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Better Sound and Battery Life Make the Powerbeats Earphones Worthy of an Upgrade

Photo credit: Beats by Dr. Dre
Photo credit: Beats by Dr. Dre

From Best Products

We judge all headphones on a scale of 10, analyzing the categories we think are most important: sound, comfort, design, battery performance, and, if applicable, special features.

Here's how the Powerbeats High-Performance Wireless Earphones stack up.

The Powerbeats wireless earphones are the long-anticipated replacement to the brand's Powerbeats3, which debuted back in 2016. The new buds have been designed to deliver the same awesome sound and user-friendly features as the Powerbeats Pro, but with a neckband design and a more affordable price.

SCORES

Sound: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10
Design: 9/10
Battery Performance: 9/10
Overall Score: 9/10

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE POWERBEATS WIRELESS EARPHONES:

  • Same great sound as the Powerbeats Pro

  • 15 hours of battery life between charges

  • Lightning connector and fast-charging capabilities

  • IPX4 rating for water resistance

Sound: 9/10

The Powerbeats pack the same 12-millimeter audio drivers as their completely wireless siblings, meaning the sound is just as great as in the Pro model.

In addition to a powerful bass that’s the brand's signature, the buds impressed me with a well-sorted mid-range and vibrant highs. My favorite electronic and jazz albums sounded equally enchanting on the Powerbeats and delivered a sonic experience that’s both memorable and entertaining.

Photo credit: Beats by Dr. Dre
Photo credit: Beats by Dr. Dre

Equipped with Apple’s H1 chip, the Powerbeats offer the same effortless connectivity as the completely wireless Pro. Once connected with, say, your iPhone, the buds will instantly pair with all devices that use the same iCloud account.

The H1 chip also gives you the option to access Siri with voice commands. Setting the functionality up takes seconds.

During my testing, the Powerbeats unsurprisingly maintained a flawless connection with my iPhone 11 Pro. Their audio performance during telephone and FaceTime calls was also top-notch.

Comfort: 9/10

The Powerbeats are incredibly lightweight and seamlessly comfortable. They weigh a paltry 26 grams — only 6 more than the Powerbeats Pro. I found the earbuds’ fit to be equally snug and secure at work, in the gym, and during an early morning outdoor run.

The right earbud has handy volume and playback controls. Their placement is a noteworthy improvement over the in-cable setup of the outgoing Powerbeats3. The left bud has a sole button for powering on/off and Bluetooth pairing.

Design: 9/10

Save for the cable that connects them, the Powerbeats look just like the Pro variant. They have the brand’s signature shape with on-ear hooks, as well as the iconic Beats logo with a contrasting finish. There are three colors to pick from: black, white, and red.

Photo credit: Beats by Dr.  Dre
Photo credit: Beats by Dr. Dre

As expected, the earbuds have a workout-friendly design with an IPX4 rating for water resistance. The latter ensures that the Powerbeats can survive sweaty workouts as well as outdoor runs in pouring rain.

Battery Performance: 9/10

The Powerbeats have fantastic battery life. With up to 15 hours of wireless playback between charges, the earbuds will not only entertain you longer than the completely wireless Pro model, but also longer than their neckband competitors.

Photo credit: Beats by Dr. Dre
Photo credit: Beats by Dr. Dre

I tested the earbuds for more than a week and enjoyed not having to worry for days about recharging them. I also like that the Powerbeats have a Lightning connector with convenient fast-charging capabilities They’ll get you an hour’s worth of wireless tunes (enough for good workout) after only 5 minutes.

Overall Score: 9/10

The Powerbeats are a worthy successor of the Powerbeats3 and totally worth the upgrade. If you're willing to trade a little comfort for a lower price tag and a longer battery life, they're also a solid alternative to the completely wireless Powerbeats Pro. The buds’ retail package includes four sets of ear tips, a Lightning cable, and a soft carrying case.

SHOP BEATS BY DRE POWERBEATS

Read More:

More Reviews of Our Favorite Wireless Earbuds

Cheap Earbuds That Are Worthy of a Higher Price Tag

A Definitive Guide for Shopping New Beats Headphones

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