Review of Beats Powerbeats - sports headphones with Apple "brains"

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The novelty with a pleasant sound and convenient control will appeal not only to athletes.

Beats is owned by Apple and has some of the tech giant's development. For example, the Apple H1 processor, which powers the AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro. The audio brand did not delay the development of the platform: first, completely wireless Powerbeats Pro appeared on its basis, and now more affordable Powerbeats. Let's find out what the new "bits" can do and how they sound.

Table of contents

• Specifications
• Design and equipment
• Connection and communication
• Control
• Sound
• Autonomy
• Outcomes

Specifications

Type of emitters	Dynamic
Platform	Apple h1
Connection	Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth protocol	AAC
Voice control	Siri, "Google Assistant"
Working hours	15 hours
Connector	Lightning
Degree of protection	IPX7

Design and equipment

The earphones are entirely made of plastic, the earhooks and the wire have a rubberized coating. The cases are voluminous, consist of two sections: all the electronics are hidden in the outer one, and the speakers are located in a kind of "growths" on the inner side. The build is excellent, with protection from moisture and sweat.

On the left case there is a power button, and on the right is a volume rocker, a round control button and a Lightning connector for charging. The last point clearly indicates with which smartphones it is better to use this model. The set includes four pairs of silicone tips, a cloth cover and a charging cable.

The headphones fit comfortably in the auricle, although at first it is difficult to put them on due to the rigid earhooks. The latter are developed over time, and already on the third day of use, there are no problems with planting. The fixation in the ears is excellent, the microphone effect from the wire is minimal. All in all, the model is ideal for running and indoor activities.

Connection and communication

Since Powerbeats use Apple's platform, the iPhone pairing process is similar to AirPods: a window with a Connect button pops up on the screen. On Android, you have to go into settings and connect manually. Fortunately, then pairing occurs automatically.

There is also a Beats app on Google Play, but all its usefulness comes down to updating the headphone software and displaying the charge. There are no sound, control and microphone settings here.

The quality of the Bluetooth connection is decent: in the apartment, the headphones keep the connection stably, even if the smartphone is in the next room. The built-in microphone is also satisfactory in headset mode.

Control

The interaction with the headphones takes place using three physical buttons, which favorably distinguishes Powerbeats from models with a touch-control. After using Samsung Galaxy Buds + and Mifo O7, such intuitive simplicity is like a balm for the soul.

In addition to the power and volume keys, there is a function button under the logo on the right case. A single press is responsible for start and pause, a double press turns on the next track, a triple press for the previous one.

Sound

Historically, the Beats have built a reputation for headphones for bassheads and electronics enthusiasts. The novelty follows the traditional recipe, although its overall presentation is more versatile than those of the very Beats by Dr. Dre.

The sound of Powerbeats can be described as warm, soft and completely stress-free. In doing so, the model creates the effect of a massive wall of sound. It lacks the finesse of detail and great separation of instruments, but who even takes a Beats for this kind of thing? The main thing here is the overall pleasant character of the sound and the rolling low frequencies.

Surprisingly, with such a low level, the middle frequencies are not bad. They are relegated to the background, and sometimes there is a strange effect, as if the drummer and bassist on stage are in front of the soloist. However, the elaboration of the voices here is much better than that of the recently tested Elari NanoPods 2. The vocals sound open and natural, the timbres are recognizable.

The high frequencies are as unobtrusive as possible. The Powerbeats don't have the sharp, metallic clink of cymbals, but they also don't have the messy distortion often found in wireless models. Of the two evils, the engineers chose the lesser, making the headphones more versatile.

The model showed itself best of all on various electronics - from Karl Cox to Chemical Brothers. Rap sounds not bad either, especially cloud with a droning bass. All kinds of rock and metal, even if they sound simplistic, are still capable of charging in the hall or on a run.

Another important plus: pronounced low frequencies, together with good noise isolation, allow you not to twist the volume on a noisy street or in transport.

Autonomy

The manufacturer claims 15 hours of battery life on a single charge. During testing, the headphones withstood five days of active use with listening to music and talking in hands free mode. Five minutes of USB charging will provide another hour of music playback, and 100% built-in rechargeable batteries take about an hour.

Outcomes

Powerbeats are sports headphones for more than just athletes. First of all, this is a comfortable headset for everyone who is tired of the dominance of completely wireless models with touch controls. And in that sense, it's amazing to see such a product from a brand owned by Apple.

Headphones are already priced at 10,990 rubles.