PowerBeats 2 Pro: Heart Rate Monitoring Analysis

The heart of the question lies in the accuracy of the PowerBeats 2 Pro’s heart rate sensor. However, this wasn’t the initial query. Instead, the pertinent inquiry was whether the heart rate function, regardless of accuracy, was even usable.

After extensive testing, the results are a mixed bag. As a long-time fan of PowerBeats, the new iteration was an exciting acquisition. Yet, the heart rate functionality has proved to be a significant pain point.

This review focuses solely on the heart rate features of the PowerBeats 2 Pro. The audio quality, battery life, and aesthetics are not within the scope of this discussion.

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Heart Rate Pairing & Enablement:

Unsurprisingly, getting the PowerBeats 2 Pro to work smoothly was a challenge. The solution? Utilizing an Android device for heart rate data capture.

While both Apple and Android devices are compatible, there exists a stark difference in how the features are dealt with. On Apple devices, features like heart rate monitoring are managed via the OS settings. On Android, however, the Beats app handles it.

The earbuds are equipped with a small black sensor pod featuring green LEDs and photodiodes. Shining a light into the ear, it reads the optical changes to determine heart rate.

The green light is highly visible at night, creating an issue in darker environments.

However, it remains largely unnoticeable in daylight.

Pairing Process

Pairing the PowerBeats 2 Pro is straightforward on both Android and iOS.

On an iPhone, opening the case and keeping a device nearby triggers the pairing process.

On Android, opening the lid and holding down the button starts pairing mode.

Despite the simple process, enabling heart rate monitoring required additional steps. A short press followed by a long press on the Beats buttons activated the sensor.

Challenges Encountered

Testing on various apps and devices resulted in inconsistent performance. Many attempts failed, with devices disconnecting and showing failed pairing attempts.