Are the Beats Fit Pro earbuds good for running?
RW Verdict: The Beats Fit Pro are a quality pair of sport headphones for a competitive price. Sweat and water resistance, excellent sound quality and flexible silicone wing tips to hold them in place put them above many earbuds in the same category, and they even rival some pricier models. However, smaller-eared folk may not find them as comfortable as others.
I don't know about you, but I need music to run. Not only do some (frankly, banging) tunes aid my pace-setting and provide a welcome motivational boost on never-ending hills, science also tells us that working out with music increases stamina, endurance and exercise performance.
So, it stands to reason that we need a decent pair of headphones, or preferably earbuds, to deliver all this audio goodness while we focus on bringing the heat. And what better pair to test than one with not only 'Beats' in the title, but designed specifically to lock in place as you move?
The Beats Fit Pro earbuds were developed alongside athletes with a focus on comfort, using flexible, secure-fit wing tips to ensure they stay put, no matter how gruelling your workout.
And of course they threw in active noise cancelling, spatial audio and transparency settings, so you can zone out or stay aware of your surroundings while on the move. Read on to find out what we made of them.
Beats Fit Pro Earbuds: Set-up and design
The Beats Fit Pro earbuds couldn't be easier to set up — particularly if you use an Apple device. No apps, no waiting for software updates, no fuss — just connect them to your Bluetooth and you're off. However, Android users will need to download an app.
I was using an iPhone 13, and once connected I was prompted to play with the earbud settings via System Preferences. Here you can set up personalised spatial audio, carry out an ear tip fit test and tailor your on-earbud controls (see below for more on these).
Design-wise, the Beats Fit Pro feature both an in-ear tip and flexible wingtips that you tuck under your antihelix (that fold above the concha). To wear them you simply insert the earbud, twist it into place then fold the wingtips in.
I've worn these running, in the gym, during HIIT and while circuit training — often moving a touch too exuberantly in the name of testing — and not only have they never gone flying, they've never needed so much as a tweak or tighten mid-workout. They do not budge.
However, I did find the fit a bit uncomfortable. While you can change the size of the eartips, the main body of the earbud was a bit large for my (admittedly quite small) ears and became slightly painful after 30 minutes or so of use. That said, my partner, who has larger (normal-sized) ears found them perfectly comfortable and they’re now his go-to gym and running headphones.
The earbuds come in a sleek rectangular charging case that looks great, but feels a little flimsier than some others on the market — not that this affects the charging in any way. In the box you'll also find two pairs of ear-tips (so you're kitted out with small, medium and large) and a USB-C to USB-C charging cable (but no plug, so you'll need an adaptor). There aren't any differently sized wingtips, presumably because they're flexible, but I felt a choice of sizes would have been useful.
Beats Fit Pro Earbuds: Controls
The Beats Fit Pro earbuds offer customised controls for both Apple and Android users, which you operate either via your phone's Bluetooth settings (or the app, if on Android) or on the earbuds themselves. These include instant pairing, calls, 'Find My' functionality (on iOS) and a hands-free voice assistant.
The on-earbud controls are customisable, which I liked. And rather than a gentle swipe or tap, they use clicky button controls, which have pros and cons. On the plus side, they're simple to use, you have more control over things like volume control (compared to swiping) and you don't accidentally interfere with your playlist when lifting a hand to move stray hair out the way.
But the on the other hand, constantly pushing hard plastic in your ears can become a little painful.
On-earbud controls:
Media: play/pause, skip forwards, skip backwards
Noise control: switch between noise cancellation and transparency settings
Volume control
Call controls: take and end calls
One gripe I had with the on-earbud controls is that you have to choose between volume control or cycling through noise cancellation modes as your 'press and hold' setting, so you need to decide which you're likely to use more and prioritise that function, resigning yourself to digging out your phone to adjust the other.
If you opt for volume control, you can nominate which earbud turns the volume up and which turns it down. Likewise, you can tailor your microphone to work out of just one earbud if you tend to only have one in when you take calls, and when you take the buds out, your music will automatically pause.
Beats Fit Pro Earbuds: Battery life
Before we dive in, it's worth noting that the Beats Fit Pro don't come charged, so bear that in mind before you head out on a long run. Once fully charged, however, they offer six hours play time plus an additional 18 hours with the charging case — so 24 hours total.
To be honest, it's hard to test the six hour claim — and you're likely never going to have to either — because as soon as you're done using them you naturally store the earbuds back in the case, where they charge straight back up. What I can say is that they've lasted me well through multiple long runs and gym sessions with only a single charge of the case.
Helpfully too they have a quick-charge feature, so if you're forgetful when it comes to juicing up your jogging companion, you only need to delay your departure by five minutes to get an extra hour's playback. Clever.
Beats Fit Pro Earbuds: Sound quality
Onto arguably (certainly, for me) the most important factor: sound quality and noise cancellation. Put simply, the sound quality is fantastic, with no dynamic detailing lost, and it rivals that of far more expensive brands.
Being Beats, they're particularly suited to thumping gym tracks but podcasts also sound crystal-clear, while spatial audio (which simulates surround sound) gives runs and workouts a cinematic quality — like you're soundtracking your own movie-style training montage (yes, it's a fairly effective motivational tool).
The transparency mode lets in sounds from the world around you — recommended if you're running outdoors — and means you can easily hold a conversation without having to remove an earbud. I also found on a breezy day there was far less wind interference with these than some other earbuds, which is a huge plus if you plan to wear them outside.
Initially, I wasn't sold on the noise-cancelling, but a quick fiddle with different ear tips (do not skip the ear tip fit test) sorted that out. Once you have a good seal you can expect high-quality noise cancellation, but there is definitely better out there — however, it's usually a few hundred quid more expensive.
While tunes are playing, the noise cancelling is great. But if you're using it solely to drown out noise without any audio then you'll still hear most sounds — just dulled rather than blocked. I did notice a touch of noise leak here and there, but overall was impressed — and testers who found the earbuds fit better seemed more satisfied. I'd say the noise-cancelling is brilliantly suited for treadmill running in a busy gym, just possibly not designed to drown out thundering traffic.
Beats Fit Pro Earbuds: RW verdict
These are a brilliant pair of earbuds for a reasonable price — particularly compared to competitors like Apple and Bose. They score big points for sound quality, ease of use and design, and while they're not as comfortable to wear as some, this isn't a viewpoint shared by all.
The battery life, while not as impressive as that of the Beats Studio Buds +, is fairly standard at six hours (with a further 18 with the case) and will see most runners comfortably through a few long training sessions — just probably not an ultramarathon.
But what really sets these earbuds apart is the secure fit, thanks to those flexible silicone wingtips. They can withstand everything from long runs to high-energy HIIT without wriggling out your ears — ideal.
Are Beats Fit Pro good for running?
Put simply, yes. Whether you're clocking up the miles on breezy hills or in a bustling gym, they drown out unwanted noises, soundtrack your sprints with high quality sound and, most importantly, stay put.
Water- and sweat-resistance elevate them above other earbuds (but please, do not swim in them), which, alongside the robust design, spells years of flawlessly-scored running.
Alternatives to the Beats Fit Pro Earbuds
If you use a lot of Apple devices, you might find the 2nd-gen AirPods Pro serve you better — they do outrank the Beats in terms of sound quality and noise-cancelling, but this does of course come at a cost.
Otherwise, the Sennheiser Sport are a more affordable workout-friendly option, or the Jabra Elite 8 Active are ideal for runners braving the elements — they're waterproof and can handle changes in temperature and altitude as well as dust and dirt.
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