Totally wireless, Beats-branded Powerbeats Pro sporty earphones will be available to pre-order from Apple.com beginning this coming Friday at 7am Pacific Time in the United States and Canada ahead of in-store availability starting Friday, May 10.
That’s according to 9to5Mac’s Zac Hall.
Joining existing Powerbeats 3 model, the new Powerbeats Pro have no wire between them, include physical controls, have longer battery life with up to nine hours of listening time and provide features like Hey Siri along with more reliable Bluetooth connections and faster device switching, courtesy of Apple’s new custom headphone chip, dubbed the H1.
The earphones feature enhanced sound thanks to an upgraded linear piston driver that leverages a pressurized airflow to create a powerful acoustic response in a small package, resulting in low distortion and great dynamic range across the entire frequency curve.
Announced earlier this month, the $250 earbuds are positioned in the high-end tier of true wireless earbuds but that doesn’t mean they’re the most expensive, with Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8 ($300), Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless ($300) and Master and Dynamic MW07 ($299) all costing more than the new Powerbeats.
Powerbeats Pro shouldn’t cannibalize AirPods because they’re designed for fitness buffs and offer sweat resistance while AirPods are just perfect all-around earbuds.
“Totally wireless Powerbeats Pro earphones are built to revolutionize your workouts,” Beats has it. “With zero wires to hold you back and a reinforced design for sweat and water resistance.”
Powerbeats Pro are available in Black, Ivory, Moss and Navy.
If you’re not interested in them, and couldn’t care less about AirPods, save your money because Apple is working on its own Jony Ive-designed premium on-ear headphones.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, that product will use Apple branding and be a higher-end alternative to the company’s Beats line.
Are you planning on treating yourself to a new pair of Powerbeats Pro?
Let us know in the comments!