Powerbeats Pro 2 vs QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
Both the Powerbeats Pro 2 and the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) sit in the premium wireless earbuds class, and Beats and Bose are clearly watching each other. The spec sheets tilt toward the Powerbeats Pro 2, which leads in 2 of 3 areas and opens its biggest gap on battery & charging.
At a glance
- Sound & Noise Cancelling Tie
- Battery & Charging Powerbeats Pro 2 wins
- Features & Connectivity Powerbeats Pro 2 wins
- Price Powerbeats Pro 2 wins
- Sound & Noise Cancelling10.0
- Battery & Charging8.2
- Sound & Noise Cancelling10.0
- Battery & Charging3.0
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The Powerbeats Pro 2 has 2 h more listening per charge
If battery (single charge) is one of your priorities, this settles it: the Powerbeats Pro 2 leads clearly with 8 h to the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)’s 6 h. Longer listening per charge matters on long flights, workdays and road trips.
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The Powerbeats Pro 2 has 12 h more total battery with the case
The numbers aren’t close. The Powerbeats Pro 2 lists 36 h for battery (with case), while the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) lists 24 h. The Powerbeats Pro 2’s case holds more extra charge, which is handy on trips.
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The Powerbeats Pro 2 has built-in heart-rate sensing
The Powerbeats Pro 2 brings built-in heart-rate sensing, and the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) has no equivalent. The Powerbeats Pro 2 can measure your heart rate during exercise; the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) leaves that to other devices.
Design & Size
Fit & Build
| Spec | Powerbeats Pro 2 | QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Ear-hook | In-ear with stability bands |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Weight (per earbud / headset) | 0.31 oz Heaviest in class | N/A (not specified) |
| Case weight | 2.43 oz | N/A (not specified) |
Sound & Noise Cancelling
Too close to call
The differences on sound & noise cancelling are small enough to ignore in daily use. Bottom line for sound & noise cancelling: it’s a wash.
Battery & Charging
Powerbeats Pro 2 leads
The QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) has a tough time in the battery & charging section, where the Powerbeats Pro 2 pulls well ahead. The Powerbeats Pro 2 adds 2 h more listening per charge. Ratings usually assume moderate volume and specific settings, so real results vary. That makes the Powerbeats Pro 2 the natural choice for buyers focused on battery & charging.
Battery (single charge)
Powerbeats Pro 2: 8 h QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): 6 h The Powerbeats Pro 2 runs longer before needing a break, so you’re less likely to be interrupted mid-podcast.
Battery (with case)
Powerbeats Pro 2: 36 h QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): 24 h Total battery with the case tells you how long you can go before plugging anything in.
Features & Connectivity
Powerbeats Pro 2 leads
The Powerbeats Pro 2 does a little better in the features & connectivity section, though nothing here is a deal-breaker for the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen). In its favor, the Powerbeats Pro 2 has built-in heart-rate sensing. If you already wear a fitness tracker, this feature is a nice extra rather than a must-have. So if features & connectivity tops your list, lean toward the Powerbeats Pro 2.
Heart-rate sensing
Powerbeats Pro 2: yes QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen): no Built-in heart-rate sensing lets you track workouts without wearing a watch or chest strap.
Full Specifications
Sound & Noise Cancelling
| Spec | Powerbeats Pro 2 | QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancelling | Yes | Yes |
| Transparency mode | Yes | Yes |
| Spatial audio | Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking | Bose Immersive Audio (with head tracking) |
| Bluetooth codecs | N/A (not specified) | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
Battery & Charging
| Spec | Powerbeats Pro 2 | QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (single charge)Manufacturer rating, ANC on where available | 8 h (winner) | 6 h |
| Battery (with case)Manufacturer rating | 36 h (winner) Most total battery | 24 h |
| Wireless charging | Yes | Yes |
| Charging port | USB-C | USB-C |
Features & Connectivity
| Spec | Powerbeats Pro 2 | QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Class 1 Bluetooth (Apple H2 chip) | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Multipoint | N/A (not specified) | Yes |
| Heart-rate sensing | Yes (winner) | No |
| Controls | Physical button + volume rocker on each earbud | Touch (tap and swipe) |
Fit & Build
| Spec | Powerbeats Pro 2 | QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Ear-hook | In-ear with stability bands |
| Water resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 |
| Weight (per earbud / headset) | 0.31 oz Heaviest in class | N/A (not specified) |
| Case weight | 2.43 oz | N/A (not specified) |
Price
| Spec | Powerbeats Pro 2 | QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price | $250 (winner) | $299 |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
With just $49 between them at launch, the Powerbeats Pro 2 and the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) are priced as near equals. Save $49 and get the stronger spec sheet? That’s the deal the Powerbeats Pro 2 offers.
Launch prices in the US as of June 2025; street prices move, so check before you buy.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the Powerbeats Pro 2 if…
- you want longer listening per charge (8 h vs 6 h)
- you travel a lot and rarely want to charge the case (36 h vs 24 h)
- you want built-in heart-rate sensing
- you’d put the $49 saving toward something else
Choose the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) if…
- you already use other Bose products
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the Powerbeats Pro 2 or the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)?
On the specs compared here, the Powerbeats Pro 2 makes more sense for most buyers; the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) doesn’t win a single measurable area.
Does the Powerbeats Pro 2 last longer on a charge than the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)?
The Powerbeats Pro 2 comes out ahead on battery (single charge), with 8 h compared with 6 h on the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen).
Which costs less, the Powerbeats Pro 2 or the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)?
At launch, the Powerbeats Pro 2 undercut the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) by $49. These figures are as of June 2025, and street prices can change.
Executive Summary
Beats makes the Powerbeats Pro 2, Bose makes the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), and both want the same spot on your shortlist. Here’s where I land. What I like most about the Powerbeats Pro 2 here is 2 h more listening per charge. There’s a bonus as well: the Powerbeats Pro 2 has built-in heart-rate sensing.
Choose by what you’d use most: battery & charging leads to the Powerbeats Pro 2, the things a spec sheet can’t capture leads to the QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen).
My pick: the Powerbeats Pro 2.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.