Beats, which has been owned by Apple for quite some time, and Nike have released their first-ever joint product — Powerbeats Pro 2 Nike Special Edition. This is a limited edition version of Apple’s sports earbuds with an exclusive Nike-inspired design. Technically, there’s nothing new inside, but for fans of both brands, this is a notable event. This marks the second pair of earbuds from Apple in just one week.
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What Are These New Beats and Nike Earbuds
The left earbud features the signature Beats logo “b,” while the right one sports the iconic Nike “swoosh.” Beats calls this an “iconic design shift” — it’s the first time the company has “shared space on an earbud with a partner.”
The design immediately catches the eye. Image: 9to5mac.com
The charging case comes in a matte black finish with splashes of the bright Volt green shade, and inside the lid is the printed Nike slogan “Just Do It.” It looks impressive, but it’s important to understand: this is purely a cosmetic story. Under the new shell are the same Powerbeats Pro 2 that came out last year.
How Powerbeats Pro 2 Nike Edition Differs from AirPods Pro
Technically, these are the same Powerbeats Pro 2 that appeared last year: over-ear hooks for secure fit, active noise cancellation with transparency mode, a built-in heart rate sensor, and up to 45 hours of battery life with the charging case. Key specifications:
- Apple H2 chip — responsible for sound quality and noise cancellation
- Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency mode
- Optical heart rate sensor — measures heart rate over 100 times per second
- IPX4 water and sweat resistance
- Up to 45 hours of battery life with the case, fast charging (5 minutes = 90 minutes of playback)
- Wireless case charging via Qi
- Five ear tip sizes included
The earbuds are ready to sync with the Nike Run Club app right out of the box — heart rate data is transmitted to the app during workouts. This is convenient for runners who already use the Nike ecosystem and don’t want to wear an Apple Watch on their run.
The earbuds share the same H2 chip with AirPods Pro 3, which means the same sound quality, noise cancellation, and heart rate sensor. However, the way Powerbeats Pro 2 Nike Edition fits in the ear is different. They not only insert into the ear canal but, unlike AirPods Pro 3, also secure with a hook behind the ear, meaning they won’t fall out during active movements.
How Much Do Powerbeats Pro 2 Nike Edition Cost
The Nike Special Edition price is no different from the standard version — $249.99. This translates to approximately 27,000 rubles in Russia. Notably, Beats didn’t add a premium for the limited edition status, which for a collaboration of this level is more the exception than the rule.
Sales begin on March 20 on the Apple website in the US, UK, China, Japan, Germany, Canada, Australia, Singapore, France, Spain, India, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong. Russia is, of course, not on the list. But whether through parallel imports or gray market channels, the earbuds will still make their way to the country.
If the Nike collaboration isn’t important to you, regular Powerbeats Pro 2 can be found for under $200. In Russian stores, the standard version sells in the range of 20,000 to 25,000 rubles depending on the seller and their markup.
Should You Buy the Powerbeats Pro 2 Nike Edition
The earbuds certainly look cool. Image: bgr.com
If you already own regular Powerbeats Pro 2, swapping them for the Nike version just for the design makes no sense — technically, it’s the same product. If you’re just choosing your first pair and you like the Volt style — or you train with Nike Run Club — the limited edition offers the same feature set in a rarer design.
The main catch for Russian buyers is the lack of official sales in Russia. The earbuds will need to be ordered through intermediaries from Europe, the US, or Asia, and given the limited production run, the actual price could end up significantly higher than retail. For those who care more about functionality than the Nike brand on the body, it makes more sense to get the regular Powerbeats Pro 2 — the same earbuds, but cheaper and without the logistical complications.
