Two of the world’s most recognizable lifestyle and sports brands — Beats and Nike — joined forces for the first time with the launch of Powerbeats Pro 2 – Nike Special Edition, the companies said Tuesday.
It’s their first hardware collaboration. And it’s the first time Beats has shared brand real estate on a product like this. And what’s more, the promotional campaign stars basketball legend LeBron James alongside pro golfer Tom Kim and cast of comedic foils.
“This isn’t just a new colorway; it’s a collision of two brands that define performance, culture, and sports — the attributes of today’s athlete,” said Chris Thorne, CMO of Beats. “By placing the Swoosh on our hardware for the first time, we’re honoring the shared DNA of Beats and Nike — and celebrating ambassadors like LeBron James who embody both. It’s a tribute to the grit, style and sound that push people to their limits.”
Powerbeats Pro 2 – Nike Special Edition
Redesigned sports earbuds Powerbeats Pro 2 came out in February 2025 only to face criticism over the highly touted heart rate monitoring feature’s inaccuracy and pairing problems. Now this partnership marks a significant milestone in Beats’ design history, Beats and Nike said in a press release. For the first time, Beats has shared its iconic earbud real estate with a partner. It places the Nike Swoosh on the right bud and the signature Beats “b” on the left.
A bold new look built for athletes
Photo: Beats
The limited-edition release pairs Nike’s “Volt” yellow color palette with the audio technology of the Powerbeats Pro 2. The companies position it as a performance tool designed to bridge elite sport and street style. The earbuds arrive in a striking matte black, Volt-speckled charging case, with Nike’s “JUST DO IT” mantra printed inside the lid.
Under the hood, the specs are those of Powerbeats Pro 2. The earbuds feature Adaptive Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency mode. Built-in heart rate monitoring syncs with the Fitness app and Nike Run Club. The buds offer up to 45 hours of battery life with the charging case, IPX4-rated sweat and water resistance, and the signature wrap-around earhooks. They’re designed to stay in place through intense workouts.
LeBron takes to the golf course
To accompany the launch, Beats tapped longtime brand ambassador LeBron James for a comedic campaign called “Keep Your Head in The Game.” In it, James hits the golf course with less-than-elite skills but uses the Powerbeats Pro 2 to tune out his critics. They’re played by professional golfer Tom Kim and actors Lionel Boyce and Travis “Taco” Bennett.
James, who has been associated with Beats since the brand’s early days, spoke to the personal significance of the collaboration.
“When two iconic brands like Beats and Nike come together, it’s more than a collaboration — for me, it’s family,” he said. “I’ve been part of the Beats journey since day one with the original Powerbeats, and the Powerbeats Pro 2 represent everything I need in my daily routine, whether I’m training, recovering, or just living life. These aren’t just my go-to earbuds — they’re built for anyone who refuses to compromise on performance.”
Pricing, availability and where to buy
Powerbeats Pro 2 – Nike Special Edition will go on sale Friday, March 20, priced at $249.99. You can buy them at Apple.com as well as through Nike.com. Select Apple Store locations will also carry the special edition. Consumers can sign up for launch updates and explore the full collaboration at beatsbydre.com/nike-beats-powerbeats-pro-2.
Or, you could go with the regular edition Beats Powerbeats Pro 2:
These Bluetooth earbuds feature a heart rate monitor, Apple's H2 chip, active noise canceling with transparency mode, IPX4 water resistance, up to 45-hour battery life (with wireless charging case) and Apple and Android compatibility.
- Monitor heart rate without Apple Watch
- Noise canceling with transparency mode
- Secure fit
- Works great with Apple and Android devices
- Smaller than originals (but still not small)
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
