Heart Rate Monitoring Showdown: Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 3 Tested for Real-World Use

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The integration of heart rate monitoring in true wireless earbuds represents a significant leap in wearable technology, eliminating the need for chest straps or watches during workouts. In 2025, Apple strategically released two competing solutions: the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3. Both leverage Apple's H2 chip and promise accurate biometric tracking, but as ZDNET's Jada Jones discovered through rigorous testing, their designs cater to fundamentally different user needs.

The Core Divide: Fitness Specialist vs. Everyday Performer

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Powerbeats Pro 2 (left) and AirPods Pro 3 (right). Credit: Jada Jones/ZDNET

The technical similarities are striking—both offer spatial audio, active noise cancellation, and Qi2 wireless charging at nearly identical price points ($249-$250). Yet critical differences emerge in three key areas:

  1. Form Factor & Durability: Powerbeats' signature ear hooks provide unparalleled security during high-intensity activities like weightlifting or trail running, while AirPods Pro 3's stem design prioritizes all-day comfort and pocketability with superior IP57 dust/water resistance.

  2. Ecosystem Compatibility: Powerbeats Pro 2 uniquely extends heart rate monitoring to Android users via the Beats app, while AirPods Pro 3 restrict advanced health features exclusively to iOS.

  3. Intelligent Features: AirPods Pro 3 pull ahead with adaptive audio, conversation awareness, and live translation—functionality absent from the fitness-focused Powerbeats.

Who Should Choose Powerbeats Pro 2?

  • High-Intensity Athletes: The hooks prevent dislodging during explosive movements like box jumps or kettlebell swings. As Jones notes: "Runners and cyclists benefit from not adjusting buds mid-activity when safety matters most."
  • Cross-Platform Users: Android compatibility delivers full HR monitoring—a rare concession in Apple's ecosystem
  • Supplemental Workout Gear: Ideal if you own daily-driver earbuds but need dedicated exercise companions

Who Should Choose AirPods Pro 3?

  • iOS Ecosystem Upgraders: Significant improvements over previous AirPods include 8-hour battery life, refined ANC, and the convenience of all-in-one health tracking
  • Urban Professionals: Conversation awareness and pocketable design excel in office-commute-gym transitions
  • Durability Demanders: IP57 rating withstands bag debris and accidental water exposure better than Powerbeats' IPX4

The Heart of the Matter

This isn't merely an earbud comparison—it's a reflection of how wearable technology is bifurcating. The Powerbeats Pro 2 exemplifies specialized fitness instrumentation, prioritizing unshakeable biometric capture during movement. Meanwhile, AirPods Pro 3 represent the convergence play: competent workout companions that disappear into daily life. For developers, this signals two approaches to sensor integration: task-optimized hardware versus ambient computing. As biometric earbuds evolve, the choice ultimately maps to your movement patterns: if your life demands athletic rigor, Powerbeats' hooks hold the advantage. If you seek seamless transitions between environments, AirPods' intelligence prevails.

Source: ZDNET. Tested by Jada Jones.