Following a number of leaks, we now finally have confirmed news about the new Apple Powerbeats earphones. Successors the Powerbeats 3 model, these take out the number from the branding, but what’s more important is that they feature 15-hour battery life. March 18 is when these workout-friendly earphones will arrive in the US – online-only since Apple has shut down all its retail stores citing coronavirus fears – with a price tag of $149.
The much loved Powerbeats design hasn’t been toyed with much. They still take the adjustable neckband approach, though the cable now runs from behind the ears rather than the front. Another change is that these earphones are rated IPX4 for sweat and water resistance, making them even better companions for high-intensity workouts. With these earphones, Apple seems to be targeting those who aren’t quite fond of the earbuds form factor of the Airpods.
As mentioned before, you get 15 hours of battery life now, which is up from the 12 hours of juice that the Powerbeats 3 could fit in. The new headset ships with Apple’s H1 chip for quick pairing and hands-free ‘Hey Siri’ controls. As for the sound quality, you can expect it to be same as that of the Powerbeats Pro, which still remain among the best true wireless earbuds available out there.
White, black and red are the three colors these earphones come dressed in. The Powerbeats of course, charge with the Lightning cable, and one is indeed provided in the box. A power button sits on the left earbud, while a volume rocker and a multi-function button can be found on the right earbud.
Like we said, March 18 is when the Powerbeats earphones will be made available for purchase by Apple at $149.