When you think of Beats, bass and lifestyle are probably what come to your mind. But the Powerbeats Fit, which follow the Beats Fit Pro, are positioned very differently. Beats is pitching these as performance-first earbuds for people who move. Their sound is meant to keep your pace up in gyms and treadmills primarily. So, when the Beats earbuds landed on my desk, I was interested in seeing how they sounded and also how they lived up to the name. I also had the Sony LinkBuds Fit (review) with me, which I’ve compared to the Powerbeats Fit in the past. And while I have used them both during working out at home, commuting to work and back, and for everyday calls and music, here the focus stays on the Powerbeats buds. Here’s how they actually felt while using.
A stylish, secure fit
The Powerbeats Fit are an evolution of the old Beats Fit Pro, but wrapped in the ‘Powerbeats’ branding. That itself says a lot. This is the same family as Powerbeats Pro, just without the ear-hooks. Instead, it has the wingtip, which is said to be around 20% more flexible than before. In use, the Powerbeats’ wingtips are long and can be easily tucked in.
While worn, they offer a good seal and stability. I never felt they would fall out. At times, however, that secure seal was causing a slight sensation of pain. At 5.78 grams each, it is a tad heavier than the LinkBuds Fit (4.9 grams). This isn’t to say they are heavy, but I could definitely feel their presence.
Looks-wise, though, the Gravel Grey colour of our review unit was swish. You can pick it in three more colours, viz., black, orange, and pink. The case shares the colours and is rounded and easy to pocket.
The colours aside, the Beats ‘b’ logo on the earbuds and the case can be a fashion statement. The ‘b’ on the right bud is a multifunctional button. A physical button allows easy and precise control of the earbuds’ various functions like calls, music and switching between ANC and Transparency mode. I like this, especially since a sweaty or moist finger doesn’t necessarily work well with the touch controls. But pushing in the earbuds can put pressure and cause mild discomfort.
By the way, both buds and case are IPX4 rated. Sweat and rain are fine, but dust resistance and submersion ratings would have been welcome for runners hitting trails.
Keep things simple, works for Android and iPhones
On iPhone, this is plug and play. Flip open the lid, the pop-up appears, pair once, and you are done. To initiate manual pairing, put the buds back in the case and press the circular button for 5 seconds. Automatic switching between iPhone, iPad, and Mac works as expected. ‘Hey Siri’ is available hands-free. You also get Find My support, though not precision finding like newer AirPods cases.
The Powerbeats Fit still use the H1 chip, though, not the newer H2 found in AirPods Pro 2 and later. So, you are missing the H2 features like 2x better active noise cancellation (ANC), a newer adaptive transparency mode, and a longer runtime than the H1.
What’s present is ANC, transparency mode, and Spatial Audio with head tracking.
And compared to the Sony LinkBuds Fit, you get fewer customisation options and features in the Beats app. Powerbeats Fit keep things simple with settings like Automatic Ear Detection, in-ear fit test, button controls, etc.
While connected to an Android, it is still a better option than the AirPods. You get the Beats app, which gives pairing help, firmware updates, battery info, ear tip fit test, and basic controls. Sure, you do lose some Apple magic like Personalised Spatial Audio, Find My and seamless connectivity, but the core experience holds together.
Reliable for calls and connectivity
The connection itself is stable. No dropouts on metro rides, walking between rooms in my house, etc. There is no true multipoint across different ecosystems, which Sony offers. But like we said in the previous section, within Apple’s world, auto-switching fills most of that gap.
Latency while watching YouTube and Netflix, and playing games, was fine.
Call quality is fine. Indoors, voices sounded clean and natural. Outdoors, some of the traffic and crowd noises were seeping in, more than on AirPods Pro 3 (with H2 chip).
Impactful audio and ANC
The H1 chip offers a stable and efficient listening experience. But, again, no high-fidelity codecs like LDAC or aptX here. It supports only AAC (HD) and SBC codecs.
As for the sound profile, Powerbeats Fit is energetic with boosted bass output, forward but thin vocals and guitar sounds, and a recessed and not very airy high.
Kick drums in Dream Theatre’s Pull Me Under, and bass drops in Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy hit with weight. Bass feels big but not deep. Still, EDM, pop, and hip-hop feel lively and fun. Vocals sound clear, for instance, Johnny Cash’s voice in Hurt, but it lacks the warmth and personal feel. Certain vocals and acoustic instruments can sound harsh.
So, while it is impactful and entertaining, it is not for everyone and certainly not for purists. They are great for workouts, bass-driven playlists, and podcasts.
Compared to AirPods Pro, the Beats feel more aggressive and less refined. And compared to the Sony LinkBuds Fit, the Beats seal better, so the sense of punch and immersion is stronger, but Sony still sounds more relaxed.
Like AirPods, there is Personalised Spatial Audio here, which works with Apple devices only and is fun to use with Apple TV+ and compatible tracks.
ANC is great, but sharp noises like keyboard sound, movement of office chair wheels, etc, still break through. Its ANC is easier on the ears compared to the LinkBuds Fit. And since its design offers a good seal, there is good passive isolation too. Transparency Mode also works well and is useful for ambient awareness. So, the overall listening experience stays practical for daily outdoor commuting and activities.
Also Read: JBL Tour One M3 review: Good sound and smart features come at a price
Lasting endurance
Battery life is one area where Beats has tuned this right for active use. I was getting close to 13 hours at 60% volume and 8 hours with 80% volume. In both cases, ANC was on, and I was listening with AAC codec. Furthermore, the case is said to take the total to roughly 30 hours.
In real-world terms, I charged once mid-week and forgot about it. A 5-minute fast charge gives around an hour of playback, which genuinely saves workouts. And for fully charging the thing, it could take around 20 minutes. Charging is via USB-C. Wireless charging would have made a lot of sense at this price, but it isn’t here.
While its competitor from Sony also doesn’t have wireless charging, the Beats earbuds offer more runtime and quicker charging than the competition.
Should you buy the Beats Powerbeats Fit?
Beats positions the Powerbeats Fit as earbuds for people who move. In daily use, that pitch holds up. The wingtip design keeps them in place and helps create a secure seal for passive isolation. With decent ANC, they let you focus on what you are doing, whether that is work or a workout. The physical buttons make it easy to control noise, calls, and music. And the tuning leans toward bass, which works well for punchy, motivational tracks you might use while training.
But they are not the lightest earbuds, and you may start to feel them after long sessions. The sound signature will not suit everyone. There is no EQ to adjust it either. Compared to its rival, the Sony LinkBuds Fit, the Beats app only covers the basics, and there is also no support for higher-resolution Bluetooth codecs. And compared to its cousin, the AirPods Pro 3, the Powerbeats Fit miss out on newer processing, stronger ANC and transparency, heart-rate tracking, live translation, wireless charging, and better IP57 protection.
Even with these trade-offs, the Powerbeats Fit still make sense if you train often, want earbuds that stay secure, and prefer a lively, energetic sound. They work with both Android and iOS, and if you use an iPhone, the setup and connection feel simple. The Powerbeats Fit don’t try to be everything. They try to be secure, comfortable enough, good-sounding, and straightforward. And in that very specific lane, they work.
Keep reading Digit.in for similar reviews.
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Powerbeats Fit Key Specs, Price and Launch Date
| Release Date: | |
| Market Status: | Launched |
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G. S. Vasan
G.S. Vasan is the chief copy editor at Digit, where he leads coverage of TVs and audio. His work spans reviews, news, features, and maintaining key content pages. Before joining Digit, he worked with publications like Smartprix and 91mobiles, bringing over six years of experience in tech journalism. His articles reflect both his expertise and passion for technology. View Full Profile
