The new Powerbeats cost $150.
David Carnoy/CNET
When Beats released the truly wireless Powerbeats Pro last year, it was a kind of dream product for Beats headphones fans. Except for the downside of its bulky charging case, the Powerbeats Pro were essentially AirPods on steroids, with richer, more dynamic sound and better battery life — and they stayed in your ears more securely, particularly during athletic activities.
Like
- Better built than Powerbeats3 Wireless, with better sound quality
- Thicker, rounded cord between buds
- Charge via Lightning (cable included)
- Better battery life than Powerbeats Pro — up to 15 hours
- Same features as the 2019 AirPods
- Phone call quality is excellent
Don’t Like
- Plenty of very good true wireless earbuds in this price range
- May not fit some ears perfectly (tight seal is crucial to getting optimal sound)
Now Beats has gone retro on us and brought back the standard “wired/wireless” Powerbeats. (Yes, the name of the 2020 model is just “Powerbeats,” but nearly everyone is calling these fourth-generation models the “Powerbeats 4.”) These are basically the Powerbeats Pro, but there’s a cord between the buds, which are still wirelessly connected to the phone. At $150 (£130, AU$220), or $100 less than
