Beats Powerbeats (2010) vs Beats Powerbeats (2020)

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Powerbeats (2010) compared with Powerbeats (2020)

	BeatsPowerbeats (2010)	BeatsPowerbeats (2020)
Overview
Released
Released	2010	March 2020
Sound
Type
Type	In-ear	In-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	No	No
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	None (wired)	SBC and AAC
Chip
Chip	–	Apple H1
Audio features
Audio features	–	SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs (SoundGuys); no active noise cancellation or automatic ear detection (Tech Advisor)
Drivers
Drivers	Two drivers in each earpiece, described in the original maker announcement as a bass driver and a midrange/tweeter. Driver diameters are not published.	–
Noise cancelling detail
Noise cancelling detail	Ported tips deliberately admit surrounding sound; no active noise cancelling.	–
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	No battery (wired)	Up to 15 hours
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	–	Apple's retained Powerbeats AMBUSH colour-edition release confirms the shared 15-hour listening claim
Fast charging
Fast charging	–	Lightning Fast Fuel charging; Apple's retained Powerbeats AMBUSH release says up to 1 hour from a 5-minute charge, while SoundGuys reports 1.5 hours
Design
Water and sweat resistance
Water and sweat resistance	–	IPX4
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	–	5.0
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	–
Controls
Controls	Cable remote provides playback, track navigation, volume, calls and voice commands on compatible devices; functionality varies by device.	Playback, track, call and volume buttons on the right earbud; power button on the left; hands-free Hey Siri with compatible Apple devices
Microphones
Microphones	Microphone built into the cable remote.	Dual beam-forming microphones and a speech-detecting accelerometer
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Bendable rubber ear hooks and interchangeable silicone ear tips. The maker guide identifies these as in-ear headphones despite the hooks resting over the ear.	Adjustable ear hooks joined by a round cable; four ear-tip sizes
Water resistance detail
Water resistance detail	No IP code is published in the maker sources used. The guide advises avoiding liquids and warns that wet internal circuitry can be permanently damaged.	–
Works with
Works with	Wired 3.5 mm stereo connection. The guide lists iPod, iPhone, iPad, HTC, BlackBerry and Android devices, with remote functions dependent on the device.	Class 1 Bluetooth and Apple H1 pairing; Audio Sharing with compatible Apple devices; Bluetooth 5.0 identified by SoundGuys and Tech Advisor
Colours
Colours	Black, red and white in the September 2010 maker announcement. Apple's November 2010 price list includes the black and red models; the precise first sale month is unproved, so the release retains year precision.	Black, White and Red at launch (MacRumors); later AMBUSH Glow edition with a glow-in-the-dark finish and ripstop pouch
In the box
In the box	Earphones, interchangeable ear tips and protective case in the maker guide.	Earphones, four ear-tip sizes, Lightning to USB-A charging cable and carrying pouch; AMBUSH edition uses a ripstop pouch