Powerbeats Pro: Beats takes on AirPods 2 with new earphones using latest Apple technology

Beats has introduced its own version of Apple's hugely popular AirPods, just days after they were updated.

The new Powerbeats Pro earphones pack in all of the same technology found in Apple's own completely wireless AirPods. Primarily, that means Apple's H1 chip, which allows the earphones to quickly and easily connect to iPhone and other Apple products.

But Beats also suggested that the earphones will include better sound than their Apple counterparts.

"Powerbeats Pro is a harmonious blend of premium sound, fit and functionality. Powerbeats are already the number one fitness headphones in the world and they are now untethered, with all the benefits of the Apple H1 chip,” said Luke Wood, president of Beats. “No longer do you have to choose between performance and practicality — it delivers the best on both fronts.”

The Powerbeats Pro, at £219.95, will cost slightly more than the AirPods, which are available from Apple for £159. They will be available from May, in a range of countries, including the US, UK and more than 20 other countries.

They will initially come in four colours: Black, Ivory, Moss and Navy.

The earphones themselves are a wireless version of the Powerbeats, the company's older wireless earphones which included a wire connecting the two sides. Now that wire has been severed, and the earphones can work independently and without any physical connection to each other.

Beats said its highest priority during the development had been sound, and that had led to completely re-engineer its design. They have better drivers that allow for a wider acoustic response, Beats said, even while they were made around 20 per cent lighter and smaller.

But it also focused on the fit of the earphones, it said. Unlike the AirPods which slip into the ear, the Powerbeats Pro come with an earhook that slips over the back of the ear and holds it on, which should make them sit more safely in the ear during workouts, for instance.

Otherwise, the Powerbeats keep the same features as the AirPods. They are comparable with the second-generation, unveiled at the end of March and including a chip that brought with it a whole range of new features.

Those include the ability to simply say "Hey Siri" and have the voice assistant activate, for instance. Both also feature new technologies that allow them to quickly connect to different Apple devices and then turn off so that battery is not wasted.

Just like the new AirPods, they have improved battery life. Beats says each of the earbuds will have up to nine hours of listening time, with more than 24 hours in total when they are charged up in the case – they also benefit from a Fast Fuel feature that lets them get 1.5 hours of use with just five minutes of charging.

Since Apple bought Beats in 2014, the two companies' products have been gradually moving closer together. Beats' other headphones have been able to make use of Apple's W1 chip – the previous version of the H1, which also powered the first AirPods – so that they were able to easily connect to Apple devices such as the iPhone and Watch.