Powerbeats Pro 2: everything we know about the rumored true wireless earbuds
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 could be launching soon
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IsAppleworking on the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2? It certainly looks like it, with a new pair of Beatswireless earbudsmaking an appearance in an FCC (Federal Communications Commission) filing back inMarch.
Since then, the rumored Powerbeats Pro 2 have popped up in similar filings around the world, suggesting that a follow-up to the popularBeats Powerbeats Prois on the cards.
Most recently, Apple briefly removed the Beats headphones page from itswebsite, lending credence to rumors that a new product could be announced alongside theiPhone 12– and while the Powerbeats Pro 2 never materialized, we did see the long-awaitedHomePod Mini.
Meanwhile,Apple quietly launched the Beats Flex, a new pair of neckbuds that are available in a few different colors including Beats Black and Yuzu Yellow – next year will bring in the additional colors Smoke Gray and Flame Blue.
The Beats Powerbeats Pro are among thebest true wireless earbudsyou can buy, and thanks to their long battery life, good sound quality, and smart design – including venting holes that reduce the pressure the earbuds impart on your ears – they are among thebest running headphones, too.
Details of the Powerbeats Pro 2 are scant right now, and without official confirmation from Apple, we can only guess as to details like a release date, specs, and sound quality – and some outlets are even speculating that theFCC filingonly relates to minor tweaks to the existingearbuds.
Even so, we’ve also seen somepretty hefty Powerbeats Pro discounts, suggesting that Apple could be shifting stock ahead of a release.
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Whenever the buds turn up, and whether they’re a complete overhaul or a minor tweak to the existing Powerbeats Pro, we’ve dreamt up a wish list of all the things we’d like to see from the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.
Cut to the chase
Powerbeats Pro 2 release date
Apple hasn’t announced a Powerbeats Pro 2 release date – or even confirmed their existence, for that matter – so it’s guesswork at this point.
We thought the new buds could launch atWWDC 2020, but with no new hardware announcements, the next feasible release window is on October 13, when we’re expecting to see theiPhone 12– but again, no Powerbeats Pro 2 were to be seen.
Instead, Apple announced the Beats Flex, a new pair of wireless earbuds – but it did so quietly, with no mention of the buds at the virtual event.
Powerbeats Pro 2: what we know so far
In April, Apple filed a new document with the FCC that appears to describe the Powerbeats Pro 2.
TheFCC ID BCGA2453describes ‘totally wireless high-performance earphones’ and corresponds to Apple’s model numbers A2453 and A2454 – though whether those two different model numbers corresponds to two new versions of the Powerbeats Pro remains to be seen.
Unfortunately, Apple requested that the FCC withhold external photographs, internal photographs, test setup photographs and the user manual until October, so it will be awhile before we can confirm our suspicions.
Without photos or documentation there’s not a whole lot of information available inside the brief other than the wireless frequency the earphones will operate on (2.402-2.48 GHz) and some really technical information about the kind of wireless transmitter it will have inside.
Some outlets are reporting that the FCC filing describes “a minor tweak” to the Powerbeats Pro, rather than a truly new model – perhaps in a similar vein to theAirPods (2019), which replaced the 2016 AirPods, or even as a mere software update.
MacRumorsbelieves the filing represents “a minor internal tweak to the existing models that will soon be or has already been quietly released without any announcement or changes to public-facing specs”.
So, it could be that newer Powerbeats Pro models have been given a few adjustments without any announcement from Apple. MacRumors says that, “if you’ve recently purchased Powerbeats Pro, you can check the fine print on the inside of each earpiece” to see whether they correspond with the new A2453/A2454 model numbers.
Whether the FCC filing relates to a brand new model or some minor tweaks remains to be seen. In the meantime, we’ve put together a wish list of all the things we would want to see if the Powerbeats Pro 2 actually materialize.
Can’t wait to find out? We’ve gathered the best Powerbeats Pro prices below, so you can get your hands on the original true wireless earbuds.
Powerbeats Pro 2: what we want to see
While we were big fans of the original Powerbeats Pro, there are a few features we’d like to see in their successors.
Noise cancellation
This was a pretty big omission from the Powerbeats Pro, which were only able to offer limited noise isolation without active noise cancelling technology built in. We’d like to see Apple take a leaf out of the AirPods Pro’s book, and give users the chance to block out annoying environmental sounds at the tap of a touch-sensitive housing.
Customizable sound
The Powerbeats Pro shook off Beats' reputation for overly bassy audio, offering a more neutral sound profile. While we liked the sound quality offered by the original buds, we were disappointed that Apple didn’t provide any way to alter the EQ settings, either via an app or through a series of preset sound profiles. An accompanying app with a customizable EQ would give Powerbeats Pro 2 users the option to really personalize the sound of their buds, tweaking the bass, mids, and trebles exactly to their liking.
A higher IP rating
The IPX4 waterproof rating offered by the Powerbeats Pro wasfine,but we think Apple could do better with the next generation. An IPX4-rating means the original Powerbeats Pro could take a bit of sweat, maybe an accidental splash from a water bottle or someone jumping in the pool, but imagine how great it would be if you could take them swimming?
Sleeker charging case
The charging case for the original Powerbeats Pro was a little bulky in our opinion; we’d love to see something sleeker for the Powerbeats Pro 2. A slim case is especially important for use while working out, as shorts and running leggings don’t always come with deep pockets to stuff all your gadgets into.
Longer battery life
The Powerbeats Pro have a great battery life as it is – but we’d like to see Apple push the boat out with its second gen model, perhaps taking a cue from the affordable and incredibly long-lastingLypertek Tevi.
Olivia was previously TechRadar’s Senior Editor - Home Entertainment, covering everything from headphones to TVs. Based in London, she’s a popular music graduate who worked in the music industry before finding her calling in journalism. She’s previously been interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on the subject of multi-room audio, chaired panel discussions on diversity in music festival lineups, and her bylines include T3, Stereoboard, What to Watch, Top Ten Reviews, Creative Bloq, and Croco Magazine. Olivia now has a career in PR.
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