Apple’s Powerbeats Pro 2, introduced in February 2025, marked a significant advancement in wireless earbuds by incorporating heart rate monitoring—a feature that was notably absent in earlier models. This innovation positioned the Powerbeats Pro 2 as a compelling choice for fitness enthusiasts seeking integrated health tracking within their audio devices.
Upon its initial release, the heart rate monitoring capabilities of the Powerbeats Pro 2 were somewhat limited. Users could measure their heart rate during workouts, but the data lacked integration with Apple’s broader fitness ecosystem. Specifically, there was no direct synchronization with the Apple Fitness app or Apple Fitness+, and the earbuds couldn’t share heart rate data with the Apple Watch. This siloed functionality restricted users from obtaining a comprehensive view of their health metrics across devices.
With the rollout of iOS 26, Apple has addressed these limitations, significantly enhancing the Powerbeats Pro 2’s fitness features:
– Apple Fitness App Integration: Users can now initiate workouts via the Apple Fitness app on their iPhone and monitor real-time heart rate data captured by the Powerbeats Pro 2. This integration supports over 50 different workout types, aligning the earbuds’ functionality with that of the newly released AirPods Pro 3.
– Apple Fitness+ Compatibility: The Powerbeats Pro 2 now seamlessly integrate with Apple Fitness+, allowing users to view real-time on-screen metrics such as heart rate, calories burned, and the Burn Bar during guided workouts. This feature enhances the interactive experience of Fitness+ sessions, providing users with immediate feedback on their performance.
– Enhanced Heart Rate Data Accuracy: By collaborating with the Apple Watch, the Powerbeats Pro 2 offer multiple sources of heart rate data, improving overall accuracy during various workout types. This dual-source data collection ensures more reliable and precise heart rate monitoring.
– Independent Step Counting: In scenarios where users might not have their iPhone or Apple Watch, the Powerbeats Pro 2 can now independently count steps. This feature ensures that users’ activity data remains comprehensive, even when other devices are unavailable.
Beyond these integrations, iOS 26 introduces broader enhancements to the Powerbeats Pro 2’s heart rate monitoring capabilities:
– Optimized Heart Rate Algorithm: A newly developed algorithm delivers faster and more accurate heart rate readings. This improvement is not exclusive to iOS users; Android users will also benefit from this enhanced performance.
– Fit Adjustment Notifications: To ensure optimal heart rate tracking, users will receive notifications suggesting adjustments to the fit of their Powerbeats Pro 2. Proper fit is crucial for accurate sensor readings, and this feature guides users to achieve the best possible fit. This update is also available for Android users.
– Single-Bud Heart Rate Tracking: Users can now monitor their heart rate even when wearing only one earbud. This flexibility accommodates various usage scenarios, such as when users prefer to keep one ear open to their surroundings.
In addition to fitness-related enhancements, the Powerbeats Pro 2 now support hands-free gestures with Siri. Users can respond to incoming calls, texts, and other notifications by simply nodding their head to indicate yes or shaking it to indicate no. This intuitive feature adds a layer of convenience, allowing users to manage notifications without physical interaction with their devices.
These updates position the Powerbeats Pro 2 as a formidable alternative to the AirPods Pro 3, especially for users who prefer the secure fit of an ear-hook design. Moreover, with a current price point $50 lower than the AirPods Pro 3 on Amazon, the Powerbeats Pro 2 offer a compelling combination of advanced features and value.
In summary, the iOS 26 update significantly elevates the Powerbeats Pro 2’s functionality, particularly in the realm of fitness tracking. The integration with Apple’s fitness ecosystem, improved heart rate monitoring accuracy, and the addition of intuitive controls enhance the user experience, making the Powerbeats Pro 2 a top choice for fitness enthusiasts and general users alike.
