Powerbeats Pro 2 to Get New Fitness Features in IOS 26
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After Apple’s “Awe Dropping” event this week, you might think that the AirPods Pro 3 are the best fitness headphones for your iPhone. That might be true, but Apple is selling another pair of “pro” headphones that might be more interesting to you, especially if you find that your regular earbuds tend to fall out of your ears.
Earlier this year, Apple released the Powerbeat Pro 2 , offering AirPods-like features in a package that might be more appealing to fitness enthusiasts. Like the AirPods Pro, the Powerbeats Pro 2 feature noise-canceling and transparency mode, but unlike the AirPods, these earbuds feature over-the-ear hooks to keep them securely in your ears. The Powerbeats Pro 2 are also the first Apple earbuds to feature a built-in heart rate monitor, though Lifehacker senior health editor Beth Skuerecki found the sensor unreliable .
The AirPods Pro 3 also come with a heart rate monitor and some new features like Fitness app integration. But just because the Powerbeats Pro 2 didn’t come with some of these fitness features doesn’t mean you need the latest AirPods to use them. Beats shared with 9to5Mac some details on some of the new iOS 26 features coming to the Powerbeats Pro 2, which should be good news for anyone who’s already picked up a pair of earbuds this year.
Here’s what you can expect:
Apple Fitness app integration
Like the AirPods Pro 3, the Powerbeats Pro 2 now let you track workouts through the Fitness app. 9to5Mac reports that you can start one of 50 different workout types on your iPhone and track your heart rate with the Powerbeats Pro 2.
Apple Fitness+ integration
By subscribing to Apple Fitness+, you can track and view your heart rate and calories burned in real time, as well as a Burn Bar that lets you compare your efforts to those of others in the same workout. This data will, of course, come from your Powerbeats Pro 2.
Heart rate data
The Powerbeats Pro 2 will use “multiple sources of heart rate data” to improve accuracy. A larger algorithm update is also expected for iOS and Android, which will improve performance and speed up heart rate measurements. Users will also receive notifications to adjust the fit of the earbuds for more accurate heart rate tracking.
Beats doesn’t seem to be specifying exactly what the changes to the algorithm are, but it could help address the issues Beth encountered while reviewing the headphones.
Track your heart rate with one earbud
In addition to these improvements, you will be able to track your heart rate using just one earbud. We will have to test this feature to see how much more reliable it is than using two earbuds at the same time.
Step counter
With iOS 26, the Powerbeats Pro 2 will be able to track your steps without an Apple Watch or iPhone. I never thought that all other fitness trackers could be completely replaced by headphones, but that seems to be what Beats is going for.
Gestures without hands
After updating your iPhone, you can control Siri with hands-free gestures using Powerbeats Pro 2, similar to some AirPods. For example, nod your head in agreement or shake your head in refusal when Siri asks about incoming calls and messages.