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Beats Powerbeats Pro
MOVE OVER, AIRPODS – THESE ARE APPLE’S BEST TRULY WIRELESS EARBUDS.A significant leap from 2016’s Powerbeats 3
earbuds, which were wireless but still
connected to each other by a cable, the Beats
Powerbeats Pro offers truly independent
wire-free functionality backed by incredible
sound quality and exceptional comfort. Each
earbud now has its own set of controls,
granting users the ability to control volume,
pause or skip songs, while also allowing them
to be used individually or together in stereo.
Designed primarily for use during workout
sessions (but stylish enough to wear
anywhere), each Powerbeats Pro earbud
features a rubber hook that snugly and
securely slips over your ear, making them
practically unshakeable in the process (believe
us, we really tried to shake these suckers free).
They’re also IPX4 splash-resistant, so you don’t
have to worry about sweating on them or
getting caught in the rain.
When worn, the buds themselves
ergonomically slide slightly upwards into your
ear canals, firing sound directly into your ears
with great clarity and an astounding level of
bass. And, unlike most other in-ear headphones
we’ve tested, the Powerbeats Pro buds don’t feel
invasive – you won’t have to jam them deep into
your ear holes or achieve a vacuum-like seal inorder to get the right fit or desired sound
quality. You’ll also find that unpleasant in-ear
pressure that most other wireless earbuds cause
is completely absent with the Powerbeats Pro
thanks to some clever engineering on Apple’s
part – each bud has a micro-laser barometric
venting hole in its front chamber which is said
to reduce pressure in the ear while also
improving bass.
Did we mention how good the bass is on the
Powerbeats Pro? Because the low-end on these
buds is deep and punchy in a way that only
Beats seems willing to provide. Fans of hip-hop,
EDM and R&B will be in heaven, though you
might also find that mids sound pretty great,
too. You can thank Apple’s new H1 Chip for
that improved sound quality, and that same
processor also allows for seamless swapping
between devices linked to the same iCloud
account. Don’t worry, Android users –
Powerbeats Pro works very well with
non-Apple devices, instantly pairing with
Google-powered phones.
When fully charged, the Powerbeats Pro
offers around nine hours of usage, while the
included charging case brings the total
playback time to an impressive 24 hours.
Conveniently, a quick five minute charge inthe case willprovidethebudswitharoundan
hour and ahalfoflisteningtime.If there’sone
area wherethePowerbeatsProcompares
unfavourablytoApple’sAirPods,itsthatits
charging caseis enormous– at around7.5cmx
7.5cm x 5cm,it isn’tpocketableat all,meaning
you’ll probablyneedtohavea bagwithyou
when you takethemoutofthehouse.We’ve
also foundthatconnectivitycangeta little
spotty at busy,wide-openintersections.
Minor quibblesaside,thePowerbeatsPro
are the besttrulywirelessearbudsthatBeats
has producedbya goodmargin.
[ STEPHEN LAMBRECHTS]BEATS POWERBEATS PRO
$349.95
http://www.beatsbydre.com
CRITICAL SPECS
Bluetooth 5.0, interchangeable silicone tips;
microphone; lightning cable; H1 Chip; Autoplay; Siri
compatible; 9 hours playback (24 with charging case),
Colours: Black, Ivory, Navy, moss41 / 2TESTBENCH
RADARWINNERED’sCHOICE
AWA RD