A Pokémon holding this item gains 4 DefenseEVs whenever it gains experience in battle (EVs are awarded for each Pokémon knocked out in Horde Battles despite experience being gained all at once); its effect is doubled by Pokérus. (In Generation IV, level 100 Pokémon cannot gain EVs in battle; from Generation V onward, they gain EVs whenever they would earn experience.)
The Speed stat of the Pokémon holding this item is halved in battle.
Generation VII onwards
A Pokémon holding this item now gains 8 DefenseEVs instead of 4 whenever it gains experience during battle.
Outside of battle
From Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver onward, if this item is held by a parent when breeding at Pokémon Day Care or a Pokémon Nursery, the DefenseIV of a parent holding a Power Belt will always be passed down to the child. If both parents hold a Power Belt, one parent will be selected at random to pass down its Defense IV.