Powerbeats Pro ‘Totally Wireless Earphones’ Now Official, Launch in May for $249.95

BY Evan Selleck

Published 3 Apr 2019

After being initially teased back in March, the newest truly wireless headphones from Beats are now officially official, as the Powerbeats Pro “totally wireless earphones” get unveiled.

On Wednesday, the Apple-owned Beats brand officially debuted its newest pair of headphones. The Powerbeats Pro are “totally wireless”, which means there isn’t a cable connecting the individual earphones, or a cable connecting the headphones to the phone itself. The charging case has a Lightning connector, so it’s not a wireless charging case like we saw with the second-generation AirPods.

However, the Powerbeats Pro are top-tier wireless headphones, including the Apple-designed H1 wireless chip inside for a better wireless connection and “Hey Siri” support. Beats says the new Powerbeats Pro offer up to nine hours of listening time, and, with the combined battery case, listening time can reach up to 24 hours with charges in between. There are four sizes of ear tips, making a comfortable fit for a wide range of ear sizes and shapes.

“Powerbeats Pro is a harmonious blend of premium sound, fit and functionality. Powerbeats are already the #1 fitness headphones in the world and they are now untethered, with all the benefits of the Apple H1 chip,” said Luke Wood, president of Beats. “No longer do you have to choose between performance and practicality—it delivers the best on both fronts.”

There isn’t a power button with the Powerbeats Pro, either, as they take on an AirPods-like design:

“No power button means no worries. Powerbeats Pro earphones power on when taken out of the case and power off (and charge) when placed inside. Motion accelerometers detect when the earphones are idle and not in use, automatically entering them into sleep mode.”

The Powerbeats Pro will be available in four colors: Black, Moss, Ivory, and Navy. When the new totally wireless earphones launch in May (no specific date just yet), they will retail for $249.95. The headphones will be available from Apple.com and Apple’s physical retail stores in the United States. The Powerbeats Pro will also be available in Apple Stores in “Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK”.

Apple says that additional countries and regions will see the arrival of the Powerbeats Pro later this year, but no mention of when, or where, just yet. You can find a link to the landing page for the new Powerbeats Pro through the Apple source link below.

Here’s a promo video!

Our Take

While the Powerbeats Pro feature a “totally wireless” design, it doesn’t mean that they are a direct competitor to AirPods, and sales of those headphones shouldn’t be cannibalized on a broad scale by these newer models. Powerbeats Pro are definitely designed for working out and training, while AirPods are a more casual headphone design. Having both, even though the Powerbeats Pro aren’t cheap, would definitely be an option for some customers.

Then again, at $250 and with longer battery life, the Powerbeats Pro could be the go-to option for anyone on the fence about the AirPods.

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[via Beats; Apple]