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Beats updated its earbuds catalog in mid-2023 with the Beats Studio Buds Plus. While these buds boast over eight hours of battery life, 20dB of noise canceling, and Beats’ “signature” sound profile, they fell slightly short of the price. On the other hand, the Beats Fit Pro are still the company’s most accomplished addition to its earbuds portfolio. They are comfortable to wear, come in a selection of vibrant colors, and boast excellent ANC. It is no wonder iOS and Android users are eager to get their hands on Beats’ next-gen upgrade. We have gathered everything we know about the Beats Fit Pro 2 and what we want to see from the company’s next wireless earbuds.

Will there be a Beats Fit Pro 2?

There has been no official announcement from either Beats or Apple — Beats’ parent company — about the release of the Beats Fit Pro 2. However, we fully expect the next-gen upgrade will come to fruition in 2023 or 2024 at the very latest.

Beats has been consistently updating its earbuds brands over the last few years, with the most recent Studio Buds Plus hitting shelves as recently as May 17, 2023. However, despite this more up-to-date release, Beats still appears invested in its Fit Pro series. This point was made even more abundantly when the company announced new colors for the Fits Pro earlier this year, adding Tidal Blue, Volt Yellow, and Coral Pink to the mix. It seems an appropriate time to get excited about an update to Beats’ favorite wireless earbuds.

What is the Beats Fit Pro 2 release date?

• Beats Powerbeats Pro — May 10, 2019
• Beats Studio Buds — June 24, 2021
• Beats Fit Pro — November 1, 2021
• Beats Studio Buds Plus — May 17, 2023

Although Beats favors Autumn releases for its on-ear headphones, it usually launches its wireless earbuds in the Summer. That said, the original Beats Fit Pro made an exception to this rule, launching five months after the Beats Studio Buds on November 1, 2021. This also coincided with the discontinuation of the Beats Solo Pro on the same day. Considering the company launched the Studio Buds Plus in May of this year, we expect to see the next-gen Fits Pro 2 come to shelves in the fall of 2023.

It is also worth noting that Beats has kept to a fairly strict regimen of releasing its earbuds within a two-year window. For example, there was a two-year wait between the Beats Powerbeats Pro and the Beats Fit Pro. There was also a two-year gap between the release of the Studio Buds and Studio Buds Plus. Provided that Beats sticks to its previous schedule, this fall will likely be when we will see the Beats Fit Pro 2 unveiled.

What specs and features will the Beats Fit Pro 2 have?

Below is everything we have gathered about the Beats Fit Pro 2 based on market trends, industry expectations, and what we know about Apple’s subsidiary Beats.

Design

The original Beats Fit Pro owned the best features of the Powerbeats Pro and the Studio Buds, prioritizing noise canceling while sporting a workout-friendly design. However, the Beats Fit Pro did away with the Powerbeats Pro ear hooks, instead opting for smaller and more convenient ear wings. This helped the Fit Pro achieve a smaller form factor, making the buds easier to transport and to fit into trouser pockets. This marked a vast improvement upon the almost comical size of the Powerbeats Pro and is something we expect the next-gen upgrade will continue.

We do not see Beats changing an already winning formula with its updated wireless earbuds. The Beats Fit Pro are already incredibly stable, comfortable, and cross-compatible. The only addition we may see is the inclusion of extra-small ear tips like Apple did with the AirPods Pro 2. This allows users with smaller ear canals to achieve better isolation and is an addition often missed by many competitors on the market. Furthermore, the Fit Pro 2 will likely retain the same clamshell charging case with USB-C charging support. As with all Beats earbud designs, there will be a selection of vibrant colors, although we do not expect a translucent option for the Beats Fit Pro 2 like the one sported by the Studio Buds Plus.

Specs and features

Like all modern earbud upgrades, we expect the Fit Pro 2 to boast even better ANC than their predecessors. If Beats can bring even stronger noise canceling, the Beats Fit Pro 2 could become a compelling alternative to current industry leaders such as the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, Sony WF-1000XM5, and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2. The Beats Fit Pro already stands out as one of the most comfortable ANC-ready workout earbuds on the market. If Beats can row back on its bass-heavy “signature” sound, the Fit Pro 2 could sound better for a broader range of music genres. It may also make the earbuds easier to wear for long periods without suffering ear fatigue from excess volume and overly prominent bass frequencies.

We expect the Fit Pro 2 to launch housing Apple’s H1 chip. Not only does this follow on from the original Beats Fit Pro, but it also gives Apple’s flagship AirPods Pro 2 a longer shelf life. If that is the case, users will benefit from “Hey Siri” voice assistant, battery optimization, spatial audio with head tracking, and automatic switching between iCloud devices. However, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that we may see the Beats Fit Pro 2 house Apple’s updated H2 chip. If so, users can expect Apple’s “high bandwidth connectivity,” Adaptive Transparency mode, improved battery life, and better noise canceling.

Unlike many Apple products, Beats has offered an olive branch to Android users in recent years. Both the original Fit Pro and Studio Buds stood out amongst the rest for their Android-friendly feature set. More recently, we have seen the integration of Google Find My Device and Audio Switching features on Android for the Studio Buds Plus. We like to think that the second-generation Fit Pro will continue this trend when they come to market. However, this is not guaranteed, given that Android-friendly features are easier to implement for Beats’ Studio Buds series due to the lack of Apple’s proprietary W1 and H1 chips. We will have to wait and see if the Beats Fit Pro 2 will play nicely on Android.

Beats is a subsidiary of Apple, meaning the Fit Pro 2 will only likely receive SBC and AAC Bluetooth codec support. That spells good news for iPhone users, as AAC supplies reliable, high-quality audio streaming to Apple devices. However, AAC is historically more volatile on Android, meaning some Android users may need to fall back on the default SBC Bluetooth codec. While it would be incredibly welcome to see the Beats Fit Pro 2 support Qualcomm’s aptX codec, we do not expect this to happen. That means Android users may notice audio-visual lag while watching videos with the Fit Pro 2 and will not have a high-quality wireless connection to choose from.

What will the Beats Fit Pro 2 price be?

• Beats Powerbeats Pro — $249
• Beats Studio Buds — $149
• Beats Fit Pro — $199
• Beats Studio Buds Plus — $169

Surprisingly, there was a $50 price drop between the Beats Powerbeats Pro and the original Fit Pro at launch. While it would be welcome news if Beats were to launch the Beats Fit Pro 2 around the $199 mark, it is much more likely that they will follow the price trend of the Studio Buds. The Studio Buds Plus cost $169 at launch, which marked a 13% increase from the original Studio Buds price tag of $149. If Beats’ next-gen earbuds follow suit, we can expect to see the Beats Fit Pro 2 come to shelves with a price tag between $219 and $229.

With the original Beats Fit Pro having struck such a harmonious chord, it is hard to know whether it is worth spending extra money on the next-gen upgrade. You can fetch the first-generation Fit Pro buds for roughly $199 ($159 at Amazon) — considerably less than we envisage the Beats Fit Pro 2 launching for. Additionally, there are many other earbuds to choose from that offer excellent value and top-of-the-range features.

That said, the Beats Fit Pro remain popular among iOS and Android users alike. In addition to offering a wide range of pleasing colors, the first-generation Fit Pro buds are incredibly comfortable. The angled wing tips are a great addition for those who need secure earbuds that will not come loose during rigorous exercise. The Beats Fit Pro also provide up to six hours of ANC-enabled audio playback and one hour of listening time from just five minutes of Fast Fuel charging. Adaptive ANC adjusts the level of noise canceling in real time, which helps to protect users’ ears from potentially harmful levels of sound.

iPhone users can take full advantage of the Beats Fit Pro H1 chip, gaining access to the “Hey Siri” voice assistant, spatial audio, and more. That said, the first-generation Fit Pro are expensive compared to other workout buds on the market, such as the Jabra Elite 7 Active ($179 at Amazon) and Bose Sport Earbuds ($165 at Amazon.) They also have well-known ANC and firmware update issues that differ for each device. The case adorns a USB-C port instead of Apple’s proprietary Lightning input, but the charging case feels uncomfortably large and flimsy. The USB-C cable in the box is also comedically short, meaning users will likely have to spend more money to purchase a suitably long charging cable. Finally, the magnets keep the charging case lid shut well enough, but there is a 50/50 chance it will pop open and spill your buds across the ground if you drop the case.

The most obvious alternative to the Beats Fit Pro for iPhone users is the Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation), which you can fetch for (on the product’s website). These buds share many of the same features as the Fit Pro, including spatial audio, an ear tip fit test, an IPX4 rating, and onboard controls. However, unlike the Fit Pro, the AirPods Pro have a stemmed earbud design and no wing tips. Also, at the time of writing, there is no AirPods Pro app that works on Android. Nevertheless, the buds benefit from impressive ANC, MagSafe wireless charging, and good sound quality. The original AirPods Pro are still popular, offering good value for money.

Those with some extra cash in their wallets may want to consider upgrading to the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) for ($199 at Amazon.) While these buds are more expensive and share similar noise canceling to the Beats Fit Pro, the AirPods Pro 2 reproduces a more pleasing and consistent sound profile. Both buds use Apple’s Adaptive EQ technology, but the AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) has a less bass-heavy response than the Fit Pro. They also benefit from a more comfortable fit, swipe controls, and an IPX4 rating for the buds and the case. The AirPods Pro 2 case also hosts Apple’s U1 chip for use with the Find My app, a built-in speaker, and a lanyard loop for better transportation.

If working out is top of your agenda, the Beats Powerbeats Pro are good workout buds, albeit with a heftier price tag ($165 at Amazon.) For the money, you gain ear hooks for a secure and comfortable fit, over 10 hours of battery life, Apple’s H1 chip, an IPX4 rating to protect against sweat, and an above-average sounding microphone. However, ANC is missing here, so you are better off spending time making sure the earbuds are suitably fitted to block out distracting environmental sounds.

Staying within the Beats ecosystem, the next obvious option is the Beats Studio Buds, which retail at ($99 at Amazon.) Smaller than their counterparts, the Beats Studio Buds offer iOS and Android users multiple listening modes, customizable controls, and a comfortable and lightweight design. The sound quality is also less bass-heavy than other Beats earbuds, which may suit those who desire a more balanced frequency response. However, these buds only provide enough power for just over four hours of audio playback with ANC activated. They also lack the spatial audio feature and stabilizing wing tips, and the ANC is mediocre at best.

Beats Fit Pro 2: What we want to see

The Beats Fit Pro are arguably the strongest string in Beats’ bow to date, bringing to the fore a stable and comfortable fit, superior noise canceling, and cross-platform compatibility. However, there is always room for improvement, and the Beats Fit Pro are no exception to this rule. Here is everything we want to see from the updated Beats Fit Pro 2.

Custom EQ in the mobile app

Sony, Bose, Nothing, Google, and many other competitors are comfortable providing a custom equalizer in their respective apps. On the other hand, Apple continues to keep its cards close to its chest, especially when it comes to Android. While we would love the Beats Fit Pro 2 to come fully equipped with a multiband EQ in the Beats app for Android, we doubt we will see it.

If Apple can prove us wrong here, we could see listeners fine-tune their sound to their individual preferences and chosen media platforms. For example, a custom EQ in the Beats and iOS settings app could reduce the overly present bass response of the Fit Pro. This could make listening to music with more nuances and timbre, such as classical and jazz, more pleasing. It could also help to reduce sub-bass frequencies when watching action movies so that dialogue is more easily audible. When listening to podcasts, users could boost mid-high frequencies to make voices sound more prominent.

If the Beats Fit Pro 2 fails to include a custom EQ at launch, users must stick to a third-party EQ app or adjust the built-in EQ in their chosen music streaming app to alter their sound.

Adaptive transparency mode

The Beats Fit Pro enjoys Apple’s Transparency mode, helping users achieve a safer listening experience by allowing the simultaneous streaming of music playback and environmental pass-through. While Transparency mode is a welcome and increasingly popular feature, we would love to see the Beats Fit Pro 2 champion Apple’s newer Adaptive Transparency mode.

Both Transparency mode and Adaptive Transparency mode are great for protecting your audio stream from unwanted environmental noise. However, the latter more intelligently reduces the volume of unpredictable and loud sounds. This creates a more pleasing listening experience while reducing the prominence of sudden sounds from interrupting your mix. You can still hear ambient street sounds with Adaptive Transparency mode activated, but abrupt bursts of noise will be dampened.

Better sound quality

When earbuds are billed as workout buds, it is commonplace to boast a bass-heavy sound profile. The Beats Fit Pro are no different, and we expect the Beats Fit Pro 2 to follow suit.

It is worth noting that this is not a bad thing. Most athletes prefer more bass when exercising as it masks unwanted environmental sounds. However, the Beats Fit Pro 2 could reproduce a better balance between the sub-bass and mid-range frequencies. This would help them to achieve a more versatile soundscape that allows vocals to shine through the mix. Ideally, the Beats Fit Pro 2 will have a frequency response curve that follows the pink line of the Target Curve in the chart above. This would reproduce pleasing bass frequencies without being twice as loud as vocals and important instrumental content.

Improved microphone quality

We should see better microphone quality built into the Fit Pro 2 than the original Fit Pro earbuds. This is because we saw a significant improvement in microphone quality between the Studio Buds and the Studio Buds Plus. This was especially true when considering their ability to block unwanted background noise.

The Beats Fit Pro works well for conference calls inside a quiet room. However, when taking a call outside, the listener on the other end will hear a lot of background noise. Provided the updated Fit Pro 2 can make some improvements to blocking out unwanted sounds, such as wind and traffic, we expect the next-gen upgrade will boast good-sounding microphone audio quality.

Longer battery life and wireless charging

Without a doubt, the 10 hours of battery life boasted by the PowerBeats Pro is remarkable. On average, users expect true wireless earbuds to hold charge for approximately five hours. While the Fit Pro 2 is already clear of this mark — boasting up to six hours of battery life with ANC activated — they would stand should-to-should with the PowerBeats Pro if they can achieve closer to nine hours. This would also set them apart from most other flagship buds on the market, especially if they can improve upon the 18 hours of juice provided by the original Fit Pro charging case.

However, Beats will have to adopt wireless charging into its next-gen buds to capture the workout earbud market by storm. Nowadays, users expect wireless charging when buying flagship buds. In fact, you can often find wireless charging features for earbuds that cost closer to $100. If Beats intends to launch the Fit Pro 2 for more than $199, there is no good reason for omitting wireless charging. MagSafe charging, in particular, would make the Beats Fit Pro 2 competitive.

A dust-resistant IP rating

It can’t be understated that the Beats Fit Pro are one of the most compelling workout buds on the market to date. However, while their IPX4 water-resistant rating is likely good enough for most athletes, a dust-resistant design would make them appropriate for all sports. It would also make them a more competitive choice, given that most workout buds now host a dust-resistant IP rating. That’s because sports such as rock climbing and dirt biking have become even more popular over recent years. That’s in addition to sports that use chalk or take place on the beach, such as bouldering and volleyball. Beats could scoop up a lot of new fans if it implements a dust-resistant design for its next-gen Fit Pro 2.

A smaller and more compact charging case

The whole reason for buying true wireless earbuds is to achieve portable and tangle-free music listening on the go. Yet it is frustrating having to carry around a bulky charging case that is just a little too big to fit comfortably in your trouser pocket. This is the case with the original Beats Fit Pro, and something we hope will not be repeated with the updated Fit Pro 2.

While we expect the Beats Fit Pro 2 will boast improved battery life, we also hope the charging case will be smaller than their predecessor. This would bring it closer in line with its cousin, the AirPods Pro 2, and would make the Fit Pro 2 as portable as the Jabra Elite 7 Active.