Apple’s (AAPL) Beats brand debuted its Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds on Tuesday, the first such pair of earpieces to include built-in heart rate monitoring sensors.
On store shelves on Feb. 13 for $249, the buds feature improved audio capabilities and battery life, as well as a host of upgrades found in Apple’s own AirPods line of buds. The Powerbeats Pro 2 also have improved ear hooks that Beats says will help them sit more snugly in users’ ears.
The earbuds should help drive more revenue in Apple’s wearables segment, which, like its iPhone business, declined in sales year over year in its most recent quarter.
The company reported Wearables revenue of $11.7 billion, down from $11.9 billion in the same period last year. Apple’s iPhone made up the bulk of its sales, topping out at $69.1 billion, down from $69.7 billion in Q1 2024. Total revenue came in at $124.3 billion.
The Powerbeats Pro 2’s biggest selling point is its built-in heart rate sensors. Rumors have swirled for years that Apple would introduce heart rate monitoring functionality to its AirPods, but the technology is coming to the Beats brand first.
The monitors use LED optical sensors that pulse light 100 times per second to measure your heart rate and send the information to fitness apps, including Open, Peloton, Runna, Slopes, Ladder, Nike Run Club, and YaoYao. Apple says heart rate monitoring won’t be compatible with its Apple Fitness+ workout app at launch, but you’ll still be able to check your heart rate in the Apple Health app.
Apple says it developed the heart rate monitor by miniaturizing the capabilities of technology from the Apple Watch, using a custom design and algorithm to fit it into the earbuds. The idea is to give customers the ability to track their heart rate while working out without having to wear a smartwatch or chest strap.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 also have active noise canceling and transparency listening options. Active noise canceling uses the earbuds’ microphones and audio drivers to provide a clearer listening experience if you’re, say, on a crowded subway or a noisy office.
Transparency mode does the opposite. It enhances ambient noise, so you can be more aware of your surroundings while still listening to your music. It’s great when you’re out for a run and want to listen to your favorite mix while still being able to listen for cars, or if you want to ensure you can hear your boss call out your name in the office without having to turn off your tunes.
Because the Powerbeats Pro 2 fall under Apple’s Beats brand, they work well with Android phones, so you get the same functionality from the listening modes and heart rate sensor if you’re a Google (GOOG) fan.
