Beats headphones are seen as some of the finest on the market, so how do the Beats Fit Pro — the company's fitness-focused earbuds — hold up to that reputation?
I wanted to see if they're deserve a place among some of the best workout earbuds, so I took them out on my runs and strength training sessions. Heading on a run means they get repeated vibrations, so you can see if they're likely to fall out.
It's a good test, since they don't come with the over-ear earhooks you'd find on the Beats Powerbeats Pro, and you need to be sure in-ear buds aren't going to suddenly fall from your ears mid-workout, so it can be tricky to decide between the Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro.
Thankfully, the winged design meant they didn't shake loose during runs or try and escape during my strength workouts. I've not used Beats before though, so I was excited to see how they sounded.
I could hear a difference in audio quality straight away, and the noise cancellation worked well. But at this price, I was expected to be blown away by the Beats Fit Pro. As it turns out they're great, but not perfect.
Beats Fit Pro review: price and features
The Beats Fit Pro retail at $199.99/£219.99, a high price tag considering its November 2021 release date, coming in only slightly cheaper than the second-generation Apple AirPods Pro.
This is not surprising — Apple bought the fashionable headphone brand in 2014 and has offered the same high-end processors and features to its AirPods and Beats ranges. That's why the Beats Fit Pro are not that dissimilar to the AirPods Pro.
You get active noise cancellation (ANC) to block out external noises, multifunction buttons on each earbud, and wind-reduction tech built into the microphone — useful for taking calls while out running.
You can choose from Tidal Blue, Beats Black, Coral Pink, Volt Yellow, Beats White, Sage Grey and Stone Purple. And, handily, they are IPX4-rated for water resistance, so you can take them on outdoor adventures.
Beats Fit Pro review: sound quality
Aside from the striking design, the main selling point of any Beats set is the high-quality sound on offer. With first use, I immediately heard a different from my previous pair of earbuds.
The quality is much clearer and well-balanced between bass and treble, no matter where I used them. I tested the Beats Fit Pro on gym sessions and long, windy runs and each time the noise cancellation blocked out strong wind as well as gym noise.
The transparency option also aided me on a popular run route that is accompanied by both fellow runners and cyclists. My music was loud but I could still hear when a bike would approach from behind me.
However, disappointingly, the microphone's wind reduction did not work nearly as well. When attempting phone calls on a windy day or during runs, the microphone picks up the sound of the wind much stronger than my voice.
Beats Fit Pro review: design and comfort
Much like the Sennheiser Sport True Wireless, the Beats Fit Pro have a winged design that should slide easily into the curves of your ears. This helps the buds stay in place without getting uncomfortable.
This worked surprisingly well — I tested the headphones with interval runs and HIIT workouts and they never budged a bit. To help choose the right wings from the box, there's a Ear Tip Fit Test, if you use them with an iPhone.
The point of the wing tucks into the inside of your ear, which I thought would cause some discomfort over extended periods, but after testing them on a three hour run, the Fit Pro earbuds were impressively comfortable.
I really liked the on-bud button as well. It's a physical button (no touch controls!) that you can customize to turn up the volume, skip through podcasts and music, and answer calls. This was a massive help on my runs, so I didn't have to stop and adjust.
Beats Fit Pro review: battery life
You absolutely don't want your Beats Fit Pro to run out of battery mid-workout, and, in theory, they shouldn't — Apple says that you'll get six hours of use, with a further 18 from the charge case.
I found this broadly accurate, although it's hard to say definitively as the battery drain rate depends on how loud you have them, whether you take calls, and if you have ANC or transparency mode turned on.
However, I tested the earbuds for two weeks, exercising with them for at least an hour for six days each week and I've only had to charge the case once. And, when you open the case to turn the buds on, there's a pop-up on your iPhone telling you how much battery is left.
Beats Fit Pro review: user reviews
On Amazon, the Beats Fit Pro have a impressive rating of 4.5 out of five stars. This is based on 4,153 ratings worldwide. General consensus of these earbuds suggest they are nearly perfect, but they could do with some improvements.
Several reviews reported issues with the size of the silicon ear tips, suggesting smaller sizes could be included in the box. However, these earbuds were regularly recommended as a higher quality than the standard edition Apple AirPods.
Should you buy the Beats Fit Pro?
The Beats Fit Pro are an excellent option for active fans of the brand. The winged design keeps them in place during intense workouts, the audio quality was exceptional and well-balanced, and they lasted a long time.
It's a lot to like — but it's also not uncommon to find workout earbuds with features like noise cancellation, transparency mode, and a good fit that cost a lot less. It feels a lot like you're paying for the brand here.
Perhaps you're already a Beats convert, and it's not like they're substantially more than the competition, but you can get more for your money with alternatives like the Jabra Elite 7 Active or NuraTrue.
Also consider
Jabra Elite 7 Active
Like the Beats Fit Pro, the Jabra Elite 7 Active have active noise cancellation, a transparency mode, and long battery life. And there's an app for iPhone and Android to customize the audio experience.
Apple AirPods Pro
The Apple AirPods Pro aren't specifically designed for exercise, but the stemmed headphones do stay in place, work with all of Apple's devices, and link to the company's Find My app should you misplace them.
