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Beats just released the Powerbeats Fit, replacing the Beats Fit Pro that launched back in 2021. The new earbuds stick with the $200 price point but deliver improvements focused on fit and durability. For anyone who runs, lifts, or moves vigorously while listening to music, these updates address real pain points that plagued the previous generation.

The biggest change centers on the wingtip design. Beats made the wingtip 20 percent more flexible than the Beats Fit Pro, which should help the earbuds fit more securely across a wider range of ear shapes. The wingtip tucks into the concha of your ear, creating a stable anchor point that keeps the earbuds in place during movement. The Beats Fit Pro sometimes felt too rigid for smaller ears, so this flexibility improvement matters for people who found the old design uncomfortable or unstable.

Smaller Case, Same Battery Life

The charging case shrunk by 17 percent compared to the Beats Fit Pro, making it easier to slip into a pocket or small bag. Despite the size reduction, battery life stays at 30 hours total with the case, and each earbud delivers seven hours of playback per charge. Fast Fuel charging gives you an hour of playback from a five-minute charge, which helps when you forget to charge them overnight.

The case itself now carries an IPX4 water resistance rating, matching the earbuds. This means you can take the whole package through sweaty workouts or light rain without worry. The Beats Fit Pro case lacked water resistance, so this addition makes the Powerbeats Fit a more practical option for outdoor training.

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Still Using the H1 Chip

One notable aspect of the Powerbeats Fit is the continued use of Apple's H1 chip. This chip debuted in 2019, making it over six years old at launch. The H1 handles pairing, device switching, and Siri activation, and it works fine for those tasks. But it's the same chip found in the Beats Fit Pro, which means you're not getting any performance improvements on that front.

The decision to stick with the H1 instead of moving to the H2 chip found in AirPods Pro 3 likely helped Beats keep the price at $200. The H2 would have enabled better noise cancellation and more advanced audio processing, but would have pushed the price higher. For fitness-focused earbuds, Beats apparently decided the tradeoff made sense.

Sound and Features

The Powerbeats Fit include Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode, letting you block out distractions or stay aware of your surroundings. Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking works with compatible content, and Adaptive EQ adjusts the sound based on how the earbuds fit in your ears.

The audio quality focuses on balanced sound across the spectrum rather than heavy bass emphasis. Beats has moved away from the bass-heavy profile that defined its earlier products, and the Powerbeats Fit continue that trend with a more neutral tuning that works for a wider range of music genres.

Dual beamforming microphones handle call quality, using internal processing to reduce wind noise and other environmental sounds. This matters more for fitness earbuds than standard models since you're more likely to take calls outdoors or in noisy gym environments.

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Comparing to AirPods Pro 3

The Powerbeats Fit cost $50 less than the AirPods Pro 3, but they target different users. AirPods Pro 3 work for everything from workouts to desk work to casual listening, with better noise cancellation and newer audio technology. The Powerbeats Fit focus specifically on staying secure during vigorous movement, with a design that prioritizes stability over versatility.

Android users will find the Powerbeats Fit more appealing than AirPods Pro. The Beats app on Android enables one-touch pairing, customizable controls, battery status, and a fit test to help find the right ear tip size. AirPods Pro work on Android but lose many features in the process.

The Powerbeats Fit arrive in four colors: Jet Black, Gravel Gray, Spark Orange, and Power Pink. The Spark Orange matches the iPhone 17 Pro color scheme, which gives the lineup a cohesive look if you're already carrying an orange iPhone. They're available now from Apple's website and should arrive in stores this week.