and “green” will soon be available.

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