Beats has announced the Powerbeats Fit, in-ear wireless earbuds designed for active use when exercising or playing sports. They’re a direct successor to and replacement for the Beats Fit Pro that came out in 2021 and claim to have better durability, comfort and sound.
The Powerbeats Fit, available now for £199.95, tweaks but retains the Fit Pro’s design, with a non-removable wingtip that’s meant to have a universal fit and tuck into any ear to keep it secure with the help of the four included ear tip sizes.
I personally struggled with fit with the Beats Fit Pro and they hurt my ears mere minutes after using them. I hope I fare better with the Powerbeats Fit. The new buds are modelled in style and colour after the Powerbeats Pro 2, the over-ear hook Beats released earlier this year.
“Reintroducing Beats Fit Pro as Powerbeats Fit — alongside Powerbeats Pro 2 — unifies our lineup under a name synonymous with athletic performance and gives customers a clearer choice between two distinct, fitness-first form factors,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Music, Sports, and Beats. “Powerbeats Fit combines the best of Beats Fit Pro with next-level comfort, durability, and portability—making it a worthy addition to the Powerbeats family.”
9.5mm drivers offer improved sound according to Beats, alongside the option for personalised spatial audio.
Beats, which is owned by Apple, said the wingtips of the Powerbeats Fit were “developed through years of research” and provide “all-day comfort”, and are 20 percent more flexible than those on the outgoing Fit Pro. The new buds also have IPX4 water resistance so they should be fine when sweating or if you get caught in the rain.
Available in Jet Black, Gravel Gray, Spark Orange, and Power Pink, the Powerbeats Fit look to be essentially AirPods Pro but in a more fitness-focussed form. They have active noise cancellation and transparency modes depending on if you want to block out external sound or let it in, plus you head tracking when paired with an iPhone.
Unlike AirPods, these buds will also quick pair with Android phones and can be tinkered with in the Beats app for Android. However don’t expect the latest AirPods features such as live translation to make their way over to the Powerbeats Fit.
Rather than being controlled via stems – as they don’t have any – the Fit have physical buttons built into each bud to handle play, pause, volume and changing between audio modes.
With a 30 hour battery life promise, I have high hopes for the Powerbeats Fit after wanting to love the Beats Fit Pro but finding the fit less than comfortable. That’s the big issue with buying in-ear wireless headphones – you can never be sure they are right for your ears. At £199.95, you’ll have to hope the Powerbeats Fit works for you.