After appearing in multiple leaks, the newest Powerbeats from Apple's Beats by Dre brand are now official.
The new Powerbeats feature a few upgrades over their predecessor. The first is a new design that moves the cable connecting the two earbuds to the earhook behind your ear rather than having in front, which should make them more comfortable. This cable is now round rather than flat like on the previous Powerbeats model.
Also included with the new Powerbeats is sweat and water resistance, just like the truly wireless Powerbeats Pro that Apple launched last year. Speaking of the Powerbeats Pro, Apple says that its new Powerbeats have the same sound quality as the truly wireless Powerbeats Pro.
The updated Powerbeats also have improved battery life over their predecessor. Apple says you'll get 15 hours on a single charge, up from 12 hours on the previous Powerbeats. And when you need more juice in a hurry, you can get up to 1.5 hours of playback with just a 5-minute charge.
You charge the updated Powerbeats with a Lightning cable, which is packed into the box.
Apple's H1 chip is included with the new Powerbeats so that you can summon Siri using just the "Hey Siri" hotword. If you prefer physical controls, you can answer calls, skip songs, and adjust volume directly from the earbud. And there are multiple microphones on the new Powerbeats for enhanced call performance.
The new Powerbeats will be available starting March 18th at a price of $149.95. You'll be able to get them in white, black, and red color options.
These updated Powerbeats look like a solid addition to Apple's lineup of wireless headphones. Some folks may not want truly wireless earbuds, and these new Powerbeats have a cable connecting them so that they're harder to lose. The earhooks can help keep them in place during workouts, and they're cheaper than the Powerbeats Pro but include the same sound and water resistance.
What do you think of Apple's new Powerbeats?
