You’ll need a Lightning cable to charge the earbuds, which may be inconvenient if you don’t use other Apple products. Photograph: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Pro are sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise. Powerbeats Pro were tested under controlled laboratory conditions and have a rating of IPX4 under IEC standard 60529. Sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge wet Powerbeats Pro; refer to https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT209542 for cleaning and drying instructions. The charging case is not sweat or water resistant. Inside the box you’ll also find a small Lightning to USB Cable plus a soft carrying case and directions for the earbuds, though setup is as simple as holding them near an iOS device or pairing them via the power button to an Android device. may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Internet access is required. Cellular data charges may apply

The revamped Powerbeats are a cheap alternative to the Powerbeats Pro

It’s nice to have dedicated volume controls on a set of active earphones. The controls worked well with Android and iOS smartphones, tablets and an Apple Watch but the Powerbeats have a few compatibility issues with some other devices. While they're not the best wireless earbuds on the market, the Powerbeats are promising contenders when compared to similarly priced wireless headphones, and lightyears ahead of their original namesake that launched eight years ago. Powerbeats Pro are sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise. Powerbeats Pro were tested under controlled laboratory conditions, and have a rating of IPX4 under IEC standard 60529. Sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge wet Powerbeats Pro; refer to https://support.apple.com/en-uk/HT209542 for cleaning and drying instructions. The charging case is not sweat or water resistant. I received the Beats wireless earphones for Christmas from my Dad! I will say the hype is definitely in the name!

The volume controls didn’t work with Garmin watches, which is a known issue caused by a recent firmware update for Beats headphones. The same thing has recently broken volume controls on the PowerBeats Pro too. Garmin and Apple said they are working on a fix. Neither volume control nor the ability to pause the music worked when connected to Spotify on a Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. Usefully given the British weather, the American-made audio accessory has undergone a specific treatment to avoid being damaged by liquids. In practical terms, this means that the athlete's sweat does not constitute a threat to the integrity and quality of the product (eeew). Sweat drops will not damage the exterior appearance or internal circuits of the Powerbeats Pro Beats by Dre. When it comes to showering, it also becomes possible to place the earphones on the edge of the sink without having to store them before reusing them. Long SessionsNo outside noise whatsoever, so be careful if you're running outside to be hyper aware of your surroundings. Wish Apple would make some sort of option to use the built in mic to have a "outdoor sports mode" or something.

Siri may not be available in all languages or in all areas and features may vary by area. Internet access is required. Mobile data charges may applyApple’s H1 wireless chip, the same system built into PowerBeats Pro, AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro, enables instant-pairing and multidevice switching with all Apple-made devices plus hands-free “Hey Siri” support for the firm’s voice assistant. In terms of sound quality, the Powerbeats have a decently wide soundstage and good overall clarity in the entire audio spectrum. They match what we've heard from other earbuds around this price point but there are certainly cheaper, better-sounding alternatives out there if you're an audiophile. footnote12Beats Studio Buds are sweat and water resistant for non-water sports and exercise. Beats Studio Buds were tested under controlled laboratory conditions, and have a rating of IPX4 under IEC standard 60529. Sweat and water resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear. Do not attempt to charge wet Beats Studio Buds; refer to Apple Support for cleaning and drying instructions. The charging case is not sweat or water resistant. may not be available in all languages or in all areas, and features may vary by area. Internet access is required. Mobile data charges may apply

footnote1While using included USB-C cable with a compatible USB-enabled source device. Requires compatible lossless content from supported apps/services. Not all content is available in lossless format. If you're flexible about elements like the colour of your headphones, you'll get much more choice too. What was in the Beats sale last year? The Powerbeats are the necessary upgrade Beats needed to make for its sports-focused earbuds. These last longer than their predecessors and sound better, too. Thanks to hands-free Siri, their IPX4 rating and snug fit, they're good gym companions – and better than the AirPods for that physically fit audience. They don't fit properly therefore my ears are very sore after hours of use (listening to Audibles). I'm using the smallest ear buds provided! I figured out that the hump behind the earbuds is what is making my ears sore.conducted by Apple in March 2019 using preproduction Powerbeats Pro units and Powerbeats3 Wireless units and software paired with iPhone XS units and prerelease software. Testing consisted of transferring phone call audio from iPhone to Powerbeats Pro and Powerbeats3 Wireless. Performance depends on device settings, environment, and many factors. Testing conducted by Apple in March 2019 using pre-production Powerbeats Pro units and Powerbeats3 Wireless units and software paired with iPhone XS units and pre-release software. Testing consisted of transferring phone call audio from iPhone to Powerbeats Pro and Powerbeats3 Wireless. Performance depends on device settings, environment and many factors. It’s a streamlined and comfortable design that is super secure. You can bend the ear hooks to adjust the fit, and once twisted in place they are not coming off, no matter how hard you shake your head.