Beats and Nike Team Up on Special Edition Powerbeats Pro 2

Beats and Nike are teaming up for their first-ever hardware collaboration. The new "Powerbeats Pro 2 – Nike Special Edition" blend Beats and Nike design as part of a first-of-its-kind collaboration for Apple's Beats subsidiary.

The new Powerbeats Pro 2 feature the signature Beats "b" on the left earbud and the iconic Nike swoosh on the right earbud. Beats describes this as a "landmark design shift," marking the first time that it has ever "shared its iconic earbud real estate with a partner."

The Nike Special Edition version of Powerbeats Pro 2 comes in a matte black color paired with a "Volt-speckled" charging case. When you open that charging case, you'll see Nike's "Just Do It" tagline printed across the top.

To promote the Beats x Nike collaboration, Beats and Nike are launching a new marketing campaign with LeBron James and others:

"To accompany the launch, Beats tapped longtime brand ambassador LeBron James for a comedic campaign that proves you don't need to be perfect to play. In "Keep Your Head in The Game," James hits the green with less-than-elite golf skills—but with Powerbeats Pro 2, he tunes out the critics (played by professional golfer Tom Kim and actors Lionel Boyce and Travis "Taco" Bennett) and embraces the game on his own terms."

Specs-wise, these are the same Powerbeats Pro 2 that Beats launched last year, so they feature built-in heart rate monitoring, an in-ear design with wrap-around ear hooks, and more. Here's what I wrote in my review of Powerbeats Pro 2 last year:

"Powerbeats Pro 2 are the perfect iteration of the product line. They maintain the fan-favorite design while simultaneously making key improvements to the form factor, like the slimmer earbuds and smaller charging case. Battery life is stellar and performance is excellent thanks to the H2 chip. The secure fit is still unmatched. Even if you set aside the heart rate monitoring features, those upgrades alone would make for an excellent "Powerbeats Pro 2" revision."

The new Beats x Nike version of Powerbeats Pro 2 will be available to order on Friday, March 20 for $249.99 on Apple's website. If you don't care about the Nike aspect of the collab, you can pick up other version of Powerbeats Pro on Amazon for under $200.

This collaboration represents a significant milestone for both brands. Beats, which Apple acquired in 2014, has established itself as a major player in the audio market, particularly among athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Nike, one of the world's most recognizable sportswear brands, brings its design expertise and cultural cachet to the partnership.

The decision to place the Beats "b" on one earbud and the Nike swoosh on the other creates a visual dialogue between the two brands. This balanced approach ensures that neither brand dominates the design, instead creating a harmonious blend that represents the spirit of collaboration.

The matte black finish with volt-speckled accents is a nod to Nike's long-standing use of volt (a bright yellow-green color) in its products, particularly in its running and training lines. This colorway has become synonymous with Nike's performance-oriented products and adds a distinctive touch to the earbuds.

The inclusion of the "Just Do It" tagline inside the charging case is a clever design detail that creates a moment of discovery for users. It's a subtle way to reinforce the Nike brand presence without overwhelming the overall design.

From a technical standpoint, the Powerbeats Pro 2 maintain the features that made the original model popular, including:

• Built-in heart rate monitoring for fitness tracking
• Secure fit with wrap-around ear hooks
• H2 chip for improved performance and battery life
• Sweat and water resistance
• Spatial audio support

The heart rate monitoring feature is particularly noteworthy, as it positions these earbuds as a viable alternative to dedicated fitness trackers for many users. The ability to monitor heart rate directly from the earbuds eliminates the need for a separate chest strap or wrist-based device during workouts.

The LeBron James-led marketing campaign is strategically aligned with both brands' target audiences. James, who has been a Beats ambassador for years, represents the intersection of sports, music, and culture that both Beats and Nike have cultivated. The campaign's focus on embracing imperfection and tuning out critics resonates with the motivational messaging that both brands have used in their marketing.

This collaboration could signal the beginning of more hardware partnerships for Beats. While the company has released numerous colorways and special editions of its products, this is the first time it has partnered with another major brand on a co-designed product. The success of this collaboration could lead to similar partnerships in the future, potentially with other sportswear brands, fashion labels, or even technology companies.

For consumers, the Beats x Nike Powerbeats Pro 2 offer a unique proposition: the performance and features of the Powerbeats Pro 2 with the added cachet of Nike's design and branding. At $249.99, they're priced the same as the standard Powerbeats Pro 2, making the special edition an attractive option for fans of both brands.

However, for those who prefer a more understated look or aren't particularly invested in the Nike brand, the standard Powerbeats Pro 2 remain available at a slightly lower price point, particularly through third-party retailers like Amazon.

The Beats x Nike collaboration represents an interesting evolution in the relationship between audio technology and sportswear. As fitness and technology continue to converge, partnerships like this could become increasingly common, with audio brands teaming up with sportswear companies to create products that seamlessly blend performance, style, and technology.