Upgraded watchOS 26 by Apple transforms Beats' leading earbuds into health and fitness partners, offering heart rate and step tracking features.
In a move to strengthen its sports wearable offerings, Apple has released an upgrade for the Powerbeats Pro 2, transforming the sporty true wireless buds into fitness-focused devices.
The latest update, which was conducted alongside the release of iOS 26 and watchOS 26 on September 15, 2025, brings a host of new features to the Powerbeats Pro 2. These enhancements bring the earbuds closer to devices like the AirPods Pro 2 and some specialist sports headphones in terms of features.
One of the key additions is Siri Interactions, allowing for hands-free controls. Users can now nod to accept a call and shake to dismiss a notification. The update also improves heart-rate monitoring, calorie tracking, and step counts, offering a more accurate and comprehensive fitness experience.
For those who prefer to keep one ear free, the Powerbeats Pro 2 now allows for tracking heart rate from a single bud. Additionally, the earbuds can pair with an Apple Watch for improved heart-rate data accuracy.
The upgrade extends the capabilities of Powerbeats Pro 2, making them a serious sports wearable. They can now measure heart rate and calories burned with better accuracy across 50 different workout types in the Fitness app with watchOS 26 and iOS 26. A new algorithm in the update speeds up heart-rate detection on Powerbeats Pro 2.
Apple Fitness+ subscribers will benefit from real-time display of heart rate and calorie numbers, including the Burn Bar, directly from the Powerbeats Pro 2 buds. Moreover, the earbuds can send notifications if the fit isn't suitable for accurate heart-rate tracking.
Interestingly, Apple is offering these fitness-focused features for the Powerbeats Pro 2, a surprise as most expected them to be exclusive to AirPods. It seems Apple is committed to providing a wide range of options for its users.
It's worth noting that Apple may have discontinued the Apple Watch Series 11 this year, suggesting a focus on more advanced wearable technology. Updating Powerbeats Pro 2 is recommended as they have significantly improved with the latest update.
Step counting is now available on Powerbeats Pro 2 when the iPhone is nearby but not on the user, further enhancing their fitness capabilities. With these improvements, Powerbeats Pro 2 are poised to become a formidable competitor in the sports wearable market.
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