Beats Powerbeats Pro

Some of the best headphones you can buy

$249.95 From Apple, apple.com

Features Wireless, Bluetooth, Siri, Fast Fuel charge, sweat– and water–resistant, four ear–tip sizes

They may look a bit like previous Powerbeats, but the latest incarnation of these truly wireless buds are unique in form. They push upwards and into the inner ear, while the hooks support them from above. Anyone used to in–ear buds will find them comfortable and secure.

There are music/call controls and volume controls on both buds, which is a huge boon during workouts. This ambidextrous approach continues with the pairing process. Put one bud in and press play or talk to Siri, or take a call, and it’ll work. Take that one out and put the other in, and it’ll work the same. Put both earbuds in, and they’ll pair like that and deliver stereo audio (or dual mono if we’re talking calls and talking to Siri).

Beats claims nine hours per charge, and the case means you can get 24 hours of playback in total. (A five–minute Fast Fuel option will also give you 1.5 hours of playback when the battery is low.)

While the noise–excluding, unmovable–yet– comfortable fit is handy in the gym or running, they’re not made for use in a pool or open water. They’re water– and sweat–resistant, but not intended for swimming.

Prior to the Apple takeover, the Beats headphone range sounded remarkably mediocre. That changed with 2017’s noise– cancelling Studio3 Wireless, which are now

closer to the likes of Bose’s QuietComfort 35, and the noticeable audio improvement continues with the Powerbeats Pro.

In fact, the combination of the way they fit — blocking out a lot of external noise and preventing variations in sound quality caused by buds shifting in your ear — and the driver technology used means the Powerbeats Pro sound as good in all conditions as any in–ear headphones at this price that we’ve tried.

Beats by Dre headphones also used to be notorious for over–reliance on bass. Powerbeats Pro certainly don’t lack bottom end, but there’s much more going on here. They sound epic with rock, hip–hop, pop and electronic music, but there’s enough subtlety to carry off jazz, classical and acoustic too.

Any negatives? There’s a tiny bit of boom at times when running hard, but all buds do that and Powerbeats Pro do it less than most.

For voice calls, Siri use, and the kind of all–day wearability that a lot of people look for from buds, Powerbeats Pro are good. However, their deep fit means they can’t be used in quite the same way as AirPods. The sound–blocking fit means you aren’t left with much situational awareness, but you can opt to use one at a time.

the bottom line. The best workout headphones on the market. They crumple all rivals, including AirPods.