Surprisingly good and durable: Powerbeats³ headphones (2016)

I never expected a $42 pair of refurbished Powerbeats³ headphones to last as long as these have, but here we are. I’ve had this pair for over 5 years now, and miraculously haven’t had a need to replace the batteries yet. Seriously, I don’t know how these headphones are even lasting this long!
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I’ve lost countless pairs of silicon ear tips, sat on the headphones without thinking more than once, and the in-ear padding had fallen out so now you can see the sound drivers. Still, they don’t look beaten-up, and sound as great as ever. These are by far the longest-lasting pair of headphones I’ve ever used.

Picking up a pair of AirPods right now or any other headphones while having these would feel like having an accessory, rather than providing a solution to a problem.

I just figured I could take a risk, and it worked out in my favor. Being priced far below their original asking price, I was skeptical at first. It seems around $50-60 is a normal going price for these refurbished, even in 2025. Somehow despite my worries about dust and dirt killing these, they’ve been okay in that department also.
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Specs and key points

  • Flat cable so they’re better off when you put them in your pocket
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  • Strong battery life that lasts even with years of use and charge cycles.
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  • No IPX rating officially, however it is claimed these are “Sweat and water resistant to handle tough training”. I’ve sweat in mine with exercise but not often, and I avoid liquids as much as I can. I certainly wouldn’t walk with these in the rain.
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  • Flexible ear hook for custom fit and ease of discomfort
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  • Sliding adjustment piece and control module on wire
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  • Apple W1 chip (See: Apple’s W1 Bluetooth chip, explained – CNET)
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  • 12- Hours of battery life brand new
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  • USB Micro-b charging port
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  • 5 minutes of charge time can give you one hour of play time
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Storing

This is an easy one. Since they have the ear loop, you can pretty much hang them anywhere, rather than leaving them somewhere or having to put them away. I have a dedicated spot to hang these.
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Why I recommend these

I’ll admit these are tough but not the absolute toughest headphones. That being said, they’re more durable than they appear. Maybe not at their MSRP and certainly not above even $75, but perhaps at their current market price, I think these are worth looking into. Pressing and holding the power button makes auto-pairing a breeze with iOS and Mac devices.

These headphones may not have a headphone jack and may be limited to newer bluetooth proocols, but they sound great for something convent and on-the-go. I wouldn’t say they sound bad at all, not even.

If you’re in the market for a pair of name-brand wireless headphones that pair easily with Apple devices, could last a while with care, and don’t mind getting refurbished since it’ll help you save.. then these headphones may be the ones you’d want to get.

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