Powerbeats Pro 2 Faces Criticism for Heart Rate Tracking Limitations

Apple's new earbuds cannot play music while tracking heart rate on gym equipment and show inconsistent performance within its own ecosystem.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds, released on February 11, are Apple’s first audio product with heart rate monitoring functionality.
Users and reviewers report that the earbuds cannot simultaneously play music from an iPhone and track heart rate on gym equipment via Bluetooth, a limitation confirmed by Apple.
Heart rate tracking performance is more reliable on Android devices, while issues with iOS apps, including Strava and Zwift, have been widely reported.
Critics also highlight inaccuracies in heart rate readings, with data dropouts observed during various workout activities.
Despite Apple subjecting the earbuds to extensive testing, the real-world functionality falls short of expectations, particularly for athletes using Apple’s ecosystem.